strata of clay; and they are thus so fortified that 
a cypress is rarely torn up from the ground In 
which It grows. Tho roots assunio »<ro 
flexures with respect to the horizon, in a series of 
perpendicular cone-shaped protuberances called 
"knees," which rise to a height varying from two 
to ten feet, much enlarged beyond the sizo of tho 
roots. 
Prom counting the rings made by the growth 
of the tree, it is thought that there aro living 
cypress trees in the forests two thousand years 
of age.” 
pounds. While the principal snbstanoes have 
already been mentioned, science bos discovered 
several minerals, and some substances, as chlo¬ 
rine and phosphorus, in the numerous meteorites 
examined iu the last ton or fifteen years. It were 
easy to refer to the authors and works for details, 
if it was of general interest. 
The meteor of July 20th was one of the most 
remarkable for its appearance and changes. The 
wide extent of its visibility to the N. and S. of 
its course, does not necessarily carry it above 
our atmosphere, through which alono it would 
find the oxygen for its combustion. It seems 
highly probable it was seen by a citizen of Ho- 
chestor then in .St. Louis. This gives it. a long 
course west to east, as it was seen 200 miles east 
of oar Atlantic shore, but much south of its track. 
Its great velocity is certain; more than would be 
necessary for its being an attendant of the earth. 
It doubtless belonged to the planetary bodies 
which revolve round the sun. I>id any purt of it 
fall to tho earth? Probably, even though none 
shall bo found. Much of scintillating parts may 
have been dissipated in miuuto vaporous oxyds, 
which slowly but imperceptibly come to tho 
earth. More light may yet be shed upon the 
subject. Prom tho recent records of the meteor’s 
course, its elevation did not probably exceed 20 
to 24 tniies above the earth. 
Ruchester, N. Y., July 30, 1800. 
At the river commenced our regular “pack¬ 
ing" operations, whioh deprived us of one of our 
saddle horsos—three beiug loaded with baggage, 
and three at. the service of riders- Now for the 
road —16 miles to Arnold's — how can it be de¬ 
scribed? The thing is impossible in the present 
state of the English language. A few of the ele¬ 
ments or “ingredients” can only be hinted at, 
leaving the combination to he made by yon, as dis¬ 
agreeable as you can possibly invent. 
First, The road is tilled with bonlders of all 
sizes, shapes and positions, scattered and closely 
packed by turns; then ledges of slippery granite 
rock, shelviug forward, backward, and sidewise, 
like tho roof of a honse; then mnd-holes of all pat¬ 
terns and extent; then corduroy road, regular 
foot-traps for horses, made np of rolling, slippery 
and sliding logs; then it is cut tip like the bed of 
a small river through which a rapid torrent has 
dug out the bottom and tilled it in with all imag¬ 
inable obstacles; then-but 1 must just hint at 
it is ascertained to be a fact that the female births 
considerably exceed that of males on the Pacitio 
coast. The climate doubtless has its influence in 
reversing the law whioh generally prevails thro’- 
ont the world. No complete census has been 
taken in all the counties. A part gives the fol¬ 
lowing returns;—Clackamas Co. has a population 
of 3,333; viz, males 1,985, females 1,348, voters 
921. Total valuation of property in tho County, 
SI,947,180. In Douglass Co. the figures read,— 
1,540 males, 887 females,848 voters. In Josephine 
Co. there 927 males to 204 females, voters 669. 
Umpqua Co. contains a population of 1,041; viz., 
males 645. females 392, voters 351. In Wasco Co. 
there are 1,500 males and 500 females, 600 voters. 
In Multnomah Co. there 1,725 males and 1,216 
females. Marlon Co. gives returns of 4,025 males 
and 3,541 females. Washington Co. has 2,500 in¬ 
habitants, viz., 1,415 males and 1,055 females. 
