THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
the sober and reflecting minds on this point, my 
opinions and persuasions will scarcely be heard, 
and far less heeded, in that rush for wealth, for 
oflice, and for notoriety, which, like a torrent 
sweeping over the country, carries every mov- 
able object in its course. It seems, however, 
not less my duty to record my strong convic- 
tions, which the experience of a life not short 
has served only to confirm. I see in my own 
country, every where protiered to an honest in- 
dustry, a wise frugality, and a wholesome self- 
government, the most ample rewards: I see a 
wide extent of rich and beautiful territory wait- 
ing the improving hand ot skill and labor, to be 
had in many cases almost for asking, with eve- 
ry man free"^ to choose where he wi'l pitch his 
tent, not only without injury, but to the advan- 
tage of his neighbor: I see the means of edu- 
cation, of competence, and of substaniial inde- 
pendence, held out to all who will avail them- 
selves of them. In the midst of all this, i see 
thousands and thousands of young men, blest 
with education and fortunes adequate to supply 
all reasonable wants in the country, rushing in- 
to cities, exhausting their small means in the 
extravagancies and dissipations of lashionable 
life; crowding all the professions to repletion ; 
pressing on, wdth vexation and disappointment 
heaped upon vexation and disappointment, in- 
to all the avenues of poli'ical oflice and distinc- 
tion, and into all the bi ter strifes of political 
controversy; forcing their way into the pursuits 
of trade without talents lor their prosecution, 
and almost sure to involve themselves in bank- 
ruptcy and ruin ; and, in one form and another, 
dragging on through life without satisfaction to 
themselves and without usefulness to others, 
and too often a ruinous burden upon those 
whom it is now their turn to succor and relieve. 
1 cannot, therefore, help wishing that the pur- 
suits of agriculture might be mtde attractive to 
such persons; and that with education, and that 
moderate fortune, which would give them the 
command-of the best advantages of rural life, 
they might find in it, as far as rational happi- 
ness and humble usfulness are concerned, that 
philosopher’s stone which in other places they 
are almost sure to search lor in vain. — Coleman's 
Agricultural Torcr, No. 3. 
Study of Botany by Baaies. 
Extract of a Lecture read before the Ladies’ 
Botanical Society, at Wilmington, Delaware, 
March 2, 1845. By. Dr. Wm. Darlington, of 
Chester, Pennsylvania: 
“ Of all the intellectual exercises kindly pro- 
vided lor us in this stage of being, few are more 
instructive or more agreeable to contemplative 
minds than the sfMcly of nalure — or, the investi- 
gation of the history, character, relal ions and 
purposes of the material i bjects which a wise 
and beneficent Creator has placed around us; 
and, of the several departments of what are call- 
ed the Natural Sciences, perhaps one of the 
most useful — certainly one of the most elegant 
and atiiactire — is that which embraces the va- 
ried products ol the veget-^biC creation. 
“The science of Botany has for its objects 
the most lovely of all the inanimate works of 
God, It treats of those beautiful forms which 
annually untold themselves to oar admiring 
gaze — which every where clothe and decorate 
the teeming surface of the earth, affording, di- 
rectly or indirectly, the sustenance of all ani- 
mals, and regaling every sense of every crea- 
ture that has capacity to be gratified. It is a 
science peculiarly appropriate to gentle minds. 
Its cultivation imp)osesno tax upon the feelings 
— involves, no crueltv — shocks no sensibilily ; 
all its incidents and attributes are promotive of 
corporeal health and pure intellectual pleasure. 
Why, then, should not a rational acquaintance 
with those interesting proilucts which surround 
us on every hand and are literally strewed along 
our paths, why should not such a science be 
made an indispensable branch of female edu- 
cation! As a mere occomplishmenl, it is enti- 
tled to rank with any of those ornamental ac- 
quirements to which so much time is devoted. 
