The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-09-22

HOlJnOI1lIll4ln1! Ill y
Resources Of the South,
Tho tito of this wcll>known and valuable
olunlo, Is q comprehensive one, and fully
Jnyeys tho idea Of its contents. 1t dcyel>
pes, as 1t putports to do, the resources of
S sSaaIta and sas na Ses aa meSSs prcae
u complete "medical botany Of tho Southern
Hta,cs," far moro comprehensive than any
yet publishod-hayIngii fact, the alvan.
tago Of using all previous publca.ions-of
Which DIR. PoRoHER has made excellent
most valuable kind, in respect to the ''uso>
'Hl properties Of the, trees. plants and
shrubs," aboundtng everywhere in tho
tropical vegetation Of the South.
All tho conditions Of this promise Of tho
,le arc ful1lledin tho pagos Of this coplous
I'd most valuable yoluine; and, whethor
20 consider tho politician. the planter, tho
ApeculAtor, tho housckeeper, or tho simple
'''tlzen, this should be household book
tth all. In brief, 1t takcs rank. with tho
~; and whore they exhibit little less than
Ihe sirifcs, the struggles, the wars. and tho
t!liserabte politics Of society, this volume
,nrows US back upon God: shows us what
lave boon tho blessings and bountles we
owe to His hands; shows us where to turn
4or resource at the hour Of needi shows tho
statesman how beSt to calculate the probn>
bio products Of the soil; tho farmer how to
avail himself of It's natural productionsi tho
domestic mediciuer how 10 meet the emer>
gcncies Of dlsoagc, from his nattvo woods;
aud the domestic economist how to find, In
probably the most miserable weed, an herb
of grace as well as utility. giving rellof to
his pains. anu savor to his soups.
Conveying almost every variety of instrucr
tlon on all theso vital subjects, this volume
Of DIR PoRoHEn was admirably calculated
TO meet tho exlgenctcs Of tho great civil war,
forced upon tho Confederate States at a mo,
ment when their materials in food, medicine,
metals and machinery wore almost wholly
wantingi art and scioncc, irrespective of
simple agriculture, was deficient in training
and experience, and when orr people suf>
fcred from privations which rendered neces-
sary the exercise Of every agency to meet
tho exigcnccs Of daily life.
The preparation Of such work as tho
present happily occurred to the Surgeons
General Of tic Confederate States; and with
like felicity of Judgment he chose for its
preparation the editor in whose able hands
ii achieved the most singular success, and
became Of general use throughout tho war.
DIR. P0RcHER brought to his task all the
essentials OF study, science, thought and
medicul training SO essential to the work
Tor IL years. as ply 6ician and surgeon, he
had dwelt in charge OF tho hospitals, enjoys
ing duly opportunities for experimental in
vcStie utions III Therapeutics aud Practical
Medicine. lie had made tho best use Of
those opportunities; Of most incorrigible in>
tustrY, his experiments wero conducted
through tho incest details, and subjected to
all tho most scientific tests. He was Mt once
scientifically and practically naturalist; an
explorer Of woods and forests m anaIist Of
shrubs. roots and herbs-gttcd with hup-
py Quicl1ness IN discriminating them, and an
equally happy art III discovering their med>
icinnl and other qualities.
Nor, In these studi"s in tho open fields.
did he limit himsolf to tho teachings simply
OF material nature. Hc was wcll read III the
best books Of Scioncc. and tested their al-
legged truths by his own experience. The
catalogue OF scientific works which he has
examined, constitutes. OF itself II most ca>
pacious library. From tho woods, fields
aud forests. the swamp md tho rocks, from
tho writings of learned mon, he turned
again to contemporary authority, and sought
from the individual citizen the forester, the
furmer and planter, and old hOuseltGcpers.
all that they could tell Of their own dlScov>
Cries in the domestic province. Thcro were,
and still arc thousand simple secrets Of old
people, OF The red mon and Of the negro,
which yield remedies against hunger and
disease Of which Sclcnco us yet knows 10.
thing.
With curious senrch aud industry, DIR.
PoRCnER sought out ani followed all the
clues. through whatever medium. which
might Conduct him to the new truth; and
tho result iE this most c0pinnS and conprc.
henstvc dictionary Of Southern resource:
whether for peace or war, for health or dis
tcasc for toll TO procure aud art 10 manipu.
late. and reduce To humun use
Whether, ns rcgnrtlS staple or farm culture,
the proper modes for raising cotton, rice,
ssngA,r, indigo corn and tho cereals, or the
humber ambition Of the fruit. vegetable and
garden grower, in all Of these our author
has been almost equally solicitious to pros
euro tho cOmplctest information and give
tho wises: counsel. No interest Is over
looked, hardly single object Of use, how
evor unknown or however much despiscd.
und the volume rises into the ramk Of II his.
tory. as essential 10 that Of tho South In gen
eral, as any that teaches the progress Of SO.
cloty and its experiences through tho two
hundred years Of Its past existence. The
book may and should be kept alongside the
Staio's history Of its civil and military af
f0rs; of its growth aud Development in hut.
man respects and character. It provides
ftting auxiliary and companion volume to
every such history IN oach Of the Southern
Statcs.
Tho style Of tho author is cloar and unaf>
fcctcd. neat and sufficiently compact. lie
eodom falls below his subject. and exhibits
no vain ambition to rise above It, In his
preface. he narrates the manner Of his pros
Rrcss. without assumtton It's without d sgnSe.
names Of plants will gratefully meet the
needs of the simply practical, while the In.
dox Of tho botanical names Of genera and
spccies, will satisfy the scientific student,
to whom the common names mny be unfa>
miliar. Thcso indexes arc valuable additions
to tho work, necessary, IN fact, in volume
go crowded with its thousand topics not ono
Of which is without its interest and valuc to
tho people Of the South. It should be in
the library Of every Southern household
and deserves to be we'll thumbcd.
Tho volume, beautifully printed on fine
paper, with clear new style is from the
press Of Messrs. Walker, Evans and Cogs>
VOL. who have acquitted themselves Of their
share of the work with tho most commenda.
ble skill, neatnoss and good taste. 1t Is a
largo octave, neatly bound, aud contains
moro than seven hundred pages Of lettor
press Such a publication Is highly honora>
bic to our local literature, especially whom
VIC consider under what circumstances It
wee originally prepared, under what dis>
eouraetng aspects Of society. Il has boon re-.
pabilshed la such handsome costume.
From Charleston Daily News, July 2sth.
OUR FIELDS AND FORESTS.