1 
him with hen’s feathers, lamb’s wool, linen 
rags, English resin, asafetida, all in a pan to¬ 
gether. In three days he will be well. 
Pittsvllle, Texas. Peter Jones. 
lished in this country. The two volumes of 
the “American Entomologist,” published at 
St. Louis, Mo., and edited by Char. V. Riley, 
are valuable additions to any student’s libra¬ 
ry, containing, as they do, descriptions and 
illustrations of many hundreds of our com¬ 
mon insects. By the time one has become 
familiar with the contents of these works, he 
will want to become a member of the Ameri¬ 
can Entomological Society of Philadelphia, 
and procure its volumes of proceedings, also 
the publications of the Smithsonian Institute 
at Washington— at least, all that pertains to 
Entomology. “Morris’ Lepidoptera of North 
America" will be found very useful in Iden¬ 
tifying butterflies and moths. “ Lecontes’ 
Classification of the Coleoptera of North 
America," and several other similar works 
published by the same Institution, will be 
found indispensable as one progresses. But 
during all this time the cabinet must not be 
neglected; for a person to remember the 
names of all the insects found, or be able to 
determine, the closely - allied species, must 
have carefully-determined types for compari¬ 
son. Begin with the most, common species, 
and when the name has been found, label it, 
and put away in cabinet. The new beginner 
will find himself sorely puzzled at first to dis¬ 
tinguish species even by the aid of the most 
minute and careful description ; but he can 
usually And those that are further advanced 
in the same field that will assist him in this. 
In fact, there is really no end to the aid a man 
will receive in the pursuit of knowledge if 
he goes to work with a determination to suc¬ 
ceed, and proves by his labors that he is no 
sluggard. You will probably find many in¬ 
sects that are named, but not described ; for 
some of our greatest Entomologists have 
taken it upon themselves to give names to 
certain species and then put them away in 
their cabinets without publishing a descrip¬ 
tion. In instances of this kind, we are com¬ 
pelled to visit in person, or send specimens 
to, these autocrats of science for identifica¬ 
tion. The little fish must go to the next big 
fish above him for aid, and so on up to the 
highest authority. As a rule, however, Ento¬ 
mologists are very accommodating, and glad¬ 
ly aid those who try to learn. 
GIANT CALIFORNIA BEETLE 
Feb. 12.—I send you a sketch of a giant 
California beetle sent mo by seme one who 
ommatt 
DEAL GENTLY WITH THE HORSES 
DAILY RURAL LIFE, 
CATARRH IN HORSES 
“Oo’lang! 2:40 on the plank road!” are 
words lightly uttered by excited drivers of 
livery horses ; but like the application of the 
fable of the boys and the frogs, though it may 
be fun for the drivers, it is death to the horses. 
When the carriage wheels roll smoothly over 
the planks or the Nicholson, drivers are apt 
to crowd the paces of the team much more 
than they would think of doing if they were 
driving on cobble stone pavements or heavy 
country roads. 
But the application which I desire to make 
of this matter is this Whereas, during the 
last Autumn and beginning of Winter, the 
homes all over the country were utterly de¬ 
moralized in their bodily forces by the pre¬ 
vailing epidemic, and the close bandaging of 
nock and legs and blanket ing of the whole 
body, made them as tender as house plants. 
Then, as soon as they were fit for the lightest 
business, tho great accumulation of work had 
to be cleared off as fast as possible, which in 
many cases brought on a relapse or supple¬ 
mentary disease, by which many valuable 
horses were used up. 
Now, we have had the most elegant sleigh¬ 
ing the country ever saw, all over, ever since 
Christmas, and ovoryttiing in the shape of a 
sleigh, cutter, jumper, or Umber-Peter, bns 
been in constant requisition, and tho 2:40 boys 
have held a two month’s carnival of fast driv¬ 
ing. And fast driving to a sleigh means a 
good deal more than any other fast driving, 
The air is bracing, the way is smooth, the 
sleigh glides on so neatly, and the hells ring 
so merrily thut people do not consider how 
fast they do crowd the team, until at, the end 
of a long drive they find them out of wind 
and all a-foam with over-exertion. 
This is very mischievous. Let one of these 
excited drivers take a foot race, with the 
thermometer at zero, and keep up to the top 
of his speed for only half a mile, and he 
would think himself inhaling needles a nd pins 
and caustics. How much more painful and 
disastrous to horses just recovered from the 
late terrible catarrh, to be pushed for hours 
at the top of their gait! 