Carry Co. has 170 males to 35 females. In Yam¬ 
hill Co. there is a population of 3,162,—maleB 1,- 
761, females 1,401. Columbia Co. has 685 males 
and 295 females. Here are the figures for eleven 
counties; from the other nine counties wo have 
no returns. These eleven have a total population 
0 f 27,244,— males 16,308, females 10,936; showing 
a proportion of nearly fifty per cent, in favor ot 
the males. Were the census confined to adults, 
it would doubtless make a show of two men to 
•hence there is no call for preachera 
[Special Correspondence of Moore’s Rural New-Yorker.] 
A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA. 
Aft. Hoed and Alt. Blanc compared—The Revnrds of 
Tabor—Prices of Farm Products—J Lyric set to 
Music —" Shy lock" and his Victim—Oregon War 
Debt—Proportion of Adult Males to Females, as tteo 
to one—Intermarriages of Whites and Squaws—A 
Visit to one such Family —5,000 more Females needed 
Sai.kh, Oregon, April 20,1800. 
As yet I linger under the shadows of ML Hood, 
and delight to witness the play of sunlight as it 
comes down on a fair day to kiss his snowy 
cheeks and bathe his huge Bides with celestial 
Sardinia may boast of ML Blanc, 
PASTE FOE SCRAP-BOOKS. 
interesting to foot passengers, lor tho foregoing 
relates to the path itself. Tho footman is obliged 
to jump from rock to rock, forward, BidewiBC, 
occasionally landing half-leg deep in tarry mnd; 
then he must walk on slippery route, or some 
bending sapling, with a nice hydropathic pros¬ 
pect in case of an unwary step. Tired, panting* 
dirty, astonished at hiB own performances, the ad¬ 
venturous pedestrian at length rejoices at the 
sight of the opening clearing, and the comforta¬ 
ble farm house and quarters from which we are 
now writing. 
Want of time and space prevent onr giving an 
account of the famous pack-horses, which aston¬ 
ished mo more than any thing I have seen. Then 
perfect Bareness of foot, whether treading on 
boulders, smooth rock, or rolling and ill-adjusted 
logs—their occasional "detours,” when the im¬ 
passibility of the road required them, and their 
perfect independence of tho guide or riders, can 
only be appreciated by tho observer of their re¬ 
markable sagacity. 
Half a pint is as much as it is good economy 
to make at one lime; unless tho work to be ac¬ 
complished is large. To something more than 
this measure (allowance to be made for evapora¬ 
tion) of perfectly clean and pure rain water, add 
a heaping teaspoonful of good broum sugar, (New 
Orleans, Porto ltico, or Maple.) When complete¬ 
ly settled, if any sand settles at tho bottom or dirt 
rises to the surface, it should be carefully strained. 
Add a few small pieces of clear gum Arabic, and 
if any dirt appears, strain it again. Now stir in, 
very slowly, a little at a time, good rye flour— 
taking pains that It be equally diffused through 
the fluid, without any lamps,—indeed, it should 
be like a well prepared jelly, as In truth it is. 
Adel a few grains of oorroMivc sublimate, set the 
vessel on a warm stovo or on the (Ire, and stir 
constantly till of requisite thickness. It must not 
be allowed to burn, or in any degree to be lumpy, 
as it will not work smoothly,—a point to be at¬ 
tained it you expect to be gratified by its use. 
Before it becomes quite cold, add a few drops 
(not to exceed live,) of any essential oil, (to bo 
had at the Druggist’s for a few cents,) stirring so 
that it may he intimately and equally diffused 
throughout tho mass. If what is made is more 
than is required at one time, sot it away, (out of 
the reach of children, of coarse,) and if it dries 
and becomes like horn, as it will, it is no matter. 
