OOBE’S BUBAL NEW-YORKER 
JULY 
Bmro of a 
j G o 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
From the Diary of a Centleman near New 
York City. 
PROFESSIONAL BEGGARS. 
June. S3. — I suppose the beggars of New 
York City, particularly those frequenting 
the streets through which I am obliged to 
pass in my visits to the Rural New-Yorker 
office, think 1 am one of the hard-hearted 
old curmudgeons of which we read in 
novels. T long ago came to the conclusion 
that giving anything to beggars was a crime, 
and that, as soon as the public would close 
their pockets to this nuisance it would disap¬ 
pear and not before. Perhaps my experi¬ 
ence in arriving at this conclusion is not dif 
ferent. from many others ; but 1 will mention 
one circumstance which more than any 
other hardened me against street beggars. T 
once lived for several years in one of the 
thickly-settled suburbs of New York and had 
a garden of some thirty lots within two or 
three blocks of my residence. When we 
first moved into our new home the beggars 
commenced calling, as it iR their custom, and 
Mrs. “Ruralist.” having had no experience 
with that class of people, gave something to 
nearly every one, remarking to me occasion 
ally that it must be very hard times among 
the poor people, as so many had to beg for a 
living. Brcud, cakes, clothes, bedding and 
even the small change disappeared from day 
to day, and still the people in want were as 
numerous as ever. At last I kindly hinted 
that beggars, us a class, were little better 
than thieves, and should every one bn sent to 
prison very little injustice would be. done. 
But it was a long time before Mrs. “ Rural¬ 
ist” could be made to *believe that small 
children, to say nothing of grown-up men 
and women, could simulate sm h distress, 
shed tears so copiously and at the same time 
be retailing a well-learned falsehood. Occa¬ 
sionally the same beggar would call the 
second time, telling an entirely different 
story ; these instances of perfidy at last be¬ 
gan to weaken Mrs. “R.’s” confidence in 
beggar nature, and then we agreed upon the 
f oho wing plan of disposing of the beggars 
calling at our residence. As nearly every 
one gave the same answer to the question, 
“ Why don’t you go to work and earn a liv¬ 
ing?” viz : — “I would, if i could get any¬ 
thing to do,” wo concluded to give all such 
persons employment, ; consequently l gave 
directions that every beggar calling for aid 
in any form should be directed to my gar¬ 
den, where they would be given so mo kind 
of work to do and be paid liberal wages for 
the same. No one should be turned away ; 
small boys, girls, the maimed, halt uud blind 
should have a chance of earning wages, if it 
was to do nothing more than sil in t he straw 
berry patch and drive away t he birds. Mrs. 
“Ruralist” was delighted with tiiis pros¬ 
pective opportunity of ameliorating trie con¬ 
dition of a large number of the human race. 
The first caller after our plans were matured 
was a strong, healthy-looking man who had 
been extremely unfortunate, if we were to 
believe his story'; but Mrs. “R,” propound¬ 
ed the question, “ Why don’t you go to 
work ?” and the stereotyped answer came, 
“ Would to God 1 could find work! ” 
“Well,” replied Mrs. “ it." “you are just 
the man my husband wants at. this moment . 
Here, Mary, show this mau around to the 
garden ; ” but before Mary could get up 
from the kitchen Mr. Beggar was off for 
fresher fields. For ten years this offer of 
something to do and good wages paid was 
kept open to all beggars calling at our house, 
but never a one accepted it. 
I might fill volumes in describing the tricks 
of beggars, but 1 will only tell of one other 
instance of misplaced confidence in tills class, 
merely because the victim was a newspaper 
editor and a man, by the way, who has had 
some experience with New York City beg 
gars. Not long ago 1 happened to be in the 
editorial rooms of the-. a well-known 
illustrated weekly, when a buy, probably 
twelve or fourteen years old, ratlur shabbily 
dressed, entered, crying bitterly; <uid, be¬ 
tween sobs, he managed to tell his slow, 
which was as follows I am a boot black, 
and have a sick mother. [Sobs profusely, 
tears coursing down Ins cheeks.] Some boy 
has stolen my box, blacking and everything 
[breaks out crying again,] and now I want to 
buy a new outfit. I’ve got a dollar, sir, 
[shows two fifty cent bills] and, sir, if you 
will please lend me just another half dollur, 
I can get a new box and brushes. I’ll come 
and black your boots for nothing for a mouth 
if you will only please lend me a half dollar. 