Perhaps the fine sleighing is over for this 
season ; if not, I think the horses ought, to 
hold “A Week of Prayer,” to petition that it 
may be. But the. Spring work will soon be 
on, and what with epizootic in the Fall, and 
Jehu-driving in the Winter, the poor beasts 
will be in bad order for the labors of the 
Spring, which always tax the vital powers to 
a great extent. 
Now, put the horses on good, generous 
feed, and give them rest, with light exercise, 
until they are fit for the heavy work of the 
coming season.—s. n. n. 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near Newl 
York City. 
ABOUT GRAFTIHO WAX. 
Feb. 10,—A correspondent asks me to tell 
howl make grafting wax, and give the exact 
quantity of each ingredient. He says that 
he has not been able to find two persons who 
give the same directions for making this very 
useful article. Last season he had some trees 
grafted by a man who prete.nded to know all 
about grafting, but in three or four weeks 
the wax melted and ran off, and then the 
grafts died. Now this reminds me of an in¬ 
cident in ray own experience, and although 
it happened more than twenty years ago, it 
always comes to mind whenever 1 so - a recipe 
given for making grafting wax A neighbor 
who was having a large number of trees 
grafted, ran short of wax, and knowing that 
I usually kept a quantity on hand, he called 
and borrowed enough to keep his men at 
work until some could be made. A few days 
after he returned an equal quantity of wax 
of his own make, and as it appeared to be 
of excellent quality, I proceeded to use it in 
grafting between twelve and thirteen hun¬ 
dred stocks, The results were, that not only 
did the wax kill every cion, but the stocks 
were badly injured wherever the poisonous 
compound touched them. Upon inquiry, I 
found that, my neighbor had made his wax 
in accordance with a new recipe, wherein 
some kind of oil was used in place of the 
good old homely tallow. Ever since that 
little bit of experience, I have made ray own 
grafting wax, never borrowing nor lending ; 
but if asked to do the latter, It becomes a 
gift or nothing. Now this grafting wax 
question reminds me that there is one thing 
which I have never had occasion to change 
or try to improve, being content to let well 
enough alone. This Is the recipe Two lbs. 
rosin, one lb. beeswax, one half lb. tallow, 
or in these proportions for larger or smaller 
quantities ; if to be used in the open air, in 
cool -weather, add a little more tallow ; melt 
all together and manipulate well with the 
hands as it becomes cool ; make up into small 
rolls and inclose in greased or oi led paper any 
surplus not wanted for immediate use, and 
put it away in a collar or cool room. 
There are, no doubt, many other recipes 
for making a good grafting wax ; in fact, l 
know that many of our nurserymen use a 
different composition from the one named 
above ; but as this has never failed to satisfy 
me, I give it with confidence. 
HOW TO STUDY ENTOMOLOGY. 
Feb. 11.—The following letter is but one 
among the many that 1 have received asking 
for information on this subject: 
In studying Entomology, what works is it 
necessary to procure in order to make a be¬ 
ginning ? Such directions os “Procure some 
elementai-y work on this subject," do not 
suggest the right thing. Wo want to know 
wliat particular work is best calculated to 
assist us. Can Entomology be successfully 
pursued without other instruction than our 
elementary work ia likely to give u? i So 
much depends on escaping a false start when 
there is no one to point out errors, and to 
put the student on the beaten path, that one 
tears being misled.— Moet Perkins, Wood¬ 
cock, Pa. 
If a man aspires to become a thorough sci¬ 
entific entomologist, he must begin in his 
youth, and devote his entire life to study ; 
and then, should he live to be three score and 
ten, the chances are that he will die a very 
ignorant man,—at least in his own opinion, 
although the world may honor him for his 
great achievements and profound wisdom. 
But almost any one who desires to know 
something of life as seen in the insect world, 
may acquire sufficient knowledge of Ento¬ 
mology to recognize our common insects by 
studying the works on the subject published 
in this country and in our own language. 
To begin, a man may take “Harris’ Insects 
Injurious to Vegetation," a work written in 
a popular, easy style, with just enough scien¬ 
tific terms sandwiched among the descrip¬ 
tions to familiarize them to the ordinary, un¬ 
scientific reader. The work also contains a 
sufficient number of illustrations to enable 
the novice to kuow the difference between 
bugs and beetles, butterflies and moths; in 
fact, get a pretty clear idea of the forms and 
habits of the various orders and families 
with which he is likely to come in contact. 
