'I 
252 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
APRIL 20 
table of contents, 
pr actical n kpa btmenth : 
Plan of a $3,900 Cottaae. 
Beat way to Manage Weeds. 
Jotting* from Kirby Homestead. 
Getting out Manure..... 
Good Tools. 
Artichokes again. 
Prickly comfrey.-.. 
I'earl Millet ... .... 
Appl®Tree Borer........ 
Observing lniects... 
DosMlie Vegetable Garden Pay?... 
Salsify ... 
Plum Culture in Ohio." *.. 
Pumpkin Seeds once more. 
Learn a Trade... 
Slitting the Bark... 
Pamphlet* Received. . 
Bulbs for Thn Flower Garden. 
Beaucarnou itccuxrata,...,. 
Exchange. 
Rural Special Rnports. 
Answers to Coirespondents. 
Management of Young Pigs... 
What They Say of H... 
Editorial page: 
Luck or Labor.. 
Borrowers and Borrowing. 
Florida Alligator Tree. 
Spring or 1874 and 1873. 
Brevities, ...... 
LITERARY . 
Poetry.,...263* 28< - 
Ladies'Spring Fashions.. 
Cora.. 253, 
Pere Hyadnthe as a Reformer. 
Chinese Maxims. 
Recant Literature..... 
Bric-a- Brae. 
Domestic Eoomomy... 
China and Gla-s-Wure. . 
a nick and Cell art. 
Domestic Recipes .*. 
News. 
M u pp fit u ...... . .......... ......... 
Reading for the Young.... 
Private History of an Ear of Corn. 
Talk in the Silent World. 
Sabbath Reading. 
Day in the Llfo of Jesus. 
Personals.... 
Advertisements.251, 257, 259, 
Wit and Humor. 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. 
Address 
RURAL PUBLISHING CO., 
78 Duane Street, New York City. 
SATURDAY, APRIL, 20, 1878. 
We beg to call attention to the fact that we 
have, during the past six months, repeatedly 
stated that we should endeavor not only to fulfil] 
all of our promises for the present year, but 
that we should endeavor to do more. We think 
we havo already given substantial proof of the 
sincerity of those statements. We have now to 
announce that we have determined upon enlarg¬ 
ing the Rural New -Yorker, Further reference 
will be made to this change at an early day. 
As we intimated when the announcement was 
made, it was intended to offer the Rural Cricket 
Clock only for a brief period. We now give 
notice that the offer will be withdrawn on and 
after the first day of July. It was our desire 
that one should be placed in the home of every 
one of our subscribers, and we think ample op¬ 
portunity will by that time have been afforded. 
LUCK-OR LABOR? 
There is an old saying, “It is better 
to be born lnoky than rioh.” We have 
little confidence in any luck that a man 
does not make for himself. And a man’s 
luck, so-called, is often traceable to some 
act done, or to some point in his character, 
that has been carefully cultivated, not 
with reference to any particular transac¬ 
tion but on general principles of proper 
conduct and growth. When one man 
succeds by luck a hundred fail. Witness 
Wall Street transactions, or gamblers any¬ 
where—what is credited to luck is often 
due to caution. 
In conversation with a man well known 
in business circles in Boston, who is now 
the possessor of much wordly wealth, 
every dollar of which he has made for him¬ 
self, he said, “I have never embarked in 
any enterprise thinking howmuoh profit I 
oould make by it. My rule has been to 
look out for the losses, and to guard 
against them leaving the profits entirely 
out of the calculation. Many say profits 
cannot be made in any business without 
risk. I have tried to act on a different 
principle. My first inquiry always has 
been, if I put money into this or that ven¬ 
ture, 1 Can I get it back again ?’ and if the 
answer seems doubtful I let it alone. I 
have never been led into speculation by 
the thought: there is but little risk, and 
if successful the profit is great. And 
I have never lost in the end, on any busi¬ 
ness venture I have ever made.” 
A good reputation, which never comes 
by luck, is to any business man a long 
step toward a fortune. The man who is 
considered honest by the people among 
whom he resides, and who is known for 
being prompt in his payments, has a rep¬ 
utation that will serve him for business 
purposes, better than property serves 
one who is tricky and uncertain. 
