heat, indispensable to the vital process. The conversion of sugar or starch into fat, supplies the system with oxygen, and heat is developed by the union of this with carbon, as with the bile, &c. Whilst the animal system is in a healthy condition, the necessary carbon for the supply of heat is furnished by the food, but otherwise and without food, the fat of the body is consumed by its carbon being converted into carbonic acid, aud its hydrogen into water.-Hand Book of Plants. BEAUTIFUL INVENTION.-The Newark Advertiser that Mr. Crain has recently says added another ingenious contrivance to his Twelve Month Clock. It now shows the day of the month, and also of the year, and exhibits the Sun and Moon rising every day in the year, with the most undeviating ac. The moon curacy and regularity. as she revolves in her orbit, is made also to revolve upon her axis, showing every day with equal accuracy, her different phases.The apparatus used for this purpose is exceedingly simple, and is by no means liable to get out of order. From the Lowell Courier. THE ROSEMARY.* There is a flower that never dies; Its beauties ever bloom; Among the dead its petals rise, And cling around the tomb. When winter's storms are cold and drear, Come, sweetest flower, a wreathe I'll twine, A brighter, holier branch than thine, Like youthful love, thy summer bower "Come, fun'ral flower," I'll plant thy root, Beneath the cypress shade; And let thy lowly blossoms shoot, Where man's last home is made. this Bishop formerly, and his future position, occasioned warm debates in that body. He is still to be regarded, and estimated in the Church as a Bishop: he is to have a salary of $2500 a year; and there is to be provision made for the discharge of his episcopal functions, through another. A GOOD COW. A general description of the good parts of a cow is found in the following lines, from the Farmer's Magazine: "She's long in her face, she's fine in her horn, She'll quickly get fat, without cake or corn, She's clear in her jaws and full in her chin, She's heavy in flank and full in her loin, She's light is the neck, and small in the tail, She's wide at breast and good at the pail, She's fine in her bone and silky in skin, She's a grazier's without and a butcher's within. THE RUSSIAN NAVY.-The Cologne Gazette contains an article declaring that Russia is busy, summer and winter, in her dockyards at St. Petersburgh, and that she has lately introduced Paixhan's mortars into her navy. She possesses in the Baltic at present, 1 ship of 120 guns, 3 of 110, 15 of 84, 12 of 74, 30 of 64 to 44, and 120 of less power, amongst which are steamers armed for war. In the Black Sea she has 2 ships of 120 guns, 2 of 110, 12 of 84, 8 of 74, 8 of 60, and 10 of 44, and 100 smaller vessels in the Caspian and White Seas.-Globe. THRIFT. We were forcibly struck the other day, by seeing in our streets a respectable looking white man with his horse and wagon, peddling out the small article of brooms. This, thought we, is a novelty in a Virginia town, and our curiosity promp ted us to approach the seller and ascertain if he were not a northerner as we shrewdly suspected. After purchasing one of his brooms, he informed us that he was from New York State, and one of the emigrants to "Old Fairfax," the barren hills of which, we are happy to hear, they are making to "blossom like the rose.' The brooms were the product of his own labor, from the raising of the straw to the painting of the handles. The circumstance, unnoticed as it generally was, afforded the key to the secret of Northern prosperity and Southern poverty. The people of the one are industrious and economical, of the other indolent and extravagant.-Leesburgh Washingtonian. THE LAKE MARINE.-We were not quite aware of the immense mercantile marine now employed upon the Lakes, until we read yesterday a paragraph or two in the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser in relation to it. It seems there are at this time no less than fifty brigs with an aggregate tonnage of 10,500, and more than two hundred and fifty schooners, all of them now in active employment. The total amount of tonnage, including steamers in service at this time, is not less than 80,000. The steamers leaving for the upper lakes are represented as being as much crowded with merchandise as they have been since the year 1836.-N. Y. Courier. FAREWELL TO A RURAL RESIDENCE. BY MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY. How beautiful it stands, Behind its elin tree's screen, With pure and Attic cornice crowned, Upon yon scene to gaze, For there, as many a year Or where the vine clad summer bower Or where the o'erarching grove Yon old forsaken nests Returning spring shall cheer, That wreathes the casement round, The humming bird's unresting wing Send forth a whirring sound And where alternate springs Fain would I know what forms The mastery here would keep : What mother in my nursery fair Rock her young babes to sleep; Yet blessings on the hallowed spot, Though here no more I stray, Vulcanized India Rubber.