Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, Medical Economical, and Agricultural

Abstract

IN this book we have very full accounts of the uses of the plants of the Southern States of America. The author freely acknowledges in his Preface (or, as it is here termed, “Preliminary,”) that he has availed himself largely of numerous works on kindred subjects, most of which have been published in America. In the introduction a few practical instructions are given for collecting and drying medicinal products of the vegetable kingdom. The plants are arranged according to their natural orders, the vernacular names being placed first, followed by the scientific names, and the distribution of the plants in the States. No attempt is made either at a scientific or popular description of the plants themselves; so that the book is literally what it professes to be, without being made bulky with matter that can, if required, be found in floras or purely botanical works. The book, indeed, is written more with an eye to the exposition of the medicinal uses of the plants; but the “economical and agricultural” portion is by no means lightly treated. In short, the information is most varied, as will be seen from a few quotations. Here is a recipe for making blacking from elder-berries, certainly an application we never before heard of:—“Boil elder-berries well, mashing the pulpy matter; then strain through a colander, and bottle for use. The liquid sours somewhat by age, but retains its qualities. Another way is to dimmer ripe elder-berries over a slow fire in an iron kettle for one hour and let the mass cool, and you will have good blacking.” Under the head of White Beech (Fagus sylvatica, and F. americana) our author tells us “the leaves of the beech trees, collected in autumn in dry weather, form an admirable article,for filling beds. The smell is grateful and wholesome, they do not harbour vermin, are very elastic, and may be replenished annually without cost.” There is nothing new in this application of beech leaves; they are used in many parts of Europe for a similar purpose, and were at one time so employed in England. Evelyn speaks of them as affording “the best and easiest mattress in the world to lay under our quilts instead of straw;” and by way of recommendation says that “divers persons of quality in Dauphiny” use them The above are examples of what may be called purely economical applications. We take a cruciferous plant, the Gold of Pleasure, or False Flax (Camelina saliva) as a single example of agricultural produce. “The cultivation of this plant for the seed would repay the farmer; an abundance of chaff would be produced which would be of infinite service for horses or for manure. In a grazing country like England, where vast sums are annually expended for foreign oil-cake, the Gold of Pleasure will soon be found an excellent substitute under manufacture, and, consequently, a grower should find a good remuneration in cultivating the seed. The oil-cake has been found highly nutritious in the fattening of sheep and oxen, as it contains a great portion of mucilage and nitrogenous matter, which combined are found very beneficial in developing fat and lean.” The prospects of making this a most important agricultural plant are, we think, too brightly drawn, considering that it has not escaped the notice of English agriculturists. Neverthless, a few words of this kind on different products might help to promote experiments on their culture and utility. The writer's aim throughout seems to be a general utilisation of vegetable productions, and he very ingeniously finds a variety of application for those of the Southern States. We do not hesitate to say that a few books of this description on the economic products of different parts of tne globe, would make us much better acquainted with the true value of the vegetable kingdom than we are at present.

Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, Medical Economical, and Agricultural.

By Francis Peyre Porcher (Charleston: 1869.)