[A new and fresh burst of tears.] I don’t 
want to beg, and don’t want you to give me 
the money; In please do lend it to me until 
to-morrow.” i t takes a hard heart to resist 
such an appeal, and Mr. Editor was not of 
this kind, so the boy got his money ; hut as 
he was leaving 1 accosted him thus : — “Are 
you going to purchase an outfit for blacking 
boots?” “ Yes, sir,” he replied, promptly. 
“ Can you get a box rc«dy*made ?” “ Yes, 
sir.” “ How long before you will be here ?” 
“In half an hour.” “Well,” said I, “here 
is an offer :—If you will come and black our 
boots this afternoon with your new outfit. I 
will give you a half-dolla r for the job.” “ I’ll 
do it,” said he, and he bid us good-by. 
After he. was gene, Mr. S. asked if I really 
thought the boy was lying when those*tears 
were falling so rapidly. “Wait until he 
comes to black our hoofs, and see,” J replied. 
But he never came, and it has since, been 
ascertained that the same piece of brilliant 
acting has been done up in nearly every 
office in the city. 
Now, I hope no one will think I am op¬ 
posed to alms-giving or “lending to the 
Lord by giving to the poor;” far from it; 
but to bestow charity indiscriminately is 
worse than hoarding wealth like u miser, for 
you aid crime and criminals. The first test 
of honesty in a human being is a willingness 
to earn what they get, or in other words do 
some good that good to themselves shall fol¬ 
low'. if one desires to give, there are always 
abundant opportunities of aiding those who 
are really in want and are desA-ving of your 
bounty; but. they are not professional beg¬ 
gars—such as wander through our streets, 
occasionally making short trips, into the 
country, to one of which Mrs. “Ruralist” 
has just given a good dinner uud one of my 
-yes and a good coat which would have 
lasted me all next winter l'or every-day 
wear at least, even if it was not quite good 
enough to wear to meeting or the city. 
Well ! some women never can say no when 
their sympathies are awakened, and I sup¬ 
pose w'e men ought not to complain ; for it 
is barely possible that some of ns owe our 
happiness to this weakness of the sex. 
BARK LICE FROM MINNESOTA. 
.June 24.—1’. W. Hollingsworth, West 
Branch, Iowa, sends me some pieces of apple 
tree bark covered with very minute, white 
specks, and asks me to tell him what they 
are, through Hie RuralNew-Yorker. The 
specimens are not in first-rate condition for 
determination, but 1 think there is little 
doubt but w'hat they are young oyster shell 
bark lice, (Anpidiotus I'onchifurmis. 1 do 
not know of any better way of ridding apple 
trees of this pest, than to paint the stems 
over with soft soap. But this must be done 
while the Insect is young and before it. is cov¬ 
ered with its impervious seale. Prune in the 
branches severely and cultivate the trees, 
adding manure to insure a vigorous growth. 
Healthy, tlirlity trees are seldom injured by 
any of these scale insects; it is only upon 
stunted trees that they make any headway. 
I have had to fight these insects for many 
Veal’s, but have never found better weapons 
than those obtained in the barnyard, with 
the assistance of the pruning knife, plow 
and cultivator. 
GRAPE VINE PESTS. 
Wm. P. Woodruff, Williston, Vt., writes 
me that he sent a package of insects, May 
21, which were doing considerable damage 
to his grape vines. Perhaps lids package is 
among the many received, with no mark or 
letter giving description by which I could 
tell from who or whence they came, I hope 
correspondents who desire me to answer 
their questions in the Rural New-Yorker, 
w'ill be particular in regard to these matters, 
remembering that 1 am in receipt of pack¬ 
ages almost every mail, and it is quite neces¬ 
sary some method of identification should 
be furnished me. 
TENT-WORMS. 
Somebody sends me a small paper box, 
containing a few tent caterpillai-s (Ctisio- 
cnmpa America) attached to leaves of wild 
cherry. The box. as usual with stlch frail 
packages, was smashed flat, hut from the 
remnant I was able, to find the caterpillars 
named, and presume the one who sent it will 
recognize this answer to a question he prob¬ 
ably intended to. if he has not, askod, f>ese 
tern -worms are great pesvt t* orchards 
and oruuin'-nt i: trees, but easily destroyed 
by ga therji* ihe nests early in the morning 
or on rainy days when the worms arc all at 
home and not scattered over the b anebes, 
as they usually are in the middle of the day, 
during pleasant weather, t here are tw'o spe- 
species of this worm ; one is known as C. 
sylvatica , and the other as C. Americana. 
