MOORE’S 
grarjr of a pluralist. 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
From the Diary of a Centleman near New 
York City. 
IMTERPRETIMG THE SIGNS. 
July 30.—Nature is full of signs which 
mean something, or nothing, all impending 
upon the wisdom of t he interpreter, or the 
way we read them. The influence of the 
moon on plants and animals in this world 
grows weaker as mankind grow wiser, either 
because the man In the moon is getting old 
and feeble, or that most people have learned 
that a shadow thrown upon an object does 
not necessarily change its condition or influ¬ 
ence upon other bodies near by or millions of 
miles distant. A practical or wise genera¬ 
tion do uot, however, lessen the number of 
signs worth heeding, although those having 
a mythical origin are rapidly passing away, 
their places being filled by a higher and 
more useful type. The signs of the times 
now-a-days are of more importance than 
the signs of the Zodiac, and from these we 
descend to those of more practical utility. J 
believe iu farmers watching the sigus closely, 
not of the moon, but of those things which 
more particularly belong to this sphere, mid 
with which he must deal personally. There 
are good and bad signs which should be 
heeded, else l'uilure is sure to follow. It is a 
bad sign to see cattle licking stones when 
wanting salt, or jumping fences to get some¬ 
thing to eat, or to hear them bellowing for 
water in summer or winter. But It is a good 
sign to see them fat, sleek, and ready to 
respond to the call of their keepers. A man 
may as well try to hide himself from the eye 
of his Maker as to conceal his cruelty or 
neglect of his animals. 
When I see u farmer getting up at 4 o’clock 
in the morning, calling his tired lured man at 
the same time, the two starting out into the 
pasture, taking with them a measure of 
oats, halters, and a whip concealed under the 
coat tad, then, after an hour oi running and 
wboaing, the horses are cornered uiid cap¬ 
tured, I conclude there Is little use of talking 
of the piety or common sense of such a man, 
for the sigus are decidedly against him. 
Any animal that will flee from the presence, 
or refuse to come at the call of its master, is 
a witness against him, and one that is uot to 
be impeached. 
The co’-bos, co’-bos heard for hours each 
evening upon many a farm in these days, 
followed by a whack of a milking-stool, or 
thud of some brute’s boot, heard in the barn 
yard, will ascend higher and be far more 
potent than the prayers said around the 
family altar later in the evening. Another 
bad sign is to hear farmers admit that their 
land is less productive than formerly, and 
that various lands of fruits and grain are 
rumiing out, never taking any of the blame 
to themselves for the acknowledged deterio¬ 
ration. If we continue to take from, addiug 
nothing to our land, exhaustion must cer¬ 
tainly follow, and it ought not to require a 
very great amount of wisdom to know this 
in advance ; hence, when a man confesses to 
have produced such results, we know his 
proper place among men. Not only the ani¬ 
mals under our care, but our entire sur¬ 
roundings are signs which “he that runs 
may read,” however much we may try to 
cover up and hide. The minute worm that 
feeds upon a leaf during the night and then 
hides away from the light of day leaves a 
sign which betrays his presence even to the 
casual observer, but to the entomologist , who 
is familiar with such marks, it tells more; 
even the life history of an insignificant dep¬ 
redator is unfolded to him, and they are read 
with almost unerring certainty. These are 
some of the signs which we can study and 
learn to read profitably. They are not mys¬ 
terious or past finding out, but belong to 
every-da.y life, and we can neither escape 
their influence nor ignore their presence, al¬ 
though many, 1 fear, would if they could. 
STUARTIA PENTAGYNA. 
July 21.—We have few ornamental shrubs 
wlrich show flowers in July or August, hence 
our appreciation of those blooming at this 
season. The Phloxes, Gladioli , and various 
summer-blooming herbaceous and bulbous 
plants keep the garden gay and relieve the 
monotony of those “ walls of green” formed 
by dense groups or borders filled with only 
late or early flowering shrubs. Still, a little 
variation from general appearances is some¬ 
times quite a relief to the eye. I was re¬ 
minded of this by noticing to-day that a 
large plant of the Stuartia pentagyna was 
in full bloom, its large, pure white, shell-like 
flowers peeping out from among the deep 
green leaves of surrounding plants in a most 
fascinating manner, This elegant shrub is 
no foreign novelty, but a native of the moun¬ 
tains of Virginia and still further south ; 
still, it is far superior in all those qualities 
which go to make up an elegant ornamental 
shrub than nine-tenths of the far-fetched 
and dear-bought varieties imported from 
China and other distant countries. We have 
two native species of Stuart ins, both superb 
ornamental plants. The .S- Virgin )ml is also 
a native of the Old Dominion and further 
South, but is fouud chiefly in low grounds 
along the borders of streams, and is not 
quite its hardy as the Srpcntugyna, therefore 
is likely to be winter-killed when cultivated 
in the more Northern States. It is a beauti¬ 
ful shrub, growing eight to ten feet high, 
with finely serrated leaves and pare white 
flowers two to three inches in diameter. 