As a means of enlarging and disciplining the 
mind, training it to habits of correct observation 
and profitable reflection, the study ot plants is 
far superior to many of the fashionable and fu- 
gitive attainments which now so generally en- 
gross the attention of young ladies. It is a pur- 
suit, loo, which carries wiih it its own rewaid. 
The knowledge which it affords is at once plea- 
sing in the arquisiiion, and of enduring value. 
It is continually called for and always at com- 
mand, ready to minister to the in.struction and 
gratification of the possessor, whether in the gar- 
den, the field or the forest. 
“ ‘ These studies,’ said the Roman orator on 
another occasion, and it is even more emphati- 
cally true on this, ‘ These studies are the intel- 
lectual nouiishmeni of youth, and the cheering 
recreation of age; they adorn prosperity, and 
are the solace and refuge of adversity ; thev are 
pleasant r-.r home, and are no incumbrance a- 
broad; thev abide with us by night — go with us 
in all our travels, and lend additional charms to 
the attractions of our rural retreats.’ 
“ Those who make only occasional visits or 
excursions in the country will find 'heir plea- 
sure greatly enha'^nced by an acquaintance with 
the plants which mainly contribute to the beau- 
ty ot the scenery : but, by those whose con- 
stant residence is in. the midst of the vegetable 
tribes,, a reasonable knowledge of Botany 
should be regardeii, not merely as an accom- 
plishment, but, as one of the indispensable 
qualifications for the duties of rural life. I 
have often insisted that an American Farmer 
should blush to be ignorant of tiie objects of his 
peculiar care; and I know not why a Farmer’s 
Wife or Danghf.pi should be entirely excused 
for a like deficienev in her attainments. C'm 
the contrary, I believe it is to wives and daugh- 
ters that we must look for the commencement 
of a thorough reformation. A competent 
knowied.ge o! the character and properties of 
those plants which interest the gardener and the 
agriculturist, is unquestionably desirable for 
both sexes: and I sincerely believe that the 
most effectual method of diffusing such infor- 
mation will be to invoke the friendly aid and 
countenance ol the ladies. Their salutary in- 
fluence has been felt and owned in many a no- 
ble cause, and I cannot doubt iheirefficacy here. 
“Some of my young friends, although, per- 
haps, asseniingto the justice of these views, 
may yet be inclired to object, that ifie science of 
botany is so encumbered with uncouth terms, 
and barbarous names, as to obscure its charms, 
and even render it repulsive to the youthful 
student. I am free to admit that appearances, 
at a first glance, seem to warrant the objection. 
I have experienced all its force, and can fully 
appreciate its influence upon others: but 1 can 
trn!vadd,for the encouragement ol beginners, 
ihat, when the .study is properly conducted and 
the subject comes to be rightly understood, the 
difficulty is rather se'cmvi g ihau real. It un- 
doubtedly appears enormous to the uninitiated 
— just as strange objects are apt to be magni- 
fied when encountered by twilight, or viewed 
through a mist; but there is no ground for dis- 
may or apprehetision. The supposed obstacle 
will either vanish when approached, or prove 
itself to be an aid, rather than an impediment, 
in the way of the learner. It is, indeed, impos- 
sible to describe objects or to communicate de- 
finite ideas without the employment of terms 
and names; yetthe.se are not science. Thev 
are but the nnplements — the iriere machinery 
with which the mind operates, and should onl\ 
be taken up or resorted to as they are wanted 
for use. It is w'orse than idle to commence by 
lumbering the memory will) hard words, of 
which the student comprehends neither the 
meaning nor the. application. Such a pkn, 1 
admit, is calcui.ated only to disliearten and dis- 
gust. But, let I’.im begin, where all tiue know- 
ledge begins — by a practical acquaintance with 
things rather than with names— hy observing 
features and examining structures, and he will 
soon perceive the importance ol ferns by which 
to designate and distinguish the objects of his 
attention. When the investigator of plants 
comes to lake a discriminating view of the ve- 
getable tribes and observes the varied, yet defi- 
nite forms, and arrangement of the organs, 
which cons'itute their botanical character —so 
far from complaining of the burthen of names 
and terms, he will eagerly seek and adopt them, 
as indi.spensable aids in his progress ; and he 
will find, moreover, that, although many ap- 
pear harsh and arbiirarjq. the greater number 
are remarkably significant and appropriate. A 
moment’s reflection wiil convince any of us 
that even in the common occurrences of life, 
we cannot dispense with the names, and what 
maybe caifed technical terms, end that new 
ones are continually added to our stock, without 
an effort, and almost without onr consciousne.ss. 