Our attention having been called to the 
fact that the stock of the Insurance Com¬ 
panies of Hartford sold for much above 
their “Book value”—that is the amount 
that could be paid to shareholders from 
the assets should the company discon¬ 
tinue business at once—while that of the 
best New York Companies can always be 
bought considerably below book value 
although the percentage of dividends 
paid was about the same, we were curi¬ 
ous enough to inquire the reason. We 
first asked a President of a N. Y. Com¬ 
pany, who gave no further information 
than that all the Hartford stock was want¬ 
ed for investment by the people of that 
city and its immediate vioinity, and be¬ 
cause it was a favorite with them they 
willingly paid a high price. He gave no 
reason why it was a favorite—afterward we 
inquired of the agent for one of the Hart¬ 
ford Companies located here. The “rea¬ 
son is plain” he said, “it is because of 
the reputation for soundness and fair deal¬ 
ing we have established throughout the 
entire oountry. If our company should 
to-day sustain sufficient loss to exhaust 
its entire capital in the payment of it, we 
could continue. Our reputation is worth 
more than the entire capital of some com¬ 
panies.” 
But a good reputation does not come 
without being sought. It follows in the 
wake of honesty, integrity, morality; its 
foundation stones are right thoughts, 
which must come before actions or words, 
and which control them. 
We do not hold that there are no in¬ 
stances where fortune in its various 
forms has not come to men without their 
seeking it. Many have stood in the way 
of circumstances and have been benefited 
by them, but what we would impress up¬ 
on the minds of our readers is that he 
who waits for luok is usually disappoint¬ 
ed. He who would win muBt work. 
BORROWERS AND BORROWING. 
Shakspeare, the wonderful expounder 
of human nature said, “Neither a bor¬ 
rower nor a lender be.” A greater than 
the immortal dramatist has taught the 
duty of brotherly kindness and timely 
assistance. We must give respect and 
obedience to the higher authority. But 
to this, as to all other divine injunctions, 
it is not only legitimate but obligatory to 
apply righteous judgment and carefully 
to decide every case by its peculiarities. 
It is certain that it is not required of any 
one to lend indiscriminately and reckless¬ 
ly. There must be some reasonable 
limit. Here, as in all matters involving 
one’s relations to his fellow men, duty is 
made clear when one intelligently and 
carefully applies the Golden Rule—“ Do 
unto others as yon would that they 
should do unto you.” This will guide 
both the borrower and lender. Let him 
who would borrow, imagine himself in 
the place of him to whom he is about to 
apply; and let him who is asked for the 
favor imagine himself the applicant. Let 
each decide what he would regard as 
reasonable and right in this imagined re¬ 
lation. 
Our prime object here is to enter an 
earnest, considerate protest against the 
unwarrantable excess to which the prac¬ 
tice of borrowing is carried in some com¬ 
munities. It has an evil effect upon both 
the borrower and lender. It prevents 
the borrower from making proper efforts 
to obtain what he needs so as to have his 
own. It causes him, if he relies on it, to 
be disappointed often, and consequently 
to lose the best opportunities to attend to 
his own interests. It often occasions 
serious loss of time—and that at the 
crisis when time is most valuable. The 
journey to and from the house of the 
lender" consumes, it may be, the best 
part of the favorable opportunity. The 
custom sometimes proves very expensive, 
when that which is borrowed receives in¬ 
jury that must be accounted for. It also 
diminishes the borrower’s self-respect, 
compromises his independence, lowers 
him in the estimation of those whom he 
plies with his frequent requests, and 
renders him an undesirable and quite 
dreaded neighbor. It is peculiarly likely 
to result in practical dishonesty, as the 
means or instruments are used, worn, in¬ 
jured, in many instances, and no rent or 
remuneration is paid; so that the bor¬ 
rower owes what he never pays. 
The lender is much injured by these 
borrowing neighbors. He dislikes to ap¬ 
pear illiberal, and, therefore, frequently 
lends when he does not enjoy it, and 
when he is not able to spare. He does 
not know, every time, when he will really 
need that which he is asked to lend. It 
not unfrequently happens that when 
there is immediate and important demand 
forsome article, the annoying discovery 
is made that it is at the house or farm of 
a neighbor who borrowed it weeks before. 
Then the pressing interest must suffer, 
without any prospect of compensation. 
