even the most successful for their labors. 
There seems, however, to be a disreputable 
combination among some of the principal offi¬ 
cials of the defnnet Exhibition to defer the issue 
of these testimonials of excellence until those to 
whom justice has awarded them shall have satis¬ 
fied the rapacity of this greedy clique, by a sort 
of compulsory payment for the insignia which 
should long since have been freely and gracefully 
bestowed. The iueonsiderate manner in which 
awards were made, was justly a source of no 
small ridicule and discontent, both at home and 
abroad; and to these sentiments distrust and 
contempt are now added by the trickery which 
seems to characterize the delay in their distribu¬ 
tion. Messrs. Gosjiobn. Hawley and Bigler 
owe it to Ibcirowu reputations and the impatience 
of the public to explain satisfactorily their con¬ 
nection with this miserable scheme, whose suc¬ 
cess depends on the disgraceful dilatoriness dis¬ 
played in the bestowal of the premiums won at 
tho Exhibition with which their names were in¬ 
timately associated.—[E d. 
easily enough. I have seen an old sow lie still 
on one side of her yard and let two or three 
chicks get iu quietly, when she would suddenly 
start for them, frightening them so that in their 
flurry they would miss the hole they came in by, 
and were at once snapped up. If chickens get 
in over the pig-pen fence, make it higher. lake- 
wise remove anything that may he likely to help 
them to get up to the top of pen-fence, h. h. 
their colonies, and provide them with receptacles 
for storing surplus honey. Careless bee keepers 
often lose much, by neglecting to do this in sea¬ 
son, thus condemning their colonies to a very 
unwilling idleness. Some bees work in boxes 
readily, while others do not. Those last men¬ 
tioned, may be induced to do so, by giving them 
boxes containing comb • if this fails, tako a box 
from a hive where the bees are building comb, 
with the bees and comb in it, and put it on the 
lazy Live. This will generally have tho required 
effeot, “ tor example is more powerful than pre¬ 
cept." As fast as the receptacles are filled, and 
tho honey capped, they should bo removed so 
that tho delicately white combs may not be soiled 
with the travel of the bees. All pieces of white 
comb should he put into tho surplus boxes ; it 
can bo easily fastened by putting tho odge of 
tho comb against a warm griddle until it melts, 
and holding tho box upside down, sticking it to 
the top. Where no extractor is used, the host 
use that can be made of tho white drone comb is 
to cut it up and use it in this way. 
Too much space for surplus should not bo 
given at once; tho bees may not havo heat 
enough to utilize it. But on one box, and seo if 
that is well filled with bees before putting on an¬ 
other. At night, by putting the ear against a 
hive, wo can easily ascertain whether the bees 
arc making nmoh honey; if they are satisfied 
with their day's labor, wo shall hoar the sweetest 
of all music to an apiarian, tho happy satisfied 
hum of plenty and contentment, and the apiary 
smelling of the sweetest perfume an elixir com¬ 
posed of tho nectar of ton thousands of flowers. 
** Natlvo perfumes, and whispers whence they stole, 
Those balmy spoils." 
Pains should be taken to prevent the bees from 
raising an excess of drones. All old combs that 
are to be given to new colonies. Bhould havo tho 
drone comb cut out, and worker put in its place. 
This can be easily done by first cutting out the 
drone comb, then laying tho frame upon the 
worker comb, cutting it to fit the placo where 
the drono comb was cut out. If it is cut a very 
little larger, and gently pressed into the place, 
it will remain without fastening. I onco had a 
swarm that would persist in building drone comb. 
I do not want so many nurseries, for, 
“ The lazy fathers of Ihe industrious hive." 
I would out it out, and by tho next day it would 
bo built again. As a last resort, I took away 
their worker combs, confined them to a Hmall 
space In tho hive, and then to save their own 
existence they built worker comb. 
Tho season thus far has been favorable for 
apiculture, and now our hives are teeming with 
industrious workers. If Prof. Tice’s weather pre¬ 
diction does not go back on us, we may expect 
fair returns, and “ all will bo merry us a ruar- 
jiage bell.” 
country of another addition to the already for¬ 
midable list of injurious insects of European ori¬ 
gin, the paper, or extracts therefrom, appeared 
in several of tho journals throughout tbia and 
adjoining States. Through the publicity given 
it.. I became informed of tho presence of the in¬ 
sect iu many localities iu Now York and other 
States. Examples of a boetlo, believed to con¬ 
form to the brief description which I had given 
of A. scrophidariiv, and known to possess the 
like habit of feeding upon carpets, were sent to 
me by Mr. A. S. Fuller of tho Rural New- 
Yorker, for comparison. Tho species had been 
in his cabinet for Borne time, under the name of 
Anthrenus lepidus, Le Conte, having received 
tho first, examples from Oregon in 1871 or 1872. 