When needed again, moisten the surface with a 
little warm rain water, and a few turns of tho 
brush will bring It into as good working condi¬ 
tion ns at first. The object of adding corrosive 
sublimate Is to prevent fermentation. The eso. 
oil keeps it from moulding. These two articles 
can be left out at discretion. Instead of gum 
Arabic some add flnoly powdered and sifted 
resin; but as this article is not soluble in water, 
the writer cannot explain tho philosophy of its 
action, if it has any. In conclusion, to insure 
radiance, 
which has marvelous attractions for tourists of 
all nations, rising, as it dees, to a height of 16,663 
feet, yet Ml Hood shoots past it 2,700 feet, and is 
crowned with perpetual snow. It is cone-shaped, 
and,nnderthe gltBteningsunlight ofan April noon 
it becomes one of the grandest and most majestic 
objects I ever beheld. I have seldom wondered, 
or looked with astonishment upon the Orientals 
for yielding up their devotions to the God of 
Day, or worshiping at the shrine of that mighty 
orb which warms all things into life and beanty 
—at whose beneficent touch the earth is decked 
in emerald, and flowers lift their fragrant heads 
and shake their petals, yielding the incense of 
devotion as he rides the heavens like ft Deity, 
scattering, in his onward and matchless sweep, 
the poisonous miaBins and chilling damps of a 
pestilent earth, and gilding the mountains with 
beauteons sheen; but when mountain and sun 
combine their divinity, we confess to a tendency 
to adore their authority, and yield passive obedi¬ 
ence to their high and celestial utterances. 
Labor is better paid on this ooast than on the 
Atlantic. Never have I seen labor so well re¬ 
warded elsewhere as here. Senator Broderick 
once remarked, in the Senate chamber, at Wash¬ 
ington:—“I represent a State where labor is hon¬ 
orable—where no station is so high, and no posi¬ 
tion so great, that its occupant i# not proud to 
boast that he has labored with his hands. There 
iB no State, no place on earth, where labor is so 
honored and so well rewarded; no time and no 
place, since the Almighty doomed the sons of 
Adam to toil, wbete the curse, if it be a curse, 
rests so lightly as now on the people of Califor¬ 
nia.” This remark of the lamented Senator 
applies equally to Oregon. The prices paid for 
labor rule Icbb than four or live years since. The 
present standard of prices is about as follows:— 
A good farm hand commands $40 per month and 
board. Female domestics receive from $20 to $30 
per month and board. In hotels, girls obtain 
from $30 to $40 per month, and as chief cooks, 
from $40 to $60 per month and board. It may be 
proper to remark that board and lodging hero 
costs $7 per week, and never less than $6. Me¬ 
chanics obtain the following prices;—Carpenters, 
shoemakers, and tailors, $B per day and board; 
blacksmiths and brickmasons, $5 to $6 per day 
and board. Female seamstresses reoeive $2 to 
$2.50 per day and board. Lady school teachers 
are paid, besides board, $25 to $40 per month. 
There is pressing need for more good female 
teachers here, 
one woman, 
or lecturers here against polygamy; but, on the 
other hand, we maintain that one woman cannot 
conveniently nor advantageously wife out her 
affections to more than one man. This being the 
case, it follows that 500 out of every L,000 mar¬ 
riageable men in Oregon are doomed “to blush 
unseen and waste their sweetncsB on the desert 
air.” Thonsands of young men iu the prim^of 
manhood, have hearts and hands to exchange 
with lovers, but, alas, as yet, they are doomed to 
live nnmated and unloved, and unaccompanied in 
life’s pathway by a companion suited to share 
with them the blessings of one of Heaven’s wisest 
and holiest institutions. In Washington Ter¬ 
ritory the proportion of males to females is still 
greater, arid I learn that marriages between 
white men and Indian girls is a common occur¬ 
rence. Formerly such iutermarriages were not, 
uncommon here. They aro rare now. Recently 
THE CYPEES8, 
The Cypress swamps of Mississippi, Louisiana, 
and Florida, aro the largest forests in the world* 
in whioh Is to he found one kind of tree only. 
Two species are known, tho Black and White 
Cedar or Cypress, —Owing their principal differ¬ 
ences to the amount and permanance. of the water 
in which they grow. That which nourishes in tho 
deepest water has light colored bark—while those 
in dryer situations are called Black Cypress, yield¬ 
ing a firmer andmore resinous wood. The timber 
is extremely durable, and in high repute for shin¬ 
gles and posts. 4 
The CypresB Bayous of tho Mississippi and its 
branches, are depressions covering largo areas, 
through whioh tho water of tho higher countries 
filters to the streams below. The miry nature of 
the soil, as well ns the thick undergrowth, and 
fallen timber, render them difficult of access, and 
many thrilling tales of adventure, are told of the 
“cypress cutters” of these regions. 