How often has the farmer been sorely 
perplexed to find that his plow, or hoes, 
or spades, or harrow, or harness, or 
bridles or saddle, or barrow, or ax, or 
forks, or soythes, or saw, or hammer, or 
auger, or plane, are away at the house of 
a troublesome neighbor ? How often is 
a horse, or wagon, or other vehicle, 
needed just one hour after it is carried off 
by the borrowing friend? (?). The 
thrifty and economical man likes to keep 
his utensils in good condition; but that 
is impossible, if he has to lend them; 
for frequent borrowers are generally such 
as take little care of their own or an¬ 
other’s property. 
It should be remembered that a dis¬ 
creet, provident man supplies himBelf 
with what he thinks his own work re¬ 
quires; and does not add to his stores 
what liis neighbors will need, and ought 
to get for themselves. If we thought the 
ladies would read this article we would 
add a paragraph for their benefit; for 
the borrowing practice very frequently 
tells fearfully upon housekeepers. We 
will, however, simply commend the sub¬ 
ject, in this connection, to some of the 
accomplished female contributors to our 
columns. We are sure that the whole 
subject needs more attention than it re¬ 
ceives from the various journals that are 
devoted to the true interests of indiviuuals 
and society. 
There is urgent need for some change 
in the matter, that will lead to a reform 
of the inexcusable, borrowing pests. One 
idea occurs to ub as likely to have a good 
effect in many, though not in all oases. 
The derivation of the word “borrow” 
suggests the additional idea of a pledge 
or surety , If money is lent, there is 
generally a pledge to return, with inter- 
est; and, in addition, there is often, 
especially in these days, some specified 
security. Why should not other kiuds 
of property be loaned on some condition 
of pay, guaranteed by trustworthy under¬ 
standing ? Oughtnot an honest borrower 
to return something more than he has 
borrowed ? Would it not be a great relief 
if every one would adopt such a rule ? 
Of course we do not purpose to render 
any one uncharitable or ungenerous. 
The really needy should be helped, as 
far as practicable, not only as a duty, but 
as a privilege ; but those who sponge up¬ 
on their neighbors ought to be made to 
pay for their unjustifiable habit. 
“FLORIDA ALLIGATOR TREE.” 
The noses of Eucalyptus globulus and 
of other Eucalypti are out of joint! It 
has been discovered within the past ten 
days that the “Florida Alligator Tree” 
will not only destroy malaria, but that 
brauohes or even twigs, if kept in the 
rooms of our dwellings, will prevent all 
sorts of diseases whatsoever. No wonder 
then that of late, hundreds, in fact thou¬ 
sands, of happy men, and ladies and chil¬ 
dren might have been seen passing to and 
fro the streets of great New York with a 
branch of the “ Alligator Tree ” in their 
hands. On almost every block bundles of 
these have been offered for sale at five 
or ten cents for each branch—“ take your 
pick." “The great Alligator Tree of 
Florida, Sir. It will cure anything, Sir. 
You havo only to put one of these branch¬ 
es in your room. Jt will exude a sweet, 
balsamic odor which purifies the atmos¬ 
phere and bids defiance to disease !” 
In the moist, delightful woods of hill or 
valley of the Northern States running 
westward to Illinois and southward, may 
be found the Sweet Gum. Its leaves are 
like those of the Maple except that in the 
Fall they change to a deep purple, some¬ 
times beautifully mixed with orange. 
When bruised, the leaves emit an aromatic 
odor at all times ; but in the spring, just 
after they are unfolded, and especially af¬ 
ter a shower the air is redolent * ‘ with their 
refreshing ordor.” The gray bark, 
especially upon later growth,is curious for 
its corky ridges that sometimes- form cor¬ 
rugated plates an inch in width. Its bo¬ 
tanical name is Liquidambar Styraciflua. 
Millions of trees may be fonnd within fif¬ 
teen miles of New Jersey. But how could 
our city people be expected to know that! 
Wfien they go to the woods they are too 
enraptured over everything to notice any¬ 
thing in particular ! 
When, therefore twigs of Liquidambar 
Styraciflua are offered to them in the 
streets of New York as the “Florida 
Alligator Tree,” and they are assured of 
their wonderful powers, is it not quite 
natural that they should buy a twig or so 
for ten cents each and hasten on to their 
homes with a lighter step ? 