When we make new' acquaimances among our 
own kind, especially if they are agreeable, we 
never think of such an objection as that of hav- 
ing to learn or remember their names: and even 
in the minor gratifications ol dress and personal 
cooifort, we are all very expert in acquiring the 
nomenclature— strange though it be — of such 
articles as attract our notice or suit our fancy. 
The facilitv with which young ladies become 
familiar witri the vocabularv of taste and fa.sh- 
ion —their admirable tact in discerning, and 
their fluency in discussing the qualities and 
patterns of Gimps and Ginghams, Gros des Indes 
ax\'.\ Monsseliws de Laine, s.atisfv me that f.e;A- 
nicolUies have no real terrors fordhem ; and the 
la'oguage of holany can never present anv se- 
rious obstacle to their progre.^s in the science — 
prnvidedxhat they have the will and the applica- 
tion: and i .desire no better evidence of the re- 
quisite disposition and effort than that which I 
have now the pleasure to wifness.” 
To pRRVE.NT Smut in Wiirat. — V/e have re- 
ceived, says the American Farmer, the annexed 
note, from the Hon. Wm. Carmichael, whose 
authoriiy with U5 is equal to that of any agri- 
culturist of our State : 
In the third volume of the Fanners’ Register, 
page 743, there is an account of a series of ex- 
periments, made by M. M. de Bombasle, for 
preserving wheat from the smut, one of which 
he found entirely succe,?slul, and peihaps some 
benefit may be derived from an account of ilu 
advantage I have derived from its application. 
Smut was brought on my farm by changin." 
my' seed wheat, and though it never extende. 
so far as to produce very serious injurv, f wa- 
very anxious to expel it: and, in the year 1813 
I used the means in the ailicle I have referre. 
to, according to the manner therein directed 
At the next harvest, 1 found the smut much di 
minished but some still remained. Last fall 1 
used the same means, under a different applica- 
tion. I dissolved in a large tub eighteen potind.s 
glauber salts in twenty'-iwo gallons of water. 
The wheat was thi-own into it, well w'ashecl, 
and so much ofthe solution as was not taken 
up was drawn ofifor further application; the 
wheat was then, put into a bed of quick lime 
(slaked immediately before being used) on rav 
barn floor, well stirred so as to produce adhesion 
to each grain, and then spread to dry. 
I have lately finished threshing. I Iiave ex- 
amined the wheat, and have not detected a smut 
ball. This is also the experience of my over- 
seer, and my most obseivant laborers. 
I donot know that the germinating power would 
he injured il it remained unsown for manv days 
under the lime, but to avoid the hazard, I have 
not permitted the wheal thus prepared to remain 
more than three days unsown. 
My neighbor Mr. W m. De Cour.'^ey, to whom 
I communicated the ex periments of Mr. Boni- 
basle, made one with common salt, by which 
the smut was much diminished, hut some still 
remained. My experiment with glauber salts 
has resulted in entire success. 
A gricui.tural I.nconsistrncirs.— Prejudice 
and error generally go hand in hand: a man 
may be allowed to indulge in obstinacy for his 
own gratification, but when society is affected 
by it, the sooner a netv light breaks in upon him 
the better. I proposed subsoiling my heavy 
