rarg of a JjtoiaM 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
Prom the Diary of a Centleman near New 
York City. 
DO FISH HEAR? 
Nov. 1.—I notice that Seth Green, the 
well-known breeder of fish, haB been making 
a speech before the Deaf Mute Convention at 
Rochester, N. Y., in which he says : 
“ Fish are all mutes; they can neither hear 
nor speak ; but what they lose in hearing 
they make up in seeing, smelling, tasting 
and feeling. They arc very sensitive, to a 
jar, so much so that many people mistake it 
for hearing.” 
This statement may be very consoling to 
deaf mutes, but 1 would like to know what 
foundation the gentleman has for the state¬ 
ment beyond, perhaps, the assertion of others. 
Can he prove that fish cannot hear f Does 
he know it from his own personal investiga¬ 
tion, or did he merely say so, using second¬ 
hand knowledge because it was cheaper than 
new or first - hand information, obtained 
through personal information ? Of course I 
am well aware that it has been asserted and 
reiterated, from time immemorial, that fish 
could not hear ; Still, this does not affect the 
fish in the least, any more than the ridicule of 
asses’ ears make them any the lew, promi¬ 
nent. Because there is no known orifice or 
external organ which can be distinguished 
upon fish, (as cars,) it is far from being satis¬ 
factory proof that they cannot hear. The 
nerves which receive sound may come to the 
surface at some point upon the head, fiua, or 
other portion of the body, or they may spread 
over even a large su rface, for every natural¬ 
ist i 3 aware that organs corresponding with 
those on the higher types of the animal king¬ 
dom are greatly modified, and even the loca¬ 
tions changed in the lower. Many very good 
observers have told us that fish were capable 
of not only hearing, but of distinguishing 
the quality and kind of sounds. Insects have 
no ears in the common acceptation of the 
term, and even great authorities like Linne 
and Bonnet thought them deprived of the 
sense of hearing. The songs of the grass¬ 
hoppers, katydids, the hum of the bees were 
probably not intended solely for the delecta¬ 
tion of broad, open-eared bipeds, although 
many a long-eared one is bigoted enough to 
think so. It will not answer, in these days 
of scientific investigation, to depend implic¬ 
itly upon arguments based upon analogy, and 
thereby try to cut off more or less of the 
senses of some of the lower animuls simply 
because they have no organs corresponding 
■with the higher types ; for we might com¬ 
mence comparing length of noses and be 
beaten by the elephant, or in length of ears 
by the donkey ; and still our senses of smell¬ 
ing and hearing would remain acute and un¬ 
impaired in face of all analogies offered to 
prove the contrary. 
CABBAGE BUTTERFLY. 
Nov. 2.—Daily Rural Life I send you 
a butterfly and a moth. What are they ? On 
what do their caterpillars live ? Please an¬ 
swer in Rural New-Yorker.—E. J. Smith, 
Sherborn, Mass. 
The butterfly is a female Pieris rape?, or 
what is more commonly known as the Whit e- 
Cabbago butterfly. It is the parent of those 
ugly green worms which have been playing 
havoc with cabbages in various localities 
during the past live or six years. It is an 
imported pest, having reached us by t he way 
of Canada. It has been figured, described 
and referred to many times in the columns 
of the Rural New-Yorickr. The moth was 
so badly crushed and otherwise mutilated 
that I cannot give its specific name. It is, 
however, an Agrotis, the parent of one of 
our many species of cut-worm. 
MORE INSECTS FOR NAMES. 
Walter U. Branch, who sends a box of 
insects to be named, dating his letter at 
“Norwich,” (no State given,) is informed 
that tho large, paper-like cocoon is probably 
that of Attncus cecropia ; but being a very 
old one, I should not like to be positive as to 
its name. The chrysalis within had been 
destroyed by some parasite. What you call 
the small cocoon is merely a spider's nest 
lull of eggs, made among the twigs of an 
arbor-vitse. The small, black beetle about a 
half-inch long, with yellow legs, is a Harpg- 
litH pensylvanfcus, n harmless insect, quite 
abundant in all tho Atlantic States. The 
soft-bodied, rather fiattish, brown insect, is 
/mrjeommon wood cockroach (Blatta ,) 
THE MAPLE APHIS. 