►Springs of 1874 and 1875 Com¬ 
pared with this Spring. -r-We have 
just been comparing this spring with 
those of ’74 and ’75. April 15th, 1874 
was the first bloom of Roman Hyacinths 
in the Rural Grounds. On the morning 
of the 13fch the thermometer fell to 16° 
above zero. On the 26th, Japan Quinces 
were not in bloom. On May 4th, we find 
a note “Country-like winter.” On the 
9th Hyacinths in perfection. Now (April 
15) Hyacinths are in perfection. Japan 
Quinces are in bloom. In the spring of 
1874, May 10,Forsyt,hia viridissima was in 
bloom. It is in bloom now. On the 16th 
of April 1875, the ground was so frozen 
that we failed in an attempt to transplant 
Hemlocks. On the 29th of April, “ a se¬ 
vere frost.” May 1st “Willows budding.” 
May 5th, “Sharp frost—ice formed in 
low places,” May 7th, “General ap¬ 
pearance of the country is nearly that of 
winter.” Without giving further partic¬ 
ulars we find that the verdure of the 
present spring is as far advanced as it was 
on May 9th of 1874, and May 12th of 
1875. Sad misgivings that the fruit buds, 
many kinds of which are almost ready to 
break, will be destroyed, in this section at 
least, may reasonably be entertained. 
BREVITIES. 
APRIL. 
Sweet April I—many a thought 
Is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed; 
Nor shall they fall, till, to Its autmnn brought,3 
Life’s gulden fruit is shed— Longfellow. 
Col. Rrewkk of Ithaca, N. Y-, thinks a farmer 
can hardly afford to purchase fertilizers un¬ 
less he can’t raise clover. He keeps his land 
in good condition wltholover alone. 
Professor Arnold states in the N. Y. Tri¬ 
bune that those who oould not make good bat¬ 
ter or cheeBelast year will hardly be able to do 
much better this. Unskillful hands cannot 
ho made skillful in a minute, in a month or in 
a year, though overwhelmed with advice. To 
make good blitter and cheese, like good penman¬ 
ship and good music, requires loug-oontined, 
patient, intelligent and unremitting observa¬ 
tion, and practice. 
As religious hypocrites darken for the mo¬ 
ment the pure luster of true religion, so do bum- 
bug scientists throw discredit upon true science. 
We do not believe farmers despise scientific agri¬ 
culture because it has done no good but for the 
harm that has been done in its name. No other 
medium has equaled the agricultural press as a 
disseminator of worthless so-oalled scientific 
metod* of agriculture and, to be candid, we do not 
wonder that thousands of farmers over the 
country believe that if they permitted them¬ 
selves to be guided by the teachings of 
agricultural papers, it would end in their ruin ; 
and so it woula if their own experience did not 
enable them to sift out the particleB of gold 
from the mass of dross. 
In a list of the average duration of the ger- 
miuative power of Borne seeds, the London Gar¬ 
den, among others, mentions the following, 
which at this season may be of service to the 
reader; 
Years. Years. 
Artichokes.. 5 Potato.... 3 
Turnips. 5 Carrot.. 4 
Balsam. . many Spinach. 5 
Baud. 6 Cucumber.5 
Broad Beans. 8 Eggplant.7 
KaUish. 8 Endive........i» 
Kidney.3 Tomato.5 
Rhubarb...3 Leek.........2 
Beets.6 Lettuce.5 
Salsify.... 2 Melon.5 
Cabbage. 9 Onion....... 2 
Parsnip. 3 Parsley....S 
Peas... 4 
We see that several persons have been in¬ 
duced to buy the Dioscorea batatas (Chinese 
Yam) disguised under the familiar name of 
“ Cinnamon Vine" by the unprincipled vendors. 
Unprincipled because they deceive and steal at 
once Dcoeivo in misrepresenting the article 
which they offer for Bale. Steal in appropriating 
money without returning an equivalent. 
Both cffeDHOH are the meaner because there is 
no law to punish them. Such acts on the part 
of a few sneak-thief seed or plaut dealers throw 
unjust discredit upon the entire honorable fra¬ 
ternity of seedsmen and nurserymen. In the in¬ 
stances to which we refer, three dollars have 
been charged for single roots or bulblets a fair 
price for which would have been twenty-five 
cents. 