When this work has been so thoroughly stud¬ 
ied that a desire for something deeper is 
created, obtain “Packard’s Guide to the 
Study of Insects and although this work 
is really too scientific for the new beginner, 
still it is an aid, and the best of its kind pub¬ 
The Agriculturist has this:—T. Gordon, 
Kittrell, N. writes that he has a horse 
troubled with a running at the nose, accom¬ 
panied by a film, which grows over the eyes 
and causes temporary blindness. It is doubt¬ 
less a catarrhal affection, and the trouble 
with the eyes is sympathetic. Feed warm 
bran-mashes and scalded oats, give powdered 
gentian root and sulphur in the feed, and 
wash the nostrils and bathe the eyes with a 
weak solution of sulphate of zinc. Keep the 
horse in a warm, well ventilated stable, free 
from drafts. 
AMERICAN FISH CULTURISTS’ ASS’N 
This Association met in New York City, 
Tuesday, Feb. 11, as previously announced. 
The following gentlemen were present : 
George Shepherd Page, Stanly, N. «J.; Wm. 
Clift, Mystic Bridge, Conn.; A. S. Collins, 
Caledonia, N. Y.; B. F. Bowles, Springfield, 
Mass.; M. C. Edmunds, Weston, Vt.; A. P. 
Ruck wood, Salt Lake City, Utah.; G. W. 
Crysler, Kindcrhook, N. Y.; E. B. l’axton, 
Detroit, Mich.; Win. G. Sond, Newark, N. J.; 
Garret Van Clove, Corona, N. J.; John H. 
Barden. Rhode Island.; P. Brasher, Brooklyn, 
N. Y.; Thaddeus Norris, Philadelphia, Penn.; 
W. A, Fitzhugh, Geneseo, N. Y.; B. B. Por 
ter, Baltimore, Md.: Joseph Vuu Clove, New¬ 
ark, N. J.; and A, Beaumont, New Hope, 
Penn. 
After the presentation of the usual reports, 
the President, the Rev, William Clift, de¬ 
livered the annual address. Mr. Cun. who 
is largely interested in the culture and propa¬ 
gation o'f fish, recounted the progress of the 
past year in Pisciculture throughout the 
United States. Among the papers which 
had been promised was one by Prof. Spencer 
F. Baird, the L’nited States Fish Commis¬ 
sioner, on “ Deep-Sea Dredging,” but it was 
not read, aa the recent importation of salmon 
spawn from Germany bus occupied his time. 
George Shepard Paoe read his “Notes on 
Fish Culture Abroad.” Mr. Page referred 
to the culture of fish iu China, which is of 
ancient origin, and is principally carried on in 
submerged rice fields, fagots being placed so 
ns to catch the spawn ot fish. lie spoke 
also of tho early practice of the Romans in 
conducting fish by- means of canals from the 
sea to the Interior—a method which has been 
followed in Great, Britain and Norway. In 
France the Government erected the first pis- 
cicultural establishment, at llouiugue, in IMfi 
The establishment has been conducted on a 
larger scale by the German Government 
since the conquest of Alsace and Loraiue, (u 
Russia the system of dry impregnation pre¬ 
vails. in England, Ireland, and Scotland 25 
years ago salmon uad become almost exter¬ 
minated. The rivers of those countries are 
now bountifully- re stocked. On the Tay 
River, at the. Stormolitficld Works, 850,0(iVi 
salmon eggs are hatched annually, and tho 
rental oi tho Tay fisheries is ? 75,000 per 
annum. 
A paper by Fred. Mather, on “ Natural 
versus Artificial Culture in the Breeding of 
Brook Trout,” was reud. lie] advocated the 
natural impregnation of eggs. Mr. Collins 
MARE WITH SPRAINED SHOULDER, 
Having noticed the inquiry of Natt Mar¬ 
tin, in Rural New-Yorker, Feb. 1, (page 
74,) I give the following recipe, which has 
proved a perfect cure in every case under my 
observation the past forty year*:—Make a 
small incision in the skin at the top of the 
shoulder blade ; loosen the skin from the 
flesh around the incision with a smooth stick, 
about one inch around the hole; place the 
mouth to the hole in a position that will force 
the wind through the hole under the skin. 