Daily Rural Life Will you please tell 
me through the Rural, or in some other 
way, what the inclosed insects are ? My 
mother and I found them when blackberry- 
ing last August, and they still remain on the 
same branch on which found. Never having 
seen anything of the kind before, I am quit© 
anxious to know what they are.—ItELLE 
Waffle , Elm Valley, N. Y. 
The insects were alive and brisk when re¬ 
ceived, and appeared to be in a fair way to 
live for some time to come. They are known 
as the Maple-leaf Woolly Aphis (Lccnniu tn 
aoertcala). They sometimes cover the young 
twigs and even steins of small trees, as well 
;us leaves, with the white, downy substance 
so abundant about the specimen you send. 
I found them quite plentiful in Pennsylvania 
the past summer, and probably they appear 
in some portion of the country every year. 
A FEW MORE INSECTS. 
The small chrysalis of some kind of butter¬ 
fly attached to a piece of cotton from Barton 
Co., Ga., was smashed'out of all recognizable 
shape when received. There is no use of 
sending soft-bodied insects or other similar 
things in letters, for they are sure to be 
crushed during transit through the mails. 
The tliree chrysalids of some butterfly re¬ 
ceived from II. P. Sandford, Ottawa Co., 
Kan., cannot be Identified with certainty 
until the butterflies appear. The small roll 
of leaves gathered from a AVhite ash was 
made by some species of saw fly ; but as it 
contained nothing, I have no positive guide 
for determining the species. 
mt uiitcpni. 
MORE NEW GRAPES. 
There was a time, not many years since, 
when to speak of new grapes would command 
the attention of many an eager listener. 
Those days arc past, but will come again 
when those who lost, money in trying foolish 
experiments have forgotten it, and a new 
class of cultivators come upon the stage with 
as much enterprise, if no more wisdom, than 
those who may be compelled to step aside. 
Finch little periodical excitement which may 
occur from time to time, in regard to the 
cultivating of any particular kind of fruit, 
usually adds something to our store of knowl¬ 
edge and more or less to our wealth as a 
nation. The “ grape fever,” as it is some- 
t imes called, which prevailed throughout the 
country some ten years ago, left us with a 
knowledge of a number of most excellent 
grape-growing regions of country of which 
we knew scarcely nothing before. Many 
extensive vineyards were established during 
the period named, from which our markets 
are now supplied with most excellent fruit, 
all the result of what many believe was an 
unwarranted excitement, produced through 
the over-praising of new sorts, as well as 
over-estimate of the profits of culture. But 
that good has come out of our grape mania 
all, we think, will admit, and that thebenefits 
are to continue is equally apparent. In no 
one direction do we see the benefits cropping 
out so conspicuously as in the line of new 
seedlings, and especially in the production of 
hybrids. It is only a few years since that 
many of our really good horticulturists 
doubted the existence or practicability of 
producing true hybrid varieties ; but a few 
grape growers (amateurs, mainly,) believed 
that betier varieties and greater progress 
could be made by hybridizing than simply 
depending upon natural variations, and to 
t bi* end they have used their knowledge of 
vegetable physiology and skill with, in many 
instances, most excellent results. 
Allen, Arnold, Campbell, Rogers, Wy¬ 
lie, are names well known in connection 
with new hybrid sorts ; but for careful, scien¬ 
tific manipulation, extent and number of 
experiments, with a strict record of each, 
ending in most satisfactory and often aston¬ 
ishing results, Mr. J. H. Ricketts of New¬ 
burgh, N. Y., seems to have excelled all com¬ 
petitors in this field. Tins, to some, may 
seem to be too much praise even for good 
work ; but we speak advisedly and more 
freely in regard to this gentleman’s labors 
than we should have done had he ever sought 
it at our hands or in any way to pu&h the 
results of his labors and skill into public 
notice. 
Having for several years past watched the 
progress made by him in this comparatively 
new field, we speak from personal knowledge 
of his operations and the results. Further 
than this. Mi*. Ricketts has not offered lus 
new sorts for sale, ns usual in such eases, be¬ 
fore their merits were fully known ; in fact, 
we believe his earliest, and perhaps some of 
the best of his hybrids have not as yet been 
disseminated, except a few vines placed in 
the hands of personal friends for the purpose 
of testing their value in different soils and 
localities. 
Therefore, what we have said and may 
have occasion to say in regard to the varie¬ 
ties produced by this gentleman, is no more 
than we consider due him and American 
Grape culture. We should be pleased to have 
occasion to say as much about a score or more 
of just such men and the products of their 
skill and labors. 
