92 
THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
ture from below, as well as its absorption trom 
the atmosphere, wculd be facilitated, and the 
growing crop would thus be protected from the 
evils of too much moisture at one time, and too 
little at another. 
As to the kinds of manure to be used, we 
should endeavor to apply such as would tend to 
correct, as much as possible, the defects of the 
soil. Prom our own experience, we should not 
expect much benefit f cm the use of ash.es — their 
effects are more favorable on sandy soils. We 
would try both lim.e and gypsum, and if their eft 
fects proved to be such as would render their ap- 
plication profitable, should use such quantities 
as see lied expedient. We should endeavor to 
induce the growth of clorer, and if that crop 
could be made to flourish, it would be found a 
cei tain and great improver of the soil; and 
should gypsum operate well, a high degree of 
fertility might be gained by the use of that sub- 
stance in connexion with clover. Animal ma- 
nures of all kinds, if they can be had, should of 
course be applied, as they are valuable on soils; 
and if there was a chance to obtain saw-dust 
conveniently, and at small expense, we would 
use it liberally, having witnessed its effects in 
improving tenacious soils. 
It is proper to observe, that, if draining should 
be necessary, that should be the first object of 
attention. The loosening of the soil, as above 
mentioned, will operate as a considerable drain- 
age; but actual observation only can determine 
W'hether it wall be sufficient. 
From the Michigan Farmer. 
THE PIIYSICAI. EDUCATIOiN OF WOiVIAN. 
BY GEO. W. CARHAKTT. 
Who can look abroad upon society, and com* 
pare those that arc just entering upon the stage 
of action, wdth those who occupied it filty years 
ago, and say that the present generation is not 
far inlerior in beauty and physical strength. — 
Compare the wasp-like waist, the contracted 
lungs, the pale emaciated face, the irregular 
teeth, the sunken eyes — and, in fact, an almost 
complete prostration of all the powers, both men- 
tal and physical, (tor it is a well established 
fact in science, that a given state of mind or bo- 
dy throws the other into a corresponding condi- 
tion,) with the lair symmetrical form, the large, 
expanded and healthy lungs, the full, fair and 
animated face, the beautiful and regular teeth, 
the sparkling and lively eyes, the noble and 
healthy appearance, and the consequently strong 
mental and physical powers of the women of 
this country in by-gone days, and of oiher coun- 
tries at the present time, and there will be found 
a vast difference in favor of the latter. 
Investigation makes it evident that a large 
proportion of young ladies from the wealthier 
classes have the incipient stages of the curva- 
ture of the spine, one of the most certain and 
fruitful causes of future disease and decay. 
Medical men, w’ho have made extensive inqui- 
ries, say that one of every five or six of the 
young women at boarding-schools, are affected 
in this way, while many other indications of 
disease and debility exist in cases where this 
particular evil cannot be detected. Why is this 
enfeebled state of the constitution 1 — why does 
the primeval curse show itself more plainly now, 
than in former daysf — why are the females ol 
this country, at the present time, so much more 
subject to disease than those of former years ? 
The reason i.s, their physical education is al- 
mo.st totally neglected, while they receive an 
improper and injudicious bodily training; hence 
the very design of their creation is frustrated. 
The organs of the body are hindered from per- 
forming their distinct and proper functions. 
And as soon as they are called to the responsi- 
bilities and trials of domestic life, their constitu- 
tion lails, and their whole life becomes a bur- 
den : for no person can enjoy existence, when 
disease throws a dark cloud over the mind, and 
incapacitates her from the proper discharge of 
every duty. 
There is not sufficient attention directed to 
that course of instruction and treatment which 
jrelates to the vigor and improvement of the 
bodily powers. The influence of the body on 
the mind is universally admitted. When the 
former is healthy and active, ihe latter becomes 
susceptible of so much the higher and more 
successful efforts: whereas a feeble constitution 
tends to the production of mental imbecility; 
materially lessens our usefulne.ss ; and throws a 
hue of sadness over all the scenes of life. Now 
our constitutions, our bodily powers, are very 
much at the mercy of those who control our 
physical education. A neglect on this particu- 
lar is often followed by immediate misery. It 
is from such neglect that we are so often called 
to mourn over the premature extinction of bril- 
liant genius; and such, neglect has been too 
commonly practised in relation to female chil- 
dren. Many have become victims to it, through- 
out their whole lives — have suffered from per- 
petual irritability, pulmonary weakness, morbid 
sensibility, fickleness of purpose, inconsistency 
of conduct, and all the distressing agonies of 
nervous debility ; and finally a premature death 
is the inevitable consequence. There is, rioubt- 
les.s, a constitutional difference in the sexes, and 
woman is not to be trained to the severe athletic 
exercises Ol men; but surely the former ought 
to have the benefit of all such becoming exerci- 
ses as shall give them healthful bodies and firm 
nerves. 
“ Let the utmost attention,” says the Rev. Mr 
•tturrows, “ now be paid to the physical educa- 
pgU of females — not simply to their diet, tern- 
ranee, and cleanliness, but to the proper treat- 
ent and training of the body. Let them have 
®uch physical recreation as shall be consistent 
with tlieir delicacy of sex, and as shall serve to 
procure for them vigorous constitutions, and 
sound minds. — Streng;hen their physical pow- 
ers and you may give energy to their imcllects, 
brilliant tints of beauty to their persons, anima- 
tion to their spirits, and grace to their manners. 