The latter is usually the most common, also 
most readily destroyed, because its large 
nests, within which the worms seek shelter, 
are very conspicuous, and has only to gather 
them with their contents, burning both. 
The former, (C. gylvatica), also spins a web, 
but the worms usually rest upon the outside 
of the nest instead of within, consequently 
in gathering both we have to be more care¬ 
ful, else a portion of the worms will drop to 
the ground and escape. A good plan is to 
hold a basket under the nest when attempt¬ 
ing to collect llicm ; by using this precaution 
few worms will escape. As a preventive is 
always better than a cure, one may prevent 
the appearance of the worms by going over 
the orchard in winter or early spring and 
gather Hie clusters of eggs which may lie 
found deposited around tic- small twigs. 
But it is almost, useless to talk >f precaution¬ 
ary measures, because it appears to be nat u¬ 
ral to shirk work ns long as possible, even if 
we know when it does come it will be in¬ 
creased many fold. 
.4 ! arm (frctmomir. 
IRRIGATION WITHOUT WASHING. 
In reply to C. M. I)., Warsaw, N. Y., (Ru¬ 
ral New-Yorker, March 8, p. 1.18,) I send 
you the inclosed rough sketch, so simple that 
I think any farmer of any “gumption” can 
do all of his own surveying for drains, ditch¬ 
X 
es, etc., and also for irrigating. The sketch 
presents a triangle Mib. feet, span, I and 2 
being the legs ; K, a brace to strengthen the 
legs ; A, another brace to which is fastened 
a bracket 0, in the form of a Y, to sustain 
the spirit level. There should be two of the 
brackets, and they should lie so fast ened to 
the brace that the center of the spirit level 
will come in the centre of the triangle. 
The triangle stands in a small trench, say 
about 18 feet long, two or three inches deep, 
and of the same width. This is filled with 
water. Two stubs (I)) art: then driven into 
the bottom of the trench, the tops being just 
even with the top of the. water. On these 
the l riangle, with the level attached, is 
placed. This is level. 
Now under the foot of one of the legs and 
on the stub (D) is placed t he grade block— i, 
it., if you want a lb-inch grade to the rod, or 
;!<, or %, or any other grade, just have a little 
block the thickness of which shall bo equal 
to the grade required, and place it as stated 
above. Then the spirit level is re-leveled by 
insert ing a thin wedge between the bottom 
of the end of the spirit level and t he bracket 
on which the. end rests. When the. bubble in 
the level is m t he center again, then securely 
fasten the level by tying it at both ends to 
the brace. The triangle is now ready for use. 
1 will here mention two cautions necessary 
to perfect success. Be careful and keep the 
leg under which the grade was placed be¬ 
hind ; and keep the level from you, so that 
it will not get moved out. of place : this wifi 
come all right if you keep on the down hill 
side and have tire level on the up hill side. 
Be sure and look to this when you are adjust¬ 
ing your triangle at the “ water level.” 
Now, to survey the ditch :—Go to the place 
where you want to divert, the water and set. 
your triangle, (keeping the grade leg behind). 
When the level says level, then drive a little 
st uli on the lower side of the forward leg of 
the triangle, close to it. Then move your 
triangle and place the hinder or grade leg 
close to the stub (just where the forward one 
was) and get another level. When this is 
done, drive another stub, and so on until you 
have reached the objective point. The stubs 
will indicate the lower side of the ditch. 
It * or % of an inch to the rod is the grade 
nsed, I do not tliinkit will wash or cut at all. 
if C. M. D.’s ground will admit of the snak¬ 
ing process, then all he lias to do is to plow 
small furrows from four to 10 feel apart and 
turn on a small head of water and let it rim ; 
it will not wash to hurt anything. If he has 
to flood the ground, then tie can make his 
irrigating ditches in the field a little larger 
and a great deal further apart. I have irri¬ 
gated 10 acres from one ditch. If the field 
is harrowed and cultivated, then harrow and 
cultivate as near the way you want the water 
to run as you can. Any further questions 
will be duly answered in the Rural New- 
Yorker. J. D. Kirby. 
Meadow Creek, Madison Co., Montana. 