Descriptions and illustrations of several of 
Mr . Ricketts’ hybrids have already appeared 
in previous volumes of the Rural New- 
Yorker, and we have now to add a few 
notes on some other new sorts from the same 
source. A basket of these grapes came to 
hand by express with merely notes upon 
their parentage, and we give our opinion in 
regard to merits of samples, as follows : 
Ricketts’ No. 7.—Parentage, Iona and Mus¬ 
cat Hamburgh. Bunch, medium ; berry, ex¬ 
tra large, oval, purplish black ; Bkin, thin but 
tough, adhering to the flesh, which is firm, 
breaking like the flesh of a Black Hamburgh. 
The quality is also very similar to the Ham¬ 
burgh, and it shows the Villa Vfaiferu blood 
very decidedly. If this variety should prove 
to succeed well in vineyard culture, it would 
certainly be a popular market grape. 
No. 82.—A small bunch received ; proba¬ 
bly not a fair sample. Berry, round, size 
of Catawba : white, almost transparent, with 
slight tinge of amber on side exposed to the 
sun ; skin moderately thin ; flavor rich anil 
sprightly, withaelight adhering of pulp about 
the seeds. 
No. 142.—Martha and Muscat Hamburgh. 
Bunch, medium ; shouldered ; berry, large, 
slightly oval, greenish white, with amber 
cheek ’; skin rather thick ; sprightly flavor, 
but pulp too tough in the center. This is a 
fair grape, mid would probably pass as a 
pretty good variety in market; but we want 
something better, although what are called 
white grapes as good aathisaru as yet scarce. 
No. 13.—Clinton and Muscat Hamburgh, 
Bunch, medium ; berry, medium, nearly 
globular ; almost a grass green in color ; 
some of the berries slightly tinged with red 
on sunny side ; skin, thin ; flesh, brittle, melt¬ 
ing ; seeds readily separated ; no pulp in 
center ; rich, vinous and excellent . A first- 
rate sort, but its unattractive color would 
prevent it from ever becoming popular. 
No. 12—B.—Hartford Prolific and Muscat 
Hamburgh. Bunch, large, long, shouldered ; 
berry, large or larger than Concord ; slight ly 
longer than brood ; black, with delicate 
bloom ; skiu, medium ; pulp, tender, almost 
sufficiently so as to be called fleshy ; very 
sweet, rich, and peculiar, pleasant flavor. 
No. 109.—Elsingburgh and Gen. Marmosa. 
Bunch, very long, clustered —or perhaps 
double-shouldered would be a better term ; 
berry, medium, small, bluish black; pulp, 
lender, melting, no toughness at center; rich, 
sprightly, and decidedly a spicy flavor, some¬ 
what after the style of the Clinton. We 
should think it would make an excellent red 
wins. 
Clinton , A r o. fi.—Clinton and Muscat Ham¬ 
burgh. Resembles the Clinton very much ; 
the berries, however, are larger. Not good 
enough for a table grape in this climate ; 
might be valuable for wine. 
No. 72. —B.—Hartford Prolific and Len- 
ninghan Muscat. Too ripe for us to judge of 
its appearance or quality, but the tougli pulp 
around the seed seems to be an objection to 
it, although the flavor is rich, 
No. 37.—B.—Concord and Jura Muscat. 
Bunch, extra large, clustered ; berry, very 
large, globular, nearly black, but with a 
alight purplish tinge; skin, tender : pulp, 
very tender : subacid and not rich, although 
not of a disagreeable flavor. It is a great pity 
that such a magnificent grape in appearance 
is not better in quality. 
Several other seedlings which have receiv¬ 
ed names such as “Advance” and “ Quas- 
saick,” accompanied the above, but of these 
we have given our opinion a year, or two 
since. But we may add that they appear to 
improve as the vines increase with age ; and 
among so many that are superior, it is diffi¬ 
cult to decide which is best. 
—- • 
DISEASED GRAPE VINES. 