Walking, riding, and gardening, inthe open air, 
are practised by women of other nations to a far 
greater extent than by American females. Most 
English women in the wealthier classes are able 
to walk six or eight miles without oppressive 
fatigue, and when they visitthiscountry, rlways 
express their surprise at the inactive habits ol 
the American ladies. An English mother at 
thirty-five orfbrty is in the full bloom of perfect- 
ed womanhood— as fresh, as fair, and healthy 
as her daughters. But where are the American 
mothers who can reach this period unladed and 
unworn 1 If the daughters of this favored land 
would be fair, beautiful, healthy, and long-lived, 
they must exercise more in the air, and attend 
more fo the improvement of their bodily powers. 
Exercise is not less necessary than food for the 
preservation of health. Those who labor are 
not only the most healthy, but generally the 
most happy part of mankind. Exercises in 
walking, riding, and gardening, are calculated 
to. greatly improve the constitution, and give 
vigor and health to the whole system. There is 
nothing, perhaps, that tends more to improve 
the minds and bodies of females, than the culti- 
vation of flowers: it awakens the highest and 
most refined feelings in the human mind. Here 
may be seen, by His beautiful, works, the invisi- 
ble God. A taste for flowers has always been 
regarded by the most learned mental philosophers 
as a symbol of a pure and virtuous mind; a 
high and refined state ot moral feeling : it indi- 
cates a great susceptibility of improvement; 
and is the natural language oi the most noble 
faculty in the mind offemales.”— What a beau- 
tiful occupation for the young ladies of Michi- 
gaq to be engaged in : how happily may be 
spent a few leisure hours in the morning, when 
the glorious sun is just emerging from the eas- 
tern horizon, and ail nature is clad in her beau- 
tiful livery ! It is then that the mind is filled 
with hallowed emotions of adoration and praise. 
It is then that may be improved, to the very best 
advantage, both mind and body. Let strict at- 
tention be paid to the physical as well as mental 
education of the young women of this country, 
and we shall soon see health glowing in every 
countenance, beauty beaming from every eye ; 
and they will reap as their reward, vigor and 
strength of mind and body— a happy and long 
life. ° 
West Bloomfield, Mich., April, 1844. 
From the Southern Planter. 
WHITFWASH AND PAINT. 
Mr. Editor— There is, in the domestic hab- 
its and management of the people in the North- 
ern (I will not use the term “free” in contradis- 
tinction) and Southern States, nothing more 
striking than the difference in the appearance of 
the dwelling, out-houses, garden and other fen- 
ces ; especially all those about the homestead. 
In the North, all looks neat and fresh, with their 
houses and yards as if newly painted or white- 
washed ; their porticoes shaded and ornamented 
with the honey-suckle and multiflora, their little 
green plats before the door fringed with beds of 
roses, pinks and heart’s-ease. How differentia 
Ihe South ! — in too many instances, houses dark 
and dingy — windows broken — palings broken 
down — gardens demolished and lawns large 
enough for a New England plantation, rooted 
up by hogs, or grown up in weeds. I repeat, 
that though this state of things is not so univer- 
sal as to make it characteristic of the large plan- 
tations of the middle and Southern States, this 
side of the Delaware — it yet exists to an extent 
which reflects any thing but credit on their pro- 
prietors. Surely those whose establishments 
exhibit this slovenly exterior, do not reflect that 
the passer-by who sees it, is apt to suspect that 
inlerior management is in some correspondence 
with external appeal ances. Let it not, howev- 
er, be therefore inferred that the lady of the 
house is neglectful of what it is her province to 
look after— for wfiat can she do, unassisted with 
means or materials'? Let her have but a little 
help, a little encouragement in ihe way of kind 
words, and a small outlay — one hour in the week 
ol “the hands on the place,” with one or two 
dollars laid out in lime for whitewash, anda lew 
flower seeds, a hammer, a gimblet, and a few 
pales and nails to patch up the enclosure, and 
what a difference it would make in the lilLleter- 
ritury reserved for the dominion of the house- 
wife ! How^ unjust, not to say cruel, to with- 
hold all supplies, and yet make her bear the re- 
sponsibility of the home department ! The ve- 
ry thought of it always so fires me with indig- 
nation, that I cortld write a sermon if time and 
words were at command. But I only meant 
without a word ol comment, to send .you, for 
preservation in the Planter, the accompanying 
recipe for making the best sort of substitute for 
paint— let it go to your readers, that no excuse 
may be left for not having their houses wear 
that outward appearance of cleanliness and at- 
tention to looks, which betokens pure morals 
and a cultivated taste within. 
Washington, April 22, 1844. J. S. S. 
“Brilliant Whitewash.— Many have heard 
of the brilliant stucco whitewash on the east of 
the President’s house at Washington.— The fol- 
lowing is a recipe for making it, with some ad- 
ditional improvements ; 
“Take half a bushel of nice unslaked lime 
slake it with boiling water, covering it during 
the process to keep in the steam. Strain the In 
quid through a fine sieve or strainer, and add 
to it a peck ol clean salt, previously well dis- 
solved in warm water; three pounds of ground 
rice, boiled to a thin paste, and stirred in boiling 
hot: halfa pound of powdered Spanish whiting 
and a pound of clean glue, which has been pre- 
viously dissolved by first soaking it well, a^ni 
then hpging it over a slow fire, in a small ket- 
tle, within a large one filled with water. Add 
five gallons ol hot water to the whole mixture; 
stir it well, and let it stand a lew days covered 
from the dirt. It should be put on quite hot ; for 
this purpose it can be kept in a kettle on a port*, 
able lurnace. It is said that one pint of this 
mixture will cover a square yard upon the out- 
side of a house, it properly applied. Brushes 
more or less small may be used, according to 
the neatnesss of the job required. It answersas 
well as oil paint for wood, brick, or stone and 
is cheaper. It retains its brilliancy lor rnany 
years. ^ 
