MOOKE’S EURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
BOTANY. THE BOOT-ITS STEUCIBEE 
AND FUNCTION. 
The root is an essential organ of most 
plants. Its growth tends toward the cen¬ 
tre of the earth while the stem grows usu 
ally in the opposite direction. The main 
body of the root is called the caudex —its 
minute parts, radicles, or fibrils; and if it 
be composed of numei’ous parts, it is term 
ed a fibrous root,—if it have the appear¬ 
ance of being cut off at the extremity— 
proemorse', when tapering,or tap- 
rooted. The subterranean stems, the tuber, 
the comus and the like, as seen in the Ger 
man Iris, Solomon’s Seal, Dahlia, Potato, 
&c., have been, though improperly, styled 
roots. 
Hoots are called annual when they die 
during the first year after the seed is plant¬ 
ed, as barley, oats, maize beans, &c.; bien¬ 
nial, when they die within a period of time 
not exceeding two years, as the carrot, beet, 
turnip, radish, cabbage, &c.; and perennial 
when they continue for many years, as the 
oak, maple, alder, &c. Consequently plants 
are said to be annuals, biennieds and peren¬ 
nials according to their time of endurance. 
This figure reprercsents the fibrous root, 
Fio. 5. as in barley, and the an¬ 
nual grasses. These 
numerous rootlets are 
well adapted for ab¬ 
sorption, which is their 
chief function. Such 
roots are only found 
in the monocotyledo- 
nous plants. 
Figures 0 and V are biennials, whose 
plants do not blossom until the 
second year. Such thickened 
roots are said to be fleshy, and 
ai-e called tap-root or-spindle-sha- 
-Ir" ped, from their resemblance to the 
l' • articles from which they are 
■u named. Fig. 7. 
When it tapers 
,: - regularly from the 
./ top to the lower 
extremity, ns the '' 
carrot Fig. 6, it is ]'j\\ 
called tap-root; 
I the radish, because tapering both 
ways from the middle is called 
spindle-shaped : — napiform or 
turnip-shaped when broader than i 
long, as in Fig. 7. ! 
Figure 8 shows the form of the granula- 
other striking peculiarity. Their roots, says 
Prof. Gray, “ not only strike in the free air, 
but throughout their life have no connec¬ 
tion with the soil. They generally grow up¬ 
on the trunks and branches of trees, their 
roots merely adhering to the bark to fix the 
plant in its position, or else hanging loose 
in the air, from which such plants draw all 
their nourishment.” The Oucidium papilio 
is an example. The long moss, gray and 
pendant, is another kind of air-plant. 
The Parisites furnish still another pecu 
liarity. Some of these have green foliage 
and others are destitute of it. These all 
grow upon other plants and derive their 
nourishment from them. The flower alone, 
says Prof. Gray, may adhere to the foster 
plant without the intervention of any mani 
fest stem. A truly wonderful instance of 
this is furnished by that vegetable Titan, 
the Rajficsia Arnoldi of Sumatra. The 
flower, first discovered, grew upon the stem 
of a grape-vine. This flower measured nine 
feet in circumference and weighed fifteen 
pounds! Its color, light orange, mottled 
with yellowish-white. 
The internal structure of roots resembles 
that of the stem of the plant. There is, 
somet’xn a giciter proportion of cellular 
matter, as the beet, the turnip. Prof. Gray 
says that there arc no spongioles or sponge- 
lets, pertaining to roots. As to absorption 
by roots, he says, “ the inspection of the 
root of a germinating plantlet, or of any 
growing rootlet, even under a low magni- 
fying power, shows that they must imbibe 
the moisture that bathes them, by endosi- 
osis, through the whole recently formed 
surface and especially by the hair like pro¬ 
longations of the exterior layer of cells, or 
fibrils as they may be termed, which are 
copiously borne by all young roots.” 
The most obvious function of the root is 
that of fixing the plant in the earth—while 
the most important one is that of feeding 
the plant by absorption with what it re¬ 
quires from the earth. 
Absorption, by the roots, ceases when 
the leaves grow languid and fall. This in¬ 
dicates the right time for transplanting trees: 
tins is the autumn when growth is suspend¬ 
ed, or very early in the spring before it re¬ 
commences. The autumn is deemed the 
better time to do the wmrk of tree planting. 
A hint to the wise is sufficient. 