The Stuartia perdagyr.a being a native 
of more elevated regions is in consequence 
more hardy, never baviug been injured in 
my garden during our severest winters. It 
is a handsome, erect-growing shrub, with 
ovate-pointed leaves five to six inches in 
length ; petals white, with finely fringed or 
jagged edges. 
CATERPILLARS ON GRAPE VINES. 
Dkak Daily Rural Ljfk The inclosed 
worms, though possibly familiar to you. are 
unknown to me. and were taken from one of 
my grape vines to-day. From the condition 
of the leaves on the vine, they seem to be¬ 
long to the tent tribe. They are voracious 
feeders, and are peculiar OO account of the 
serpent like appearance of their bodies and 
their brilliant caudal prominence. Is this 
insect likely to become another enemy of the 
vine l Please inform us through the Rural 
Nkw - Yorker, and oblige —P. T. II. Bart¬ 
lett, M. D., Mataumi, N. J. 
The caterpillars were dead and pretty well 
dried up when received, therefore somewhat 
difficult to identify. I believe, however, that 
they are the larva of the “Bcuutil'ul Wood 
Nymph (Kudryax grata, Fab.), a well-known 
enemy of the grape vine. The moth is a 
beautiful insect; the front wings are milk- 
white, broadly bordered and marked with 
brown, shaded on the inner margin with 
green. The hind wings are nankeen yellow, 
wit h a deep brown border. The caterpillars 
nre mi inch to an inch and a half long, pale 
blue, ornamented with black and orange. 
Occasionally these caterpillars appear iu con 
siderable numbers, doing more or less dam¬ 
age to vineyards, but they are uot to be 
dreaded as a very formidable pest, because 
readily controlled by gathering them from 
the vines and destroying them. If you will 
send me a specimen of this caterpillar pre¬ 
served in spirits or strong brine, 1 shall be 
enabled to determine with more certainty 
whether they are the above-named species 
of Eudryas. 
“ DOBSON’-GRASSHOPPERS. 
Please find inclosed a rather carious bug. 
It is new to us all here. Please give its name 
and habits in the Rural. Also, if you can, 
give us anv information in regard to the grass¬ 
hopper which is now destroying the crops of 
Southwestern Minnesota and Northwestern 
Iowa. They hatched out about, 50 miles from 
here and after destroying all the crops where 
hatched, have reached a point about six 
miles from here and lrnvo destroyed most of 
the crops iu their route. We wish to know 
if we are to expect them to remain with us 
from year to year, like the Colorado beetle 
and spread all over the country ; or will they 
return to their former home ? If you can give 
us any information in regard to their habits, 
it will be thankfully received. — Daniel 
Pierce, Minnesota. 
The “rather eurious bug” forwarded by 
Mr. Pierce is the well-known Rellgrammito 
Fly, Gorydalis cornutus, Linn, or what is 
known to so many fishermen as “ Dobson.” 
This insect is used by fishermen in its larva 
or pupa state as bait in fishing. Just about 
a year ago, in response to a similar inquiry, 
we gave the following concerning it: 
“ The Corydalis cornutus is a gigantic fly, 
the male, from tip of horns to tip of wings, 
is nearly or quite four inches in length. The 
body is dark grayish or brown, the wings 
transparent, beautifully spotted with white. 
There are. also numerous triangular-shaped 
black stripes running crosswise of the wings. 
The males have two very strong horns pro¬ 
jecting from the head, and crossing each 
other at the tips when the insect is at rest. 