-Specimens of what has been called " Vulcanized India Rubber," for diminishing the vibration of railways, by a layer of the material being introduced, instead of the patent feet, between the base of the chair and the surface of the sleeper, have been lately exhibited, which have attracted much attention. The preparation is a mixture of caoutchouc and sulphur. Its elasticity is said to be of a surprising character, and it is also said to be preserved under intense pressure for a long period. It has been tried on the Great Western Railway with success. THE TOWN OF ROME, in Western New York, contains a population of over 5000, and has been built up by factories for making paddles and oars from the ash, thousands of which are shipped by almost every vessel for England, France, Germany, Prussia, Sweden, Russia, and throughout all the East. The Junks of the Chinese are now all managed by American oars, and the small boats of all Europe and Asia are now propelled by the enter prise of the people of this village.-N. Y. Express. A self-regulating tide guage has been invented in Canada, for the purpose of showing the corresponding heights of the tide by a clock. So valuable is this considered, that orders from the government have been given for many of them. M. Chazallon, of Paris, concludes, after scientific inquiries on the tides at New Zealand, that the action of the sun upon the tides increase with the declination, and that the action of the moon appears to increase in proportion as the distance at the south pole diminishes. By ANOTHER FISH STORY.-The following is the best "fish story ever told. We copy it from the London Morning Chronicle of the 3d inst:-"As a party of gentlemen from Glascow were out a fishing for eels on Saturday, opposite Helensburgh, one of them hooked a fish of unusual magnitude, which gave him a great deal of trouble to bring to the surface of the water. This being at length achieved, he was startled at observing an unusual appearance about the head of the fish-a fine large eel at least seven feet in length, and of proportionate thickness, and called out to his companions to come to his assistance. their joint exertions it was hauled alongside of the boat, in a state of great exhaustion; and it was discovered, strange as it may appear, that it actually had a white hat on! Its head had gone, by some means or other, clear through the crown of the hat, which had stuck firmly upon its dorsal fin. Much wonder and amusement was of course excited by the circumstance, and the hat upon being examined was found marked with the initials C. K. of Glascow. Inside of it were found several small crabs, which had taken advantage of the shelter it afforded to fasten themselves upon the neck of the eel, and had doubtless been the principal cause of the exhaustion of the animal. The hat was carefully taken off, and the eel, as if relieved from a great incumbrance, appears to have suddenly revived, and insinuated its body through the sleeve of a shooting coat, which one of the party had left carelessly hanging over the gunwale of the boat. In another instant, and before an effort could be made to arrest its progress, it darted overboard, coat and all, to the no small amazement of most of the party, and to the consternation of the luckless wight who was so unceremoniously deprived of his garment. In the pocket of the coat was a small whis key flask, a yellow silk handkerchief, some railway scrip, a promissory note due on Monday, (this day,) besides some letters, some of which were of a tender nature.— The gentleman, whose name for obvious reasons we suppress, was at first inclined to jump into the water after this extraordi nary depredator, but was withheld by his companions, who forthwith rowed ashore. A reward was immediately offered for the apprehension of the eel with the coat on, and we understand that the boatmen of Helensburgh made several unsuccessful attempts during the day to fall in with it, and that they will recommence operations at an early hour this morning. In the meantime, the hat of C. K. remains in proper custody-little the worse for its immersion; and we have no doubt it will be delivered over to him upon satisfactory explanation of his proprietorship.