Note. —We are indebted to Mr. D4rrow, publisher of 
“ Rodgers’ Scientific Agriculture,” for tlie cuts given in 
the above and previous articles on Botany.— Ed. 
ted root “ which con¬ 
sists of many small tu¬ 
bercular knobs, connect¬ 
ed by fibres, as seen in 
the common w'ood-sor- 
rel. Some writers call 
this the neck-lace form. 
Fig. 9. 
Figure 9. represents 
a tuber which is an an¬ 
nual thickened subterranean stem, provided 
at the sides with latent buds, from which 
new plants are produced, ns the potato. — 
It is called tubercle when very small 
Fig. 10. 
This is the ramose or branching root, the 
type of such as survive from year to year. 
These branches grow in all directions, em¬ 
bracing as in the elm an area, sometimes, 
whose circle is 300 feet in diameter. 
Besides these primitive roots thus far con¬ 
sidered, there are what Prof. Gray calls 
secondary or adventitious and mrial roots. 
Most creeping plants produce the former, 
as the strawberry: the latter are seen in 
most woody climbers as poison ivy [Rhus 
toxicodeiidro7i) Verginian-Creeper {Ampe- 
lopsis guinquefolia,) Trumpet-creeper ( Te- 
conia radicans,) by which they climb to the 
top of the highest trees not unfrequently. 
The lower joints of Indian corn sometimes 
send out mrial roots. The Screw-pine and 
’ Banyan-tree are good illustrations. 
Fpiphytes, called air-jflants, present an- 
WASHINGTON BOTANIC GARDENS. 
The Botanic Gardens of Washington are 
to be among the greatest attractions of the 
Capitol. The site selected is the handsome 
square of ground lying between Pennsyl¬ 
vania and Maryland avenues, (known as the 
old Botanic Garden,) and separated on its 
east side from the grounds around the Cap¬ 
itol by a street This square contains near 
12 acres, and will, when graded, be laid out 
in various compartments adapted to the ar¬ 
rangement and classification of both foreign 
and indigenous plants and trets, to each of 
which it is intended to attach a durable ta¬ 
ble, on which will be painted, in legible 
charactei-s, the scientific name, then the lo¬ 
cal one, native country, together with its 
uses as applicable to the arts, (fee., <fec. 
Tlie ragnes of conservatories, for the pro¬ 
tection of tropical and other tender plants 
during winter, will when finished, be over 
300 feet in length, and the walls of some of 
these plant structures are already three or 
four feet above the surface, and towards 
their completion. Congress has very liber¬ 
ally appropriated $5,000. 
The nucleus of the present very large 
collection of plants was laid by the roots and 
seeds brought home by our Exploring Ex¬ 
pedition under CapL Wilkes. Since then 
through the instrumentality of officers of 
government, residing or visiting foreign 
countries in our national vessels, many in¬ 
teresting plants have been added, so that 
the collection as it now stands numbers 
about 11,000 plants. 
Gratitude and Cheerfulness. — “As 
to my own personal condition, I am much 
happier than the day is long, and sunshine 
and candle light see me perfectly contented. 
1 get books in abundance, as much com¬ 
pany as I choose, a deal of comfortable leis¬ 
ure, and enjoy better health, I think, than 
for many years past What is there w'ant- 
ing to make me happy ? Notlilng, if I can 
but be thankful as I ought; and I trust 
He who has bestowed so many blessings 
upon me, will give me gratitude to crown 
them all.” 
Joy and Grief.— It is notorious to phi¬ 
losophers, that joy and grief can hasten .and 
delaj^time. Locke is of opinion, that a man 
in grellt misery may so far lose his meas¬ 
ure as to think a minute an hour; or in joy, 
an hour a minute. 
Hliiirrlliiiu]. 
LO’E MS LITTLE, BUT LO’E ME LANG. 
A. SCOTCH PROVERB. 
Yodr vows .^n(l promise to he (rue 
Fa’ fast and free from (lice, Jamie i 
Bui ow’re soon ye come to woo 
And Mule ken o’ me, Jamie. 
I doubt tia’ that you ihink ye love. 
But sac ye’ve thought sae oft already) 
I would na’ 1)0 the maid to prove 
A flame sae fickle and unsteady. 
Gin warmest love will soonest gang. 
Then *• lo’e me litilc, but lo'e me laiig.” 
Gin when a year or twa Iia’c flown, 
Vc still suld think o’ me. Jamie, 
Mayl)C I’M 1)0 tl)e first to own 
I lightly judged o’ thee, Jamie. 