The female fly deposits her eggs iu clusters 
upon the stems of some aquatic plant grow¬ 
ing in the water, such as reeds and coarse 
grasses. When the eggs hatch the young 
larval (worms) take to the water and there 
swim about, feeding upon the eggs and larva; 
of other insects, and themselves in turn are 
devoured by' fish. Those which escape this 
fate grow to be three inches or more in 
length, have six legs, partially undeveloped 
horns, and small, sharp hooks at the end of 
the tail. Their color is dark brown, nearly 
black at this period, but when fully grown 
they leave the water, crawling out upon the 
banks, burrowing under old logs, stones, or 
anything that will give them a secure hiding 
place. After forming a good resting place in 
the sand or mud, they gradually' puss into 
what is termed the pupa state, becoming 
somewhat lighter in color. The partially 
developed horns, wings, antenna;, and other 
organs of the perfect insect can now be seen 
through the transparent pupa covering. 
About the first of July the fly comes forth, 
having passed through its four different 
stages of existence, viz.,—eggs, larva, pupa, 
imago, this last named being applied to the 
fully developed or perfect insect.” 
Concerning grasshoppers, we can give no 
information- additional to that contained in 
ar. article on page 352 of Rural New-Yorker 
of June 13, 1874, in which it is stated that 
these grasshoppers deposit their eggs in au¬ 
tumn and then die. The eggs hatch the fol¬ 
lowing spring, but this second generation 
seldom does any' considerable damage in the 
locality' where they are hatched, for as soon 
as their wings are sufficiently developed they 
fly away to some other part of the countrv, 
many of them dying en route, or soon after 
alighting—at least such is the observation of 
some of our best entomologists. Thera is, 
therefore, no certainty where they' will ap¬ 
pear next year. 
-♦♦♦-- 
HARLEQUIN CABBAGE BUG. 
By this mail I send specimens of an in¬ 
sect which is very' destructive in our gar¬ 
dens. It chiefly attacks turnips, mustard, 
radishes aud calihagea. Can you give us atry 
inform ition as to the ino*t effectual mode 
of getting rid of them ? We are in danger 
of losing our crop of summer cabbages by 
these pests.—I. Dkveuing., Raleigh, X, C. 
The beautiful little bugs, about three- 
eighths of an inch long, gaily striped and 
otherwise ornamented with black and yel¬ 
low, are the well-known Harlequin bug 
(Straehia histronia, Hahn.) We have had 
frequent occasions to refer to this great pest 
of the cabbage family of plants, for they 
feed upon one and all, indiscriminately. 
Within the past six or eight years this Har¬ 
lequin bug has Spread over a region of coun- 
try extending from Mexico on the south, to 
Missouri and Virginia ou the north, and east 
to the seaboard States. The mature bugs 
hibernate iu winter, therefore are on hand 
for the first cabbage set out in spring, or to 
prey upon mustard, horseradish, or any 
other plant belonging to t his very extensive 
family. Gtrdeners and planters residing in 
the Southern States, appear to have done 
very little, or nothing, towards discovering 
any practical means of destroying these 
bugs, heuce we have received no light upon 
so important a subject, from a source from 
whence we would most naturally expect it. 
It may be that Paris green mixed with flour 
and dusted over infested plants will destroy 
these bugs as it does the Colorado Potato 
Beetle, but this cun only be determ find hy 
experiments. Lime, ashes, sulphur, plaster, 
and other similar euustic or pois; uoUs ma¬ 
terials should be tried aud the results pub¬ 
lished for the benefit of others. Hand gath¬ 
ering and killing is, of course, u certain 
method, but tedious aud expensive. 
A portion of the bugs sent by our corres¬ 
pondent (Mr. Deverisaux) were alive when 
received, and the box opened, and they came 
very near escaping through the open 
window. Had they once reached the open 
air, a descent upon some cabbage plantation 
near the city would have followed, and this 
great pest introduced through a neglect to 
kill specimens of insects, to be sent through 
the mails or otherwise, to us or other parties 
for identification. We hope our correspond¬ 
ents will remember this caution and not be 
guilty of sending noxious insects alive 
through the mails, unless requested to do so 
by some entomologist, and then be careful 
to pack them in such a maimer that an es¬ 
cape is impossible. Our gardeners will prob¬ 
ably have to fight the Harlequin cabbage 
bug soon enough without any assistance in 
transportation from Southern localities. 
-- 
How Potato Beetles Live.— An Illinoisan 
in July, 1873, captured some potato beetles, 
put them into an empty bottle and placed 
the bottle by a post in the ground. Eight 
months after he discovered the bottle, found 
the insects motionless, took the bottle to his 
house, held it over the fire and the beetles 
quickly got on their legs and were as lively 
as any insects. 