The character and condition of the timber 
varies, as we before remarked, with its location. 
A paper in Silliman’s Jonrnal gives the following 
I description of these peculiarities: 
[Written for Moore’s Rural Now-YoTkerJ 
ON METEORS-WHAT ARE THEY? 
BY PROP. C. DEWEY. 
In the last Rural, this question was answered 
in part But, the question has taken the form, of 
what are they composed? So many havo been ana¬ 
lyzed by the chemist, that much is known of some 
of thorn. 
Of the metooric stones which fell from the 
Weston meteor, of 1807, full description was 
published by Prof. Bili.iman, in January, 1808. 
The stone him a gray or ashey hue, granular in its 
structure, like some sandstones, easily frangible 
diffused through it some mallea- 
by the hammer 
ble iron, alloyed with nickel, and iron pyrites, or 
sulphuret of iron; specific gravity about 3.3 to 
3.6; rough and irregular in form. The earthy 
part is composed of eilexand magnesia, of which 
the silex 1 b near four times as much us the mag¬ 
nesia, the former being 61.5 per cenL, and the 
latter 13 per cent. Oxyd of iron 38., oxyd of 
nickel 1.6, and sulphur 1. One stone, which foil 
from this meteor, weighed 35 pounds; another 
raaBS, dashed into small fragments by failing on a 
rock, was estimated at 20 pounds; another frag¬ 
ment weighed 13 pounds; another, abounding 
in iron, weighed 364 pounds; another must have 
weighed 260 pounds, but dashed into a multitude 
of pieces. 
Several other meteoric stones, analyzed in 
Europe, contained the same ingredients as the 
Weston meteor. Many have nickel, while others 
have chrome, and some both; alumina, manganese, 
and lime, and some other elements, in small 
amount, have been found in them. 
So much uniformity in the elements, and the 
proportions of the elements, leads to the infer¬ 
ence of their common origin, viz., the fragments 
of, or from, some revolving bodies. 
Meteoric Iron is another kind of meteors, often 
This is usually Boft and mal- 
IlOLi.YfioOKS. —Will you please tell me how 
Hollyhock flowers are obtained, whether from 
seeds or roots? And where can either be obtain¬ 
ed? Lately, I havo been away from home, and 
seen some very beautiful flowers of this kind 
whioh 1 wish to obtain.— Youno Ruuai.ist. 
New varieties are grown from seeds; then they 
are propagated by dividing the roots. The roots 
can be obtained of most of our nurserymen and 
florists, and the seeds at the seed-stores. There 
has been a great improvement in the Hollyhock 
within the last ten years, anil It is now a beautiful 
flower, worthy a place in any garden. 
“The general form of the trunks of bayou tim¬ 
ber is represented by the above engraviug. They 
swell out toward their base and form into large 
spreading hutments, curving into lateral roots, 
strongly fortifying their trunks. This is mostly 
the form and character of the timber along the 
margins of all bayous leading from their Bcveral 
sonrees in the cypress basin to their principal 
water courses. Its defects in character and 
growth increase on approaching the principal 
streams, and inversely, improve in receding from 
them toward the woodland basins; here it attains 
its highest perfection, exhibiting trunks not unu¬ 
sually of enormous proportions. It towerB to a 
height, in some instances, of a hundred and 
twenty feet without a limb, with a circumference 
at the top often exceeding sixteen feet, and at 
butt more than twenty feet, and this above tho 
usual swell near the base as shown in the figure 
below. 
I think, and know, that thero are 
as many mechanics here, of all kinds, as can find 
constant employment, until the present stringency 
in money matters is relieved. Owing to the 
scarcity of money, very little building is going on. 