I canna’ tliink the heart unkind 
That lights the face with looks so bonny j 
But mnyhc you may change your mind, 
And think iiae inair o’ me than ony. 
Gin w-arn'cst love will soonest gang. 
Then ” lo’e me little, but lo’e me lang ” 
Charlotte Yoono. 
For the Rural New-Yorker, 
“CALCULATIONS.” 
The uncertain nature of those doubtful 
matters which are waiting accomplishment, 
with the mistaken views and erroneous ac¬ 
tion of ourselves and others, which an inge¬ 
nious friend used to complain of as “ spoil- 
intr his calculations,” still seem to have 
great influence on private and public affairs, 
so, it may be worth while to devote a chap¬ 
ter especially to the subject—premising 
that it will be but a rambling one in this 
July Aveather, 
j “ Calculation,” as here made the subject 
of comment, is used in its popular—not its 
most (xirrect and mathematical sense; as 
synonymous with design—intention — lay¬ 
ing plans, or making arrangements, and con¬ 
sidering the chances of success for all un¬ 
dertakings of greater or lesser importance. 
No difficulty, w’c opine, can occur in find¬ 
ing things to complain of—matters which 
go wrong, and workings with resillts whicli 
show the mistaken nature of the ideas which 
originated them;—in fact the world is full 
of general and special instances going to 
prove the want of “ calculation.” These, 
or at least a portion of them, we should 
particularize with some severity, did we be¬ 
lieve the world could be scolded into good 
beliavior, or had forgotten the idea that 
“ every man lias it in his own power to re¬ 
form himself, and when he has done tliRt 
well, he is in a capital condition to help re¬ 
form the world, but not before.” VVitii 
whatever truth and force this may be urged 
in the present case, we have no hesitation 
in endorsing the assertion that “ we can 
look upon the sufferings of others with 
quite as much composure as we can endure 
our own,” and shall certainly feel and show 
as much sympathy for the latter as for the 
former. 
Few people complain that there is not 
work enough done—toil enough expended 
in this world of oure, when on its fii’st crea¬ 
tion six-sevenths of the time given was al¬ 
lotted to labor. But the mischief of it has 
been, that while one class suffered bodily 
and mentally' for the want of the exercise 
which the work they shirked upon others 
would have given them—those others Avere 
worn doAvn and exhausted by unceasing 
exertion—Avithout time for improvement, 
recreation, or even rest,—and this unequal 
division became more and more marked, as 
knowledge and capital Avere accumulated 
and hoarded, instead of finding the level of 
universal diffusion. The toiling millions 
were ignorant and degraded, and a vast 
amount of capital and labor Avas expended 
uselessly and wickedly, and against tlie gen¬ 
eral interest, because it Avas directed by and 
for the few ; the 7nani/ Avanting “ calcula¬ 
tion”—the poAver of bringing the force 
they exerted so painfully, into play for their 
OAvn benefit and improvement—for the good 
of the employed, and consequently of the 
employer. 
But this is a lessening evil. Labor is 
learning “ calculation,”—looking out for its 
own interest, and gaining faith in “ the per- 
rennial nobleness of Avork,” Avhich, united 
Avith mind Avill attain tlie power of self-di¬ 
rection and control, and sway the sceptre of 
the material AA’orld, fashioning and remedy¬ 
ing its ruggedness and sterility till itshall be¬ 
come an Eden of Happiness as before the 
fall. So we map dream, but hoAV much of 
the actual which Ave see around us, goes to 
“ spoil our calculations.” 
All improvements, all reforms, groAv out 
of the diffusion of intelligence—the spread 
of truth among the people—so let it once 
be shown Avherin the customs or laws of so¬ 
ciety are radically defective, and a thousand 
minds are set to calculating remedies to 
cure, or means to eradicate the evil, and it 
is no Avonder if nine hundred of them worse 
than lose their labor, while the remainder 
fail in providing for more than the destruc¬ 
tion of the error, leaving the introduction 
of any plan intrinsically better to the chan¬ 
ces and experiments of necessity — Avhich is, 
after all, the mother of the most valuable 
inventions for the betterment of society. 
How many very pretty plans are map¬ 
ped out as distinct and as promising as ever 
a paper city of ’36 —Avhich delude men on¬ 
ly because they fail to see the Avantof “cal¬ 
culation ” and provision of means suitable 
and adequate to their accomplishment — 
The simplest scheme needs careful consid¬ 
eration—the Aveighing and measuring of all 
influences Avhich may be expected to bear 
upon it; Avhile those complex in their na¬ 
ture call for a resort to the nicest calcula¬ 
tions, and a provision for failure, if it come, 
for 
” The nicest Fchcmcs of mice and men 
Gail" aft ague ”— 
and if one “ expects nothing they Avill nev¬ 
er be disappointed,” unless they get some¬ 
thing, Avhich mishap surely Avill not be hard 
to bear. 