-- 
BUYING WEED SEED. 
How often have the readers of the Rural 
New-Yorker been admonished in regard to 
sowing grain or grass seeds that, contain the 
seeds of foul or noxious weeds ? And yet 
one would hardly think it necessary that 
farmers in this day and age of improvement 
would need to be admonished thus ; and we 
are glad to say that there is a class of fann¬ 
ers, although t he number may be small, who 
have battled with these invaders for many 
year's, with marked success. But to the 
great majority of farmers it. seems to require 
“ line upon line and precept upon precept” 
before there will be much improvement. 
The subject, of weeds is one that should 
arrest the attention of every tiller of the 
soil throughout, the land ; for in fact they 
have become a canker upon American agri¬ 
culture. In many places they have taken 
undisputed possession of the roadsides, along 
the margin of fields, and in autumn their 
seeds are seen floating in the air from farm 
to farm. It is almost useless for one man to 
destroy his weeds if liis neighbors allow 
theirs to mature. The question that presents 
itself is, How can we most effectually, and 
with the least expense, destroy the weeds l 
Here allow me to say that, perhaps there are 
no other two weeds throughout l lie Eastern 
uud Middle States so injurious to the farmer 
as the Canada thistle and the ox-eye daisy. 
The latter we have had but litt le experience 
with ; the former we have had a sharp in¬ 
troduction to. We have fought it with 
almost every farm implement, from the hoe 
to the plow, but have always hail the best 
success with the plow. We have some¬ 
times been rather successful by seeding with 
red clover (small kind) and then mowing 
twice during the season : but our experience 
teaches us that the plow' is best. 
Five years ago we bought a farm, one 
field, containing four acres, of which was 
one waving mass of Canada thist les, many of 
them being four feet in bight. This was in 
the fall, lu the summer following we re¬ 
solved to summer fallow the field and see 
w'hat the result, would lie. Accordingly, ou 
the twelfth of June, we commenced to plow 
the field, taking cure to turn every foot of 
soil over; next we proceeded to harrow 
thoroughly; this brought the greater part of 
the roots to the surface, and in a few days 
the sun had destroyed their vitality. We 
also allowed a flock of sheep to ramble over 
the field, and we observed that they were 
exceedingly loud of the tender roots, pulling 
up and eating all within then' reach. It then 
remained in this condition for about four 
weeks, when we proceeded to treat it as be¬ 
fore, plowing two inches deeper and Occa¬ 
sionally throwing up portions of the clay 
subsoil. About the 5th of September we 
plowed as before, sowing two bushels of 
wheat broadcast to the acre on the furrows ; 
we harrowed and rolled. In due time the 
wheat made its appearance, branching out 
and looking very fine, but the thistles were 
nowhere to be seen, and at harvest time, 
where there had been six bushels to the acre 
harvested formei'ly, wo gathered eighteen of 
nice wheat, and no thistles. Since then we 
have grown a crop each of corn, barley and 
clover, and the thistles have never appeared. 
Let every reader of the Rural, -who must 
necessarily purchase his seeds, beware what 
he buys. It is always safest to purchase 
only of responsible dealers, and even then it 
is best to examine the seed carefully, which 
may be done by moistening the hand and 
dipping it into the seed, when it can be ex¬ 
amined more readily; and if there appear 
any foreign seeds, it is best to reject it at any 
price. A neighbor of ours went to a seed 
store a few years ago to buy some seed ; but 
the price nbt suiting him, he concluded to 
look further, and finally purchased of a 
liveryman ; he sowed his seed, and in due 
time the seed spoke for itself. He had one 
unbroken sheet of daisies—a terror to the 
whole neighborhood. 
Our attention was called to this subject re¬ 
cently by reading the report ol‘ the American 
Institute of New York tor t he year IKUO. A 
gentleman from Chenango Co. stated that he 
considered Canada thistles and daisies not 
only ituinjurious but he thought they were a 
decided benefit to the farmer : that they 
were not only good fertilizers but that their 
mechanical aetiou on the soil was really 
beneficial; and, further, that be never sa w 
them growing with any crop where they 
were not an actual benefit lu the <Mop. Now. 
brother farmers, what are we to infer from 
such statements ? Wo conclude that either 
he had never seen Canada thistles or that he 
had some seed for sale. Our advice to each 
and every fanner is, look sharp for the 
weeds. c. F. K. 
