238 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
APRIL 44 
§iar» of a Huruliat. 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near New 
York City. 
THAT PICTURE. 
March 25.—Mr*. Rcralist, as well as all 
tho family, ami myself in particular, were 
quite surprised tc find the l<ust number of 
the Rural New-Yorker containing my 
portrait, and that, too, just in the act of 
capturing a netful of insect*. The portrait 
is no very life-like that it has astonished all 
my friends and acquaintances, and we can¬ 
not account for its accuracy upon any other 
hypothesis than that your artist is a “ spirit¬ 
ual medium.” The more closely 1 examine 
that picture the more convinced I am that 
tho spirits of disembodied insects must have 
surrounded him and guided his pencil during 
the entire manipulation, for he has taken 
tho portraits of the very specimens which I 
have in my cabinet, aud no doubt they as¬ 
sembled just to pay rno off for impaling 
them on pins and setting their bodies up for 
show! How otherwise could he have brought 
together at one time such a group? Here 
are day-flying butterflies and night-flying 
moths; beetles which live under stones and 
old rubbish coming out only at night in 
search of prey; but in the picture they are 
climbing up the leaves of gl ass in order to 
get a good look at my lantern, or perhaps 
shake tarsi with a grasshopper. Then that 
climbing cut-worm, with its parent moth 
just under it, shows how strong the family 
ties must be even among insects; and I can 
almost hear that great, greasy worm ask 
after the health of his moth-mother and the 
younger cliildrea, just beginning work 
among the com and cabbages. 
Well! 1 return my thanks for the portrait 
of myself, but I don’t exactly like my sur¬ 
roundings, for it reminds m© of the dreams 
which occasionally disturb my slumbers 
after having a lucky day drugging, poison- 
iug and sticking long, sharp pins through 
innumerable specimens! Do moths and bee¬ 
tles have spirits? I am sure that I don’t 
know, but am certain their names often 
haunt me. 
FAILURE OF SMALL FRUITS. 
March 26. — In digging up and burning 
some old raspberry and blackberry bushes 
to-day, a thing which I do more or less of 
every season, 1 was reminded of the very 
common expressions of regret that certain 
varieties do not seem hi do well in ordinary 
gardens for only a few years. I have often 
heard my neighbors and acquaintances say 
this or that variety did well for a few years, 
but latterly have faded altogether. “ We 
used to have plenty of raspberries, but now 
have none; the plants have all died out.” 
These and similar complaints in regard to 
various kinds of fruit, both large and small, 
are heard upon all sides; but let there be a 
little excitement created through the press, 
or otherwise, in regard to certain kinds and 
Immediately all seem to do well again. Old 
and long neglected, or even discarded varie¬ 
ties will be brought out as now, and their 
productiveness, hardiness and qualities ex¬ 
tolled with all the adjectives at command, 
while iu a majority of Instances the varie¬ 
ties seem to be worthy of all the praise be¬ 
stowed upon them. Now, no one will attri¬ 
bute these wonderful changes to any modifi¬ 
cation in climate or soil; consequently we 
must look elsewhere for the cause or causes 
of failure, if they occur, which are very 
likely unless some precaution is taken to 
prevent them. The very fact that old sorts, 
long after they havo been considered run 
out or superseded by improved ones, are 
frequently brought forward as new, and ac¬ 
quire a brief reputation for their merits, 
furnishes us a key to solve the mystery (if it 
may fairly be called one); and it is all ex¬ 
plained in these two words—proper cultiva¬ 
tion. By these terms I mean not only cul¬ 
ture, but propagation of the plants as well. 
There are very few of the small fruits the 
plantations of which do not require frequent 
renewals, and if the old stools are allowed 
to remain undisturbed they will fail to pro¬ 
duce strong and vigorous plants for bearing 
fruit, even if well manured and given good 
culture otherwise. Blackberry and rasp¬ 
berry plantations should be, except upon 
very strong soils, renewed every five or six 
years; and strawberries every two or three 
at most. The young and most thrifty suck¬ 
ers or plants should always be used instead 
of the old and feeble for new plantations, 
and by adopting tbis system there will be 
little cause for oomplalnt with any pH *ort 
which ever did succeed in any particular 
locality or soil. I have several varieties of 
the raspberry which have been cultivated 
about New York City for at least fifty years, 
and they show no signs of degeneration 
when planted upon good, rich soils. 