AVe never dreamed of our subject giving 
us such a chase after it;—it having been 
our calculation on setting out to give some 
particular instances of the Avant spoken of 
—so that hasty and unconsidered- plans 
might be avoided, nor our readers or our¬ 
selves spend time, labor, or money, without 
a reasonable prospect of return, if precept 
could prevent it. Let them take this as a 
warning example—for avc Avill own up to 
the inconsiderateness of our plan, Aviih the 
materials Ave had gaiheied, and ask ti.einin 
all humility to Avait until a future day for 
our specimen of unspoiled “ calcidations." 
B. 
A WORD TO YOUNG MEN. 
AVishing and sighing, and imagining and 
dreaming of greatness, said AVilliam Wirt, 
Avili not make you great But cannot a 
young man command his energies? Read 
Foster on decision of character. That book 
will tell you Avhat is in your poAver to ac¬ 
complish. You must gird up your loins and 
go to work Avith all the indomitable energy 
of Hannibal scaling the Alps. It is your 
duty to make the rnost of your time, talents 
and opportunities. 
Alfred, King of England, though he per¬ 
formed more business than any one of his 
subjects, found time to study. 
Franklin, in the midst of his labors, had 
time to dive into the depths of philosophy, 
and explored an untrodden path of science. 
Frederick the Great, Avith an empire at 
his direction, in the midst of Avar, and on 
the eve of battle, found time to revel in the 
charms of philosophy, and feast on the lux¬ 
uries of science. 
Napoleon, Avitli Europe at his disposal 
with Kings at his ante-chamber, and at the 
head of thousands of men, Avhose destinies 
were suspended on his arbitrary pleasure, 
found time to converse Avith books. 
And young men Avho are confined to la¬ 
bor or business even tAvelve hours a day, 
may take an hour and a half of Avhat is 
left, for study, and Avhich Avill amount to 
two months in the course of a year. 
FIDELITY. 
Never forsake a friend. AVhen enemies 
gather round—Avhen sickness falls on the 
heart —Avhen the world is dark and cheer¬ 
less—it is the time to try true friendship. 
The heart that has been touched Avith tlie 
true gold Avill redouble its efforts when the 
friend is sad and in trouble. Adversity 
tries real friendship. They avIio turn from 
the scene of distress betray their hypocrisy, 
and proA’c that interest only moves them. 
If you have a friend Avho loves you— 
Avho studies your interest and happiness— 
be sure to sustain him in adversity. Let 
him feel that liis former kindijess is appre¬ 
ciated and that his love Avas not thrown 
away. Real fidelity may be rare but it ex¬ 
ists in the heart. AVlio lias not seen and 
felt its power ? They only deny its worth 
and power Avho have never loved a friend, 
or labored to make a friend happy. The 
good and kind, the affectionate and the vir¬ 
tuous, see and feel the heavenly principle. 
They Avould sacrifice Avealth and lionor to 
promote the happiness of others, and in re¬ 
turn they receive the reward of their love 
by sympathizing hearts and countless fa¬ 
vors, Avhen they have been brought low by 
disease or adversitjL 
Henry Clay says—“ In all the affairs of 
human life, social as Avell as political, he 
has remarked that courtesies of a small and 
trivial character are the ones Avhich strike 
deepest to the gratel'ul and appreciating 
heart. It is the picayune compliments 
Avhich are most appreciated—f;ir more are 
they appreciated than the double-eagle ones 
which AYC sometimes yield.” 
THE LOST GEM. 
The black AA-aters of the river of death 
were rolling sluggishly ouAvard. There ap¬ 
proached one Avhose features bore traces of 
anxiety and sorrow; and Avith a bowed form 
she gazed into the turbulent stream as 
though she would descry something far 
doAvn in its fathomless depths. 
“ AVhat seekest thou, sorrowing one ?” 
“Alas!” she answered, “I wore a spark- 
ling jcAvel upon my bosom; it was no pa’t y 
bauble, but a monarch’s gift, and invalua¬ 
ble. The wealth of India can yeild none to 
match it. In an evil hour I dropped it from 
its resting place into this dark river. Fora 
moment I saAv it float near the brink, and 
stretched out my hand to regain it, but it 
Avas beyond my reach; and it sank down 
till I saw it no more. It is gone—lost for¬ 
ever!” And in deep gloom she turned to 
depart. 