Farm produce sells at tho following rates:— 
Wheat 75 cents, oats $1, corn $1,60, potatoes 50 
cents, and appleB $2.60 to $3 per bushel. Eggs 
bring 26 to 25 cents per dozeD, cheese 25 cents, 
and butter 40 cents per poumL Fresh beef stake 
12 J cents, mutton and ham 18 to 20 cents per 
pound. Groceries are 100 per cent, above prices 
in the Eastern States, Dry goods about 50 per 
ceuh, and ready-made clothing only very little 
above Eastern retail prices. Gold and silver is 
the only circulating medium. A bank bill would 
be a great curiosity on this coast. 
For several years money has been extremely 
plenty here. Every loafer had his pockets full, 
and beys would pitch quoits in the streets with 
$20 gold pieces. Within twelve or fifteen months 
a change has been coming over Oregon, and the 
lyric of hard times is being set to music, and 
sung by the masses. Ten per cenL is the legal 
rate of interest here, yet any rate of interest is 
legal if expressed in the note. A good story is 
told of a moneyed Siiylock here. Recently a 
borrower called and inquired for terms, and was 
informed he could be accommodated at five per 
cenL a month. He agreed for $100 at that rate 
for one year. Keylock took his note, and re¬ 
marked that as it was bis enstom to take his in¬ 
terest in advance, there would bejustS40 to count 
out to him. The innocent borrower rubbed his 
forehead, and drily remarked, that it was fortu¬ 
nate that he did not happen to want the money 
for two years, for in that case there would be 
something now coming to the lender. The scarci¬ 
ty of money is partly accounted for by the fact, 
thatthe people of Oregon and Washington Terri¬ 
tories furnished, conjointly, $6,000,000 in property 
and services, for the late Indians wars, and as yet 
have not received a farthing at the hands of Gov¬ 
ernment. We shall refer to the injustice of this 
neglect in a future number. 
The relative proportion of adult males in Ore¬ 
gon to that of females is supposed to be as two to 
one. If the population, including children and 
youth, be counted, it will vary the relative pro¬ 
portions. For instance, in this village, there are 
357 males and 190 females over 21 years of age, 
or a few over half as many women as men. But 
including all ages, the figures read thus,—males, 
c ?4; females, 444 Providentially, or otherwise, 
D® it Wki.l.—“W hatever is worth doing, is 
worth doing well,” is a maxim which should be 
remembered by all Young Uuralists. Nothing is 
ever gained by only half doing work, and many 
persona lose much time and labor all their lives 
by not remembering this. When you are at school, 
learn all yonr lessons well, if you can; if not, 
learn part of them well and omit the others. 
And when yon are at home, whatever may be 
yonr employment, do ull your work well In 
short, if you wish to be prospered through life, 
when yon do a thing, remember to “ do it welL” 
W. H. H. 
A TRIP TO THE ADIRONDACKS.-NO. L 
[Some three weeks ago, a party of Western New York 
gentlemen — including Dr. W. W. ELY, Rev. Messrs. 
Boardman and Ellenwood, and Messrs. Wm. alling, 
Ws, S, Ear, C, A. Dewey, and R, Brewster, of Roches¬ 
ter, and Rer. Mr. Fowler, of Aahnrn,—started on an 
excursion to the Adirondack Mountains. Their purpose 
was to Bpond several weeks in fishing, bunting, etc , in 
the great wilderness, and on the lakes and rivulets, of 
the celebrated " John Brown Tract,” and are probably 
now enjoying novel and interesting experiences, One 
of these gentlemen intimated that Rural readers should 
be advised somewhat concerning the tour, and we uow 
have the pleasure of giving his first epistle, written after 
experiencing some taste of “ border life,” aud on the 
point of leaving the confines of high and dry civilization:] 
' Arnold’s, John Brown’s Tract, July 28, 1880, 
As several members of our party are spending 
a few moments this morning in writing letters 
preparatory to “going in,” 1 will give you a brief 
account of onr progress thus far. It is the last 
chance we Bhall have to communicate with the 
civilized world for several weeks, when we hope 
to announce that we are safely “out of the 
woods.” 