I frequently hear persons remark that 
their currants are failing; aud if we glance 
at the plants growing in a compact sod in 
some corner of the garden where they were 
planted twenty or more years since, we can 
readily understand why the fruit is small 
and worthless. If these persons had to pay 
fifty cents or a dollar each for the same va¬ 
rieties and under a new name, they would 
give them excellent care for a year or two 
at least, and tho results would be corre¬ 
spondingly superior. Of course I do not 
wish to be understood as ignoring the really 
new and improved varieties; but even these 
will fail under similar neglect. Young, vig¬ 
orous plant*, set, out ill fresh, rich soil as 
soon as the old stock shows the least sign of 
failing, are what is needed to keep up the 
reputation of the very best, kinds. It’s a 
great pity that our semi-occasional small 
fruit and grape fevers did not last, a little 
longer; at least the lessons which are learned 
by a few during their prevalence. 
MAKING AN HERBARIUM. 
Daii.y Rural Life:—H aving often read 
your useful essays in the Ritual Nkw-York- 
icu, and being especially fond of those relat¬ 
ing to science, and having noted your kind¬ 
ness in answering the letter* of your corre¬ 
spondents, 1 am prompted to seek a sh ire of 
it a i answer to the following questions, viz.: 
How would you proceed to form n botanical 
cabinet—that Is as to gathering, preserving, 
arranging, etc., so as to come within the 
limit of the meuns of a young limn lor 
woman either) with a very slim purse, yet 
with a love for science, and a determination 
to succeed ? Allow me to say that, although 
I always had a natural love 1'or the beautiful 
and useful, your encouraging words to the 
young men of the land have done much to 
foster my taste for such things. Hoping for 
a favorable reply through the Rural New- 
Yorker, I remain yours, with respect — 
j. H. w. 
I am always pleased to receive letters like 
the above, as they show a desire on the part 
of their authors to obtain useful knowledge. 
Herbariums—or collection of shells, minerals, 
fossils, insects, or other specimens of natural 
history—are always more or less valuable, 
besides furnishing the possessor an unfailing 
fountain of pleasure. In making an Hex-ba¬ 
rium, the first tiling to be done is to g»*t the 
plants, and in this a vexy respectable begin¬ 
ning can be mode from those growing wild 
in almost any neighborhood. Before collect¬ 
ing, you should obtain a supply—say a hun¬ 
dred sheets—of soft, unsized paper, some¬ 
thing like common blotting paper. A very 
good article made for this purpose can be 
obtained at the Naturalist Agency, Salem, 
Mass., for *1.25 per 1LH) sheets. But it is not 
positively necessary to purchase this kind, 
for other soft paper will answer the purpose 
very well. As this paper is only to be used 
in drying the specimens, it will last for ft 
long time if carefully handled and spread 
out and thoroughly dried before being packed 
away, when not in use. In addition, the 
size of the sheets which are to hold tho speci¬ 
mens when put into the herbarium, should 
also be decided upon at the very outset, for 
the sake of uniformity and convenience. 
The usual and most approved size now used 
by botanists is 10^x11.'!■* inches; and this 
should be moderately thick and white, with 
no ruling whatever upon it. These sheets 
should be placed in covers made of thick col¬ 
ored Manilla paper which are folded to the 
same size of the inside sheets, and tied to¬ 
gether with tape, 
For gathering specimens, a good, strong 
knife or small transplanting trowel for dig¬ 
ging up the roots of small kinds, and a tin 
or flat wooden box for carrying the same as 
gathered iu the field, should be provided. A 
cheap kind of portfolio, made with covers of 
thin board aud some sheets of drying paper 
within, will also be bandy for holding flow¬ 
ering specimens or those with delicate leaves. 
The object is to preserve the specimens fx-om 
getting broken or in any way mutilated 
while gathering and bringing home. The 
next operation after gathering, is to dry the 
specimens us rapidly as possible, and this is 
done by placing them between sheets of the 
drying paper, and after a number have been 
carefully placed in position the whole should 
be placed under a gentle pressure. The 
greater the number of specimens put in at 
one time the greater may be the pressure 
put upon them, 40 or 50 lbs. being usually 
sufficient. Professional botanists use what 
is termed a botanical | ireas ; but a fiat board 
with a heavy stone upon it will answer just 
as vi’ell, although not quite so elegant or con¬ 
venient. Specimens should be put into the 
press as soon after gathering as possible. 