“ Stay, mourner ! Grieve not, but look 
again into the Avaters!” 
She looked, and a cry of joy burst from 
her lips. 
“ It is there 1 I see it floating upon the 
dismal Avave. Oh shall it not be mine once 
more ?” 
“ Nay, but thou art deceiA’-ed. AVhat 
thou seest is but the semblance of what 
AA’as thine. Yet, turn thine eyes upward 
and rejoice.” 
She obeyed, and beheld a star gleaming 
from a bright spot of azure in the murky 
! sky, Avhose rays gave even the Avaves of that 
gloomy river a tinge of briglitncss, and whose 
reflection there she had mistaken forlierown 
lost gem. 
Tlien came a tender and musical voice as 
tlie beautiful appearance A’anished. 
“ Mourner, tliese restless billow.s, though 
fearful and dark to thee, roll up to the gate 
of Heaven. Ever faithful to their trust, 
thc}^ bore the jcAvel, Avhich Avas lent, rot 
given to thee, to its rightful owner, the 
Monarch of Heaven; and, transferred to 
His care, it will shine forever in His glori¬ 
ous dwelling place.” 
The mourner departed Avith a counten¬ 
ance tlioughtful, yet cheerful; her gaze no 
longer bent upon earth or on the sorroAvful 
river of death, but Avas meekl)’^ and trust¬ 
ingly raised to the heavens. And that star, 
beaming into her spirit Avith rays of hope 
and gladness, Avas ever after her talisman 
and her guide. 
Mother! Avho Aveepcst for thy little one, 
so early lost, that mourner art thou; that 
star is thy now angel child! Dry thy tears, 
and ever rejoice that thou hast a treasure 
in Heaven! 
PARENTAL INDULGENCE. 
The subjoined passage from the travels 
of Sir Charles Lyell, the great geologist, 
contains too much truth to be lost, howev¬ 
er unpalatable it may be. There can be no 
doubt but Avhat the prevailing sin among 
us is parental indulgence, and that the con¬ 
sequences of this are disastrous in after 
life; and not only so, but full of ill omen to 
our countrjL A Republic, of all other forms 
of policy, needs Avell goA’crned families.— 
Parents of the present generation may save 
or destroy our beloved country:— 
“ The director of the State Penitentiary 
in Georgia told me that he has been at 
some pains to trace out the history of the 
most desperate characters under his charge 
and found that they had been invariably 
spoiled children; and he added, if young 
Americans Avere not called upon to act for 
themsc'lves at so early an age, and under¬ 
go the rub and discipline of the Avorld, 
they Avould be more vicious and immoral 
than the people of any other nation. . Yet 
there is no counti’y Avhere the children 
ought to be so great a blessing, or where 
they can be so easily provided for. 
Many young Americans have been sent 
to Switzerland; and I have heard their 
teacher, Avho found tliem less manageable 
than English or Swiss boys, maintain tliat 
they must all of tliem Inu’e some dash of 
wild Indian blood in their veins. English' 
men, on the other hand, sometimes attrib¬ 
ute the same character to republican in¬ 
stitutions; but in fact they arc spoiled long 
before they are old enough to know that 
they are not born under an absolute mon¬ 
archy.” 
A PASSING THOUGHT. 
Rothschild is forced to content himself 
Avith the same sky as the poor neAvspaper 
Avriter, and the great banker cannot order a 
private sunset or add one ray to the magni¬ 
ficence of the night The same air swells 
Sll lungs. The same kind of blood fills all 
veins. Each one possesses, really, only his 
own thoughts and his OAvn senses. Soul 
and body—these are all the property Avhich 
a man owns. All that is valuable in this 
Avorld is to be had for nothing. Genius, 
beauty and love are not bought and sold.— 
You may buy a rich bracelet but not a Avell- 
turned arm on Avhich to Avear it—a pearl 
necklace, but not a pearly throat Avith Avhich 
it shall vie. The richest banker on earth 
Avould vainly oft’er a fortune to be able to 
Avrite a verse like-Byron. One comes into 
the world naked and goes out naked; the 
difference in the fineness of a bit of linen 
for a shroud is not much. Man is a hand¬ 
ful of clay Avhich turns rapidly back again 
into dust. 