THE NATIONAL GRANGE A8 AN AD¬ 
VERTISING AGENCY. 
Under the heading “Shall the National 
Grange Headquarters be used as an Adver¬ 
tising and Business Agency?” the Kansas 
Farmer refers to a pamphlet circular sent 
out from the National Grange, Washington, 
D. C., containing several advertisements, 
including that of an agricultural journal, 
“which has done less in working up the 
Grange movement than any other paper in 
the country.” After condemning this in 
strong language—characterizing it as an 
immense jobbing business—the Farmer con¬ 
cludes as follows : 
Nothing can be more absurd and ridiculous 
than makiug the National Grange head¬ 
quarters a great advertising bureau and 
business agency, and nothing can be more 
unjust than using the money which the 
West has so largely contributed, Lo build up 
these Eastern manufacturers and publishers. 
Where is this thing to stop ? Is the National 
Grange Executive Committee, asleep that 
they allow the whole Order to be comprom¬ 
ised by this flagrant violation of the rights 
of Its members, by sl owing their chief offi¬ 
cers to use their official positions and the 
grange fund to assist special favorites to the 
pat ronage of the Order ? There is neither 
business nor just ice in this sort of manage¬ 
ment, and the sooner it is discontinued the 
better. The States in which there are grange 
organizations are fully able to take care of 
their own business interests, and throughout 
the West here, we are unable to understand 
Low this waste of grange funds will benefit 
anybody but those who are so liberally ad¬ 
vertised. The interest s of this great organ¬ 
ization are too valuable to the members to 
be compromised in thin manner, and as a 
devoted friend to the obj ‘cts sought to be 
obtained bv this Order, we shall oppose 
first, last, and all the time, practices which 
will, if continued, very certainly lead to the 
destruction of confidence. We believe that, 
the conscientious friend of the Order will 
not seek to cover up or countenance pro¬ 
ceedings which are opposed to the true in 
terests and principles of the organization. 
As the guard on the watch tower, we shall 
not hesitate to give warning, a more unwel¬ 
come duty, truly, than disbursing honied 
words of flattery' to those in power. 
-- 
SOVEREIGNS OF INDUSTRY. 
This secret Order (first started last winter, 
as noticed in the Rural New-Yorker at the 
time,) is designed to work an organization 
of the mechanics and laboring men of the 
cities and villages in the same manner, and 
for similar purposes, as the Patrons of Hus¬ 
bandry among farmers. The two Orders 
co-operate aud are working harmoniously. 
The Sovereigns are active and rapidly in¬ 
creasing, especially in New England. In 
Massachusetts, where the Order originated, 
the State Executive Committee has just 
issued an eloquent address to the people of 
the State, (in which there are now some fifty 
subordinate councils,) closing with this earn¬ 
est appeal: 
“ Working men, arouse from your leth¬ 
argy ! We have great allies ! The farmers, 
once indifferent, are now aroused to the 
situation. They invite the co-operation of 
the whole labor class through our organiza¬ 
tion, and lead the van in opposition to mon¬ 
nopoly. Three millions of farmers are a 
power, and when added to the millions of 
other workers, who are also eaters and 
thinker:-, will be irresistible. The outlook 
for labor is indeed hopeful. If in ten years 
the voice of enlightened workers be not the 
voice of the nation, the fault will be their 
own ; for nothing but division and want of 
organization can defeat such a result, lo 
insure success, we earnestly solicit the en¬ 
rolment of every intelligent worker's name 
on the roll of the Sovereigns of Industry.” 
--- 
ITEMS FROM THE GRANGES. 
The Secretary of the Ohio State Grange, 
D. M. Stewart, reports about ninety new 
organizations each month. 
Whither the Granger’s money goes and 
what is done with it seems to trouble a good 
many who are not Grangers. 
The Department of Agriculture estimates 
the saving to the Patrons in the West in the 
purchase of supplies which has accrued 
from the establishment of the Grange at 
between $0,000,000 and $8,000,000. 
At a meeting of the Dora Grange, Moul 
trie County, Ill., ft resolution was passed 
that in all cases of dispute between mem¬ 
bers, the parties shall try to settle by arbi¬ 
tration before going into litigation. 
The National Grange has contributed ovei 
$3,000 to the sufferers by tho overflow, aDd 
the State and subordinate Granges over 
$11,000 for the satire purpose. A noble 
charity for so young au organization as the 
Patrons of Husbandry. 