Will “ Daily Rural Life ” be so kind as to 
inform a weekly reader and admirer what 
ails (or ailed) the accompanying vine. It is 
what remains of a Maxatawney grape vine, 
purchased, with others, last fall. When re¬ 
ceived the appearance of the root was so sus¬ 
picious that a portion of it was cut off and 
sent to the nurseryman with an inquiry as 
to whether any root disease existed among 
their vines. This was answered in the nega¬ 
tive. The vine was then planted, but has 
never done more than put out a leaf or two 
which made no growth, and at length the 
vine died out. A “ Martha,” purchased at 
the same time, behaved similarly until I re¬ 
moved the earth from its roots, drenched 
them with suds of carbolic soap and sifted 
sulphur over them. Since that operation the 
vine has put out fresh leaves, which appear 
healthy, and promise to make some growth. 
Is there an insect in this root, or what is the 
matter with it ? 
With some other vines I have had a similar 
experience. They have made no growth—not 
even appeared above ground, (with the ex¬ 
ception of a Rogers 14, and Salem which 
have put out within a day or two), although 
planted part last fall and a part early in the 
spring. Yet when I commenced digging 
them up to supply their places with vines 
grown in pots, I found them still living. 
Will these, if they grow, do well, or had I 
better purchase other plants this fall to re¬ 
place them. I fear they may lack the proper 
constitution. 
I have never had my grape vines afflicted 
with so many enemies. The most numerous 
is t he small bug about the size and color of a 
hernp seed. These, appear in hundreds, or 
rather thousands, 1 think. Then there is the 
rose bug, tho ordinary caterpilliar, a green 
worm somewhat resembling the tomato 
worm, the small, green worm that moves in 
regular phalanx, and the ordinary loaf-curler. 
By-the-by, is it sufficient with these last to 
kill the worm aud rub the eggs from the 
leaves, or should the eggs be more carefully 
destroyed ? 
There are also on the vines numerous warty 
protuberances. These, I presume, are made 
by insects. Do they contain insect eggs, and 
what should be done with them ? I would 
hesitate to trouble you with all these inqui¬ 
ries, but that I feel confident that 1 am but 
one of many who derive pleasure and in¬ 
struction from your letters, and, judging 
from their tone, I am equally confident that 
you take pleasure in answering them. a. 
Of course it would be difficult, to tell what 
disease or insect infested the vines in the 
nursery, but we should think from their ap¬ 
pearance there had been a combination of 
disorders, and not a few insects at work on 
them. In the first place, it is quite likely 
that the grape root lice were plentiful 
upon them when in the nursery, these pests 
being extremely abundant in all tho North¬ 
ern States, and perhaps in the South. This 
grape root louse, ( Phylloxera ), attacks only 
the small, young, fibrous roots, and their 
presence may be known by the small galls, 
not much larger than the head of a pin, 
which they inhabit. The Broall gulls, some¬ 
times found upon the leaves of vines are the 
work of the same insect. 
By depositing their eggs in the small fibers 
they cut off the very channels through which 
the plant draws nutriment from the soil. 
The same insect is devastating the vineyards 
in France, and is far more abundant in this 
country thau our vineyardists suppose. We 
have examined the roots of many varieties, 
and hundreds of vines the past season, but 
found very few indeed that were not more 
or less affected. If you will dig up some of 
your vines, or down by the side of the stem 
until the small, new fibrous roots are 
reached, you can soon determine whether 
the Phylloxera is at work on them or not. 
If the minute galls are found you may know 
that the pest is there. 
The other and larger insects you mention 
we cannot name, or give anything definite in 
regard to their history or mode of extermi¬ 
nation, without having specimens for exami¬ 
nation and identification. 
---- 
VINEYARD NOTES. 
— • 
Planting Crape Seed .—How and at what 
time must I plant, grape seed to get good, 
strong vines ?—A Su bscriber. 
You may plant them this fall, or keep in 
sand in the cellar until spring. Grape seed, 
if perfect, grows as readily as peas, but it i-s 
not every year that they are fully matured, 
even though the grapes seem to be ripe. In 
other words, seeds one season will produce 
much stronger and better vines than another, 
therefore it is best not to be discouraged 
with one failure. 
Salem Grape .—'The Editor of the German¬ 
town Telegraph says:—“We have fruited 
the Salem grape two seasons, and if we are 
to judge from what we know of it to this 
limited extent, we give it our hearty appro¬ 
val. The bunches were of good size, the ber¬ 
ries rather larger than the rest of Rogers’ 
hybridizing, and the quality the best of all. 
We know there are different opinions about 
this grape, and we shall not be fully satisfied 
vrriffl if irnf.il of lAflQf ATWYhll AT* 