Blow until the skin is raised from the flesh, 
which will leave the skin puffed up by the 
wind. Take a round piece of soft common 
upper leather, twice the size of the hole in the 
skin, with three-eighth6 hole in the center; 
place the leather under the skin and a stick 
over the leather through the skin on each 
side ; tie with a thread, leaving the opening 
over the leather half an inch for the discharge 
of matter. -The effect of a. shoulder sprain is 
clotted blood under the shoulder blade t the 
above described seton will remove the clotted 
blood and effect a cure. T. F Petrie. 
excepted to Mr. Mather’s view, and insisted 
that the artificial method, by pressure or 
“strippings," was the better one. The fol¬ 
lowing papers we.ru also read :—A. P. Rock- 
wood’s on the “Native Fish of Utah,” and 
Charles Bell’s on the “Zoosperm of Fish 
A communication from Col. James Worrall 
on the fish restoration movement in Pennsyl¬ 
vania during 1872, ,-liuwed that by the Gov- 
enor’s veto of the legislative appropriation of 
$73,000 very little nod been done in that 
State, although he was still hopeful. He has 
7,000 Sacramento, Cal., salmon and 0,U00 
salmon trout from Seth Green’s hatching 
establishment, which arc to bo placed in tho 
Susquehanua River. 
A paper, read bv George R. Dykeman, on 
the “ Unsuccessful Taking and Impregnation 
of Trout Eggs,” elicited discussion, in which 
the sentiment of the majority of the mem¬ 
bers seemed to incline to the belief that the 
want, of success is due to inexperience. Mr 
Paxton of Michigan referred to the great 
diminution of whitefish in Lakes Erie and 
Michigan. Six or eight years ago he caught 
GO,000 fish iu a locality where he only caught 
20 last season. He was contemplating start¬ 
ing a breeding establishment for whitefish 
at Windsor, Canada, where the authorities 
have oilerecl water facilities at little cost, and 
for the support of which an appropriation 
from the Canadian Government is expected. 
Some discussion was had os to the number 
of eggs to be procured from trout, and a dif¬ 
ference of opinion seemed to exist. It was 
claimed that a trout of one pound weight 
would not produce more than 500 eggs, and 
this was met by an assertion that the yield 
would be double. The following officers 
were re-elected: 
President, William Clift ; Secretary, A. 
G. Collins ; Treasurer, B. F. Bowles ; Ex¬ 
ecutive Committee, Seth Green, E. A. 
Brackett, M. C. Edmunds. 
The Association, after an informal discus¬ 
sion, adjourned to meet in New York City on 
the second Monday of February, 1874. 
reads my Diary in the Rural New-Yorker. 
Its scientific name is Eroate* spiculatm, 
Leg, and it belongs to that immense family 
of beetles known as LongicornB, the larvse of 
which live in trees and shrubs, and are called 
wood borers. Of course, I have no means of 
knowing anything further in relation to the 
history of this fine insect, but hope some one 
of the many readers of your paper who re¬ 
side in California will give us some informa¬ 
tion in regard to its habits. Its color is a dark 
brown, the ontennie almost black, smooth 
and glossy. To receive such splendid speci¬ 
mens almost gives me the California fever, 
and I fear that) a few more such entomologi¬ 
cal collections as I have received of late from 
there will carry me off. 
DAHLIAS FROM SEED 
R. E. Q. of Askew, Ark., asks how to grow 
Dahlias from seed. In our Northern climate 
we usually sow Dahlia seed in hot-beds, or in 
a green-house, as early as March, in order to 
make them bloom the first seasou. This 
early planting would probably not be neces¬ 
sary iu Arkansas ; but we would advise sow¬ 
ing as early as the weather would permit in 
Spring. Sow the seed in frames or boxes, 
covering with fine, rich mold, not more than 
a quarter of an inch deep. Give plenty of 
water, and as soon as the plants have pro¬ 
duced two ot three leaves, transplant into 
small pots, or into shallow boxes, and keep 
them protected from drying winds and heavy 
rains. As soon aa the plants are a few inches 
high, and stocky, transplant to the open bor¬ 
der, watering them thoroughly at the time. 
THE POWERLESS TAIL 
Mr. Editor —Sir: I have had a great deal 
of experience with horses during the epizoot¬ 
ic. It affects them different ways. Some 
are stiff in the back, and take dropsy in the 
legs ; some lose the use of the tail. One of 
your subscribers asked for light on this sub¬ 
ject. He said his horse’s tail was powerless, 
For that, take a dozen 9trands of loose twisted 
yam ; wet it well with spirits of turpentine, 
and tie it round his tail close to his backbone ; 
also take a pod of red pepper, turn it wrong 
Bide out, and give him an injection with it. 
In two hours give Iran another with castile 
soapsuds. If his throat is swelled, smoke 