Up to the present time nothing has happened 
to ns out of the usual routine. Taking Boouville 
as the starting point, we found there a son of Mr. 
Arnold, with six of bis famous pack-horses, ready 
to transport us and our effects to the “ Tract” If 
the road from Boonville to this place could be 
fitly described, it would furnish material enough 
for one letter at leasu The first eight miles (to 
Booth’s Mills,) admits of wheel carriages, and is 
comparatively easy, though hilly and Bandy. The 
Black River and the feeder of the Canal, with saw 
mills, etc,, occasionally pass in review. Entering 
the woods, our party divided into pedestrians and 
equestrians, according to choice. A horse is rated 
at $3 for the trip, whether rode or packed. The 
road was pronounced on all hands most horrible, 
and only needed a spice of danger to make it ter¬ 
rible; but aB it had not thiB element of sublimity, 
I must write it as execrably bad. At the Moose 
River Fording we stopped fur a dinner of trout 
and pork. A shell of a house, designed for a 
hotel, has been recently added to the accommo¬ 
dations of this inviting tour. 
called native iron, 
leable, iron alloyed with nickel. Thongh many 
specimens have been found, which have the char¬ 
acters of meteoric iron, relatively few have been 
known to fall. The first well-aathenticated speci¬ 
men fell in 1751, at Agram, lu Croatia, and is in 
the Imperial Cabinet of Vienna; weighed 71 
pounds; was composed of iron, 96.5, and of 
nickel, 3.5. Another smaller weighed 16 pounds. 
Another fell in 1835, at Dickson, Tenn., of a sim¬ 
ilar character; and another was found in Green 
Co., Tenn., weighing near 20 pounds, whose com¬ 
position was, iron, 87.6, and nickel, 12.4. A 
specimen was also found near Lockport, which 
gave, the younger Billiman, iron, 95.5, and 
nickel, 5.0. 
The peculiarity of these meteorites is the de¬ 
velopment, by the action of nitric acid, of par¬ 
allel and cross lines, showing a distinct crystal¬ 
line structure, called after the discoverer, Wid- 
mamtattian figures. 
The largest mass of meteoric iron is in the 
Gibbs Cabinet of Yale College, "being three feet 
and lour aud a half inches long, greatest breadth 
two feet and four inches, aud its greatest height 
sixteen inches,” and weighing “ sixteen hundred 
and thirty-five pounds.” It is the most impor¬ 
tant specimen of the kind iu the world, and was 
found on Red River, Louisiana, now Texas. Its 
composition is, iron, 90.0, and nickel, 9.7. The 
famous Santa Rosa specimen has nearly the same 
composition, viz., iron, 91.4, and nickel, 8.6. The 
resemblauoe in the composition of these meteor¬ 
ites is very striking, and at once suggests a com¬ 
mon origin. 
So far, no new substance has been found in 
them. They resemble the stones or ores of earth, 
the proportions being different from saoh com 
How Men Grow. —Henry Ward Beecher thu3 
tells:—“ Even iu the darkest cellar, when spring 
comes, the tuber will aprouL No rains help it, 
and no sunlight; yet it will waste itB very life 
in shooting forth long and etiolated stems, and 
reach toward aDy chink or crevice through 
which the faintest gleam may come. But so lit¬ 
tle light as that makeB growth to be exhaustion. 
And such are men grown in the darkness and 
dungeons of oppression; while a free man, with 
all tho circumstances and opportunity of admi¬ 
rable liberty, resembles more our own New Bug- 
land pine, that asks not richness of soil; that 
grows from among the rocks, and clothes tho 
granite hills, and feeds abundantly, even in tho 
very sands—whose leaf never withers, and is as 
green in the winter as in the summer. Behold 
it, Btaading on the mountain’s top, and singing 
with every branch when the summer winds sigh 
through it; and even in tho direst extremity of 
winter bearing up the cold snows upon its tufted 
branches as the warrior carries the white plume 
upon his head, And snch is the man fall grown, 
and strong in the nourishing air of liberty.” 