They must also be taken out every day at 
first, and the drying paper changed, that 
which is taken out dried, to bo in readiness 
for use on the following day, unless a large 
quantity is at hand. This drying and chang¬ 
ing must be continued until the specimens 
are thoroughly dry ; then they may be either 
glued or fastened with narrow slips of paper 
to the white sheets mentioned above. I pre¬ 
fer using the small slips of paper laid across 
the Hjieeimens and gummed at the ends, be¬ 
cause sometimes one may wish to make a 
change or transfer a specimen, which is not 
readily done when glued fust to the shoot. 
Only one species should ever be put upon a 
sheet, and the generic and specific names 
should be written upon the lower right hand 
comer. In drying, arranging and putting 
the specimens upon the species sheet there 
is a good opportunity for one to display his 
or her taste and mechanical skill. When a 
number of species of one genus are secured, 
they should be put together and the genus- 
covers put on, and the name of the genus 
written In plain letters on the outside. The 
books thus formed may be laid upon shelves 
or kept in any light cupboard or cabinet. 
To make a neat and handsome herbarium, 
uniformity in the size of paper used is neces¬ 
sary. Large seeds, nuts and bulbs must, of 
course, be kept in some other manner. As 
the student progresses, he will learn that to 
enable him to distinguish certain speeies, 
not. only the flower, loaves, stems and roots 
are necessary, but frequently the mature 
seeds. As a rule, however, specimens in 
flower should be sought; but if there are 
seed pods as well as flowers, so much the 
better. 
THE GRAYLING.-SUBSTITUTE FOB 
TEOUT. 
We find the following in the Rochester 
Union : — It has long been an acknowl¬ 
edged fact that trout are dying out in our 
streams aud fast becoming extinct. As the 
country becomes more thickly settled tho 
trottt are rapidly caught up, and owing to 
the presence of dams and other artificial 
obstructions they arc driven fi-om their 
spawning grounds, and are thus unable to 
replenish their depleted numbers. Piscicul¬ 
turists have long been seeking for some fish 
more hardy than the trout to take its plaoe, 
aud have found it, ax they believe, in tho 
‘grayling,’ a fish similar in all respects to 
trout, which abounds In Europe, but which 
until recently was supposed not to be indig¬ 
enous to this country- As yet, however, the 
grayling lias been found in but one stream in 
this country—the An Sable River in Michigan. 
Seth Green, being confident that this fish is 
destined to play an important part in stock¬ 
ing our exhausted trout streams, sent, to 
Michigan for specimens, and has received 
two fine graylings, from D. H. Fitzhugh of 
Bay city, Michigan. Mr. Fitzhugh writes 
that, they are abundant in Au Sable River. 
He took these specimens with a fly, and 
could have made a good day’s sport at, the 
business had he felt disposed. Mr. Gi'een 
lias examined this fish and Cuds it Identical 
with the old-country grayling. If it proves 
to be a spring-hatching fish, as is believed to 
be the case, it will naturally be more hardy 
than the trout, and therefore well adapted 
to take its place in the streams where the 
latter can no longer propagate its species. 
This is uit important discovery, as it will 
save the trouble of going to Europe for these 
fish, and demonstrates at the same time that 
the species will breed and flourish in our 
waters. Seth Green will visit the Au Sable 
Itiver at the proper time and make prepara¬ 
tions to experiment with the grayling. 
- ■ ♦»» - 
WHITE FISH CULTURE. 
The Micliigan Kish Commission has a mil¬ 
lion or more white fish fry now nearly ready 
for distribution. Such counties or townships 
as have suitable lakes will place themselves 
in the way of a supply of from four to eight 
thousand by complying with the following : 
Forward at once to tho undersigned the 
name of t he hike, size, u verage depth of wa¬ 
ter, the fish now in the hike, and the railroad 
station for the delivery of the fry. Fairies 
desiring the fish are expected to sec that one 
or more persons are at t he station, to receive 
the fry-, and to depositing them in the lake, 
this being their only charge. Fruited in¬ 
structions for handling and planting the fry- 
will be furnished. From the li ; t of lakes, 
the commission must be allowed to exercise 
their judgment ns to the lakes suitable for 
the fry. 
Newspapers throughout the State, will do 
the fish interest a service, as well as then- 
patrons a favor, by publishing this notice. 
George H. Jerome, 
Sec. Mich. Kish Coni., Niles, Mich, 
^icntific and Useful. 
SCIENTIFIC AND USEFUL NOTES. 