-Alex. Gazette. SACRED BEAN, nelumbium, C. 13. O. 6. Nimphacea, sp. 2. A. called in Ceylon, nelumbo. It is considered a sacred plant in Japan and the East, and pleasing to the Deities. The long stalks are eaten as pot-herbs. It grows in muddy marshes, and is cultivated in the gardens of the Chinese mandarins as Lien wha. Both seeds and roots are esculent, sapid, and wholesome. The seeds, with slices of the roots, kernels of apricots and walnuts, and alternate layers of ice, are served up to the most distinguished perSons at table. The roots are also laid up in winter in salt and vinegar. The seeds are of the size and form of the almond, but of a still more delicate taste. The ponds in China, are generally covered with it, exhibiting a very beautiful appearance, the flowers being both handsome and fragrant. It sustains the cold well, and might probably be cultivated here. There are many varieties. The Egyptians are supposed to have prepared their colocasia from the root of this plant, but it is not now found in that country; from which it is inferred that they cultivated it with great care. Romans also made many efforts to cultivate it, as well as moderns in Europe. They should be grown in a tub or pot partly full of water all the time the plants are growing. The seed will keep forty years, and flower the first year.-Chapin's Hand Book of Plants. The LATER FROM MEXICO.-We have dates from Vera Cruz to the 14th of September. The weather was extremely hot and sultry and rainy, but the sickness had abated. The war fever had rather calmed down; although the Mexicans had a large force, some 10 or 12,000 men, ready to march on to Texas, as soon as means could be raised. Money was scarce at Vera Cruz, and business very dull. The troops appear to be willing to march if their rations of clothes are furnished.— There had been but four foreign arrivals at Vera Cruz from the 7th of August to the 16th of September. A horrible murder had been committed in Vera Cruz, upon the persons of an old Italian and his wife. They were murdered in open day, and in one of the greatest thoroughfares of the city. INSTINCT OF A GOOSE. The following incident was related to us by a highly respectable lady, and shows that even a Goose, is not destitute of the high order of instinct. "My father had been presented by old Governor Gill with a goose imported from Europe, of superior beauty. Like the venerable donor, she was long unblest with progeny. Whenever the other geese brought out broods of goslings, this childless matron manifested great uneasiness.-At length, at the suggestion of my mother, the "solitary bird" was "set" on duck eggs. With this arrangement she appeared to be delighted, and the duties of incubation were performed with the utmost fidelity. In due time, a brood of young ducklings were the reward of her anxious care. No mother was ever prouder of "little Willy" when for the first time, he exchanged his "robe" for masculine dress, than was mistress goose of her fledglings. She led them to water, and initiated them in aquatic mysteries, brooded them with tender solicitude, and duly hissed at all intruders upon her domestic immunities. But alas for all joy, a change soon came over the brightness of creature bliss. I was standing at my window one morning admiring the exhibition of maternal affection, when her attention was arrested by a family of goslings, feeding quietly some ten rods distant. She paused, looked at her ducklings, then at the family of her neighbor, then at her own again, as though solving an intricate question. At length, it seemed that light had broken upon the darkness of her instinct, and for the first time she became sensible of the deception practised upon her, and discovered that the brood she had so painfully nurtur. ed, were another species of the feathered tribe. Her rage was now uncontrollable. With a fury that Socrates never witnessed, she seized the innocent objects of her new The same quantity of water and of sugar as the other; only let the quinces boil tender, before you put in the sugar. Mash them with a wooden spoon ;-the quinces should be pared, cored and quartered. Small pieces will answer as well. NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.-The first fall meeting of the Society was held on Monday evening, in the University, the Vice President, the Hon. Luther Bradish, presiding, in the absence of the venerable Albert Gallatin. After the approval of the minutes of the last meeting, the domestic and foreign correspondence was read by the Secretaries. The Librarian reported various valuable donations, including a copy of the Biographie Universelle, the gift of H. Onderdonk, Esq., a series of public documents, &c. After various other usual business of the Society, the attention of members was called to a paper by Hon. William W. Campbell, on the employment of the Indians during the Revolutionary War, by the British Government: commencing with a graphic and animated sketch of the career of Sir. William Johnson.He traced the office of Indian Agent, while filled by that gentleman and his son-in-law Colonel Guy Johnson in his various relation with the Five Nations and the British Government, to the commencement of the Revolutionary era. THE AILANTHUS. The Ailanthus is a remarkably graceful, elegant shade tree, recently introduced extensively into this part of the country. It possesses the principal qualities of a good shade-tree-beauty, rapid growth, adaption to almost every climate and soil, and freedom from insects. This tree, as has been ascertained by careful enquiries made by Mr. Brown, was first imported into the United States about the year 1785, by Mr. Hamilton; and the large tree now standing, in Pratt's Garden, near Philadelphia, is the successor of one then imported, which long flourished on the same spot. The Ailanthus was afterwards introduced into Rhode Island from South America, where it has spread; and Mr. Prince of Flushing, about 40 years ago, imported it from France for the French alder. Within twelve or fifteen years it has begun to excite attention, and it is now the most favorite tree in New York and other places where it is known The scarcity of seed has tended to prevent its more extensive propagation; but now that they can be procured in considerable quantities, it is important that they should be scattered widely through the country, and that those who appreciate the value of fine trees, and the embellishment of grounds, should be informed on this subject. Mr. Downing in the second edition of his elegant work on landscape gardening, remarks that the Ailanthus receives the light well, and adds a beautiful variety to the foliage of other trees, with which it should be intermingled. In appearance it bears a degree of resemblance to the palm: so that it sometimes gives a semi-tropical aspect to a landscape. The Ailanthus is a native of the East Indies, probably of Japan; and its name is said to mean in the language of that Island, the Tree of Heaven. The timber is good for fuel and for other purposes. In France it is esteemed for cabinet-work. In rapidity of growth when young, it exceeds almost all other trees. Every person has it in his power to promote the im provement of his neighborhood, by increasing the num ber of useful trees, or by inciting others to do so. Ex ample alone has often exerted a powerful, though a silent effect; but if accompanied with direct efforts for the public benefit, and the excitement of a spirit of cooperation, much more may be accomplished. Informaon may be easily diffused by conversation; dormant taste may be called forth, and provision soon made for important and lasting improvements. We are indebted to some of our predecessors for the planting, or at least the preservation of the noble trees which offer us a welcome shade; let us repay them by our forethought for our successors. This subject has engaged the attention of the editor of this Magazine some years; and the obstacles heretofore existing seem now to be removed. The control of a cheap, popular, and illustrated weekly publication, and the present facility of transmitting seeds, seem to offer sufficient encouragement; and he will begin at once by sending seeds of the Ailanthus to individuals in all parts of the country, inviting them to co-operate on a simple plan, which, for a few cents, will at once place a sufficient number of seeds in the hands of several of his neighbors, for a few cents each; so that neither time nor money worth mentioning, need be expended. If this experiment should be encouraged by a spirit of co-operation, other steps will hereafter be taken, of equal importance, and some of them of a like nature. As the American Penny Magazine will be the vehicle through which information will be communicated on these subjects, it will be important that a few copies of it should be received in each neighborhood; and the kind exertions of those who approve the scheme are invited to obtain subscribers. Directions for Planting and Rearing the Natural Order, Xanthoxylaceae-Linnæan System, Plant the seeds in the Autumn, if possible. Keep greensward around the young trees, to prevent suckers. Late in the Autumn cut them off near the ground, and the next Spring each root will stoot up a straight and thrifty stem, and probably grow from five to ten or twelve feet high. If you wish to propagate the trees speedily, remove the turf; and in the Autumn, strike a spade down on one or two sides, to cut off some of the roots. The suckers will then grow, and may be transplanted. The stamen flowers grow on one tree, and the pistil flowers on another; therefore solitary trees will produce no seed. The seed appears on trees 4 or 5 years old, and are ripe about the end of September. The price of the trees when two years old in New York, is $1.50 each. THE AMERICAN PENNY MAGAZINE Is published weekly, at the office of the New York We particularly request the public to remember that no person is authorized to receive money advance for this paper, except those who show a cer tificate, signed by the Editor, and postmasters. |