Cement, for Porcelain,— Perhaps the best 
material for joining broken porcelain is the 
familiar household cement formed of white 
of egg (or cheese) and quick lime. We give, 
however, one other :—Two parts of isinglass 
are soaked in water until well swollen ; the 
water is then poured off, aud the isinglass is 
dissolved in alcohol, by the aid of heat. One 
part of mastic is then dissolved iu three pai-ts 
of alcohol and added to the above solution ; 
then one part of gum ummoniacum. The 
solution is well shaken and evaporated to 
the consistency of strong glue, when it solid¬ 
ifies on cooling. For use, the cement and 
the articles themselves must be warmed. 
To Test Bread for Alum..—Take a wine- 
glassful of water, place it in a porcelain dish, 
and a teaspoonful of tincture of legwood 
(prepared by digesting two drams of freshly 
cut wood in five ounces of alcohol) and lhe 
same quantity of a concentrated solution of 
carbonate of ammonia in water. Dip into 
the pink-colored solution a piece of bread to 
be tested for alum, withdraw it after five 
minutes, and lay it on a plate to dry. If, in 
one or two hours, the bread becomes of a 
blue coloi-, it contains alum ; if it contains 
no alum the red color will entirely.'disappear. 
To Exterminate Hats. —An Arkansas cor¬ 
respondent of the Tribune says :—Take cop¬ 
peras—the quantity to depend upon the 
number of buildings or places infested—pul¬ 
verize it very fine, and be sure and sprinkle 
some in all their holes, in the coi-n ci-ib, 
under all the buildings, in a word wherever 
they congregate, and in a few days all the 
rats will be gone. This is veiy simple and 
easily tried, and has proved completely suc¬ 
cessful several times at different places. No 
rat seen three day-s after a thorough appli¬ 
cation. 
Polishing Paste for Wooden Furniture.— 
Eight part# of wltite wax, two parts of resin, 
and half a part of Venice turpentine, are 
melted at a gentle heat. The warm mass, 
completely melted, is poured into a stone jar, 
agitated, and six parts of rectified oil of tur¬ 
pentine added thereto. After 24 hours, the 
mass, having the consistency of soft butter, 
is ready for use. Before using this paste, the 
furniture should be washed with soap and 
water, and then well dried. 
Substitute,for Bristles,— The fibrous bark 
of the sugar palm (Arenpa saccharin) proves 
to be a good substitute for bristles and ani¬ 
mal and human hair. The treatment is sim¬ 
ple. The bark is first immersed in water 
and boiled for some time in an alkaline [solu¬ 
tion ; the fibers are then soaked in an emul¬ 
sion of fat, alkali, and water for about 12 
hours, after which time they are sufficiently 
hard and elastic for tho above-named use. 
Why Ice Went. —May 1 trouble you for 
information as follows An ice house, made 
by excavating, under a barn, a hole 12 by 14 
feet, by 14 feet deep, the sides simply lined 
with slabs ; the place filled with ice in Jan¬ 
uary, covered with straw, and the ice entire¬ 
ly gone the first time we had occasion to use 
ice—say- in June. Can you tell me the cause 
of the ice thus thawing ?—W. R. 0., Morris¬ 
town, N. ./. 
The possible cause was lack of ventilation. 
Another reason may have been the absence 
of a non-heat-conducting substance between 
the ice aud the excavation, like sawdust, 
tanbark, or chaff. Our experience is not 
favorable to underground ice houses. 
Water-proof Paper.—A transparent water¬ 
proof paper, resembling pai chment, has been 
prepared by Dr. Jacobsen by floating silk 
paper on an aqueous solution of shellac in 
borax. If brown paper be treated in this 
way it can be employed for 6ausage cases. 
The shellac solution may be colored with 
aniliu, and the paper thus treated used in 
making artificial flowers. 
To Dye Wood Deep Black, throughout, it 
is recommended to soak it in a hot solution 
of logwood for twenty-four hours—one pound 
of logwood to three pints of water; dry 
superficially and then immerse in a boiling 
solution of copperas and well-bruised nut- 
galls— tw< * ounces of copperas to one quart of 
water. 
Stretching Drafting Paper. — Will some 
one please iuform ino the best method of 
stretching drafting paper, mid the best ma- 
terial to make the same stick to the board, 
aud prevent loosening during t he drying and 
shrinkage of the paper.— Subscriber, Neb. 
Colors to Harmonize with Mahogany .— 
The American Artisan says “ mahogany- must 
not be associated with red, scarlet or orange, 
otherwise its effect is destroyed. It har¬ 
monizes with almost every other tint that is 
used In upholstery.” 