Later, in 1874, specimens referred by him to the 
same species occurred abundantly in a dwelling 
in Market Street, New York, and thereafter in 
various parts of tho city and neighboring locali¬ 
ties. 
The examples reared by Mr. Fuller from larvae 
taken in New York City were clearly identical 
with A, scrophularia}. Upon informing Dr. Le 
G'onto that examples of this species were in 
cabinets under the name of A. lepidus, 
and requesting an explanation, lie wrote me that 
the latter name had been given by hint to a form 
which he had found on flowers at San Francisco 
and San Jose in 1850; that it differed from tho 
A. sornph.ula.rm of Europe in tho sutural line 
being white instead of red; but that in all 
probability it should only be regarded as a 
variety of the European species. Tho lop it Ins 
var., from its ocouring abundantly on blossoms 
in tho imago stato on the Pacific coast, as does 
tho congeneric museum-post (Anthrenus varius, 
Fabr.) in tho State of New York, was evidently 
thoroughly naturalized in that region. Dr. Le 
Conto suggests that it may have been imported 
into California from Southern Europe during 
the Spanish occupation of that, country. Our 
invasion of the insect he believes to have been 
within a few years, through tho importation of 
carpets at New York. 
Should this insect continue to increase until 
its complete naturalization shall make it as com¬ 
mon as A. mrinH (a dozen or more of which may 
sometimes be seen feeding on a single flower), it 
is difficult to conceive how, under such a visita¬ 
tion, tho comfort of carpets can still be indulged 
in within our homes. Even now, when it has 
barely commenced its ravages, it is reported as 
having indicted very serious pecuniary losses in 
several instances, where carpets have been 
entirely ruined ; and such terror lias its presence 
imparted that prudent housekeepers have aban¬ 
doned tho customary nailing of their carpet.H to 
the floor, that they may make frequent examin¬ 
ations during the summer mouths for the dis¬ 
covery and destruction of tho unwelcome guest. 
The remarkable invasion of a dwelling in Cold 
Spring, N Y., in tho summer of 1871, after a 
twelve months’ absence of the family in Europe, 
was by a larva of Auflirens (aH determined by 
Dr. Packard), which in now believed to have 
been this species. According to the statement 
made, “ they took complete possession, from 
tho cellar to tho attic, in every nook and crevice 
of the floors, under matting and carpets, behind 
pictures, and eating everything in their way." 
From this account we may infer an almost in¬ 
calculable capability of increase if left to itself, 
and draw the lesson of tho absolute necessity 
of combatting its invasion by every means in our 
power. 
It will unquestionably prove an exceedingly 
difficult post to dislodge. The ordinary applica¬ 
tions of camphor, pepper, tobacco, turpentine, 
etc., arc powerless against it. An effectual 
moans of destruction, and prevention against 
new invasions, is still to be discovered. The 
free use of benzine has been recommended iu 
some of our journals, to be used in the satura¬ 
tion of cotton, with which to fill tho joinings of 
the floors and crevices beneath the base-boards. 
This iB to be done during the winter months, at 
which time it is believed the insect will be occu¬ 
pying those retreats, either iu its perfect beetle 
form, or as eggs deposited for another brood; to 
either of these the direct application of benzine 
would be fatal. To Borne of my correspondents 
I have suggested the pouring of kerosene oil in 
the crevices of the floors, and filling of all places 
of retreat with cotton saturated with the oil. I 
would regard this as less daugeroua in its use 
I than benzine, and equally efficient. 
STINGING CATERPILLARS 
I send you two curious-looking caterpillars 
which have marks on their backs somewhat like 
a saddle. 1 found, upon touching them, that 
they left auything but a pleasant sensation ou 
the hand. What are they, and what do they 
come to?—J. J., Richmond , Va. 
These caterpillars are known by several com¬ 
mon names, such as “ Sfcddle-back ” caterpil¬ 
lars, “ Stinging ” caterpillars, Ac. The scien¬ 
tific name is Emprelia stimiclea — Clemens. It 
derives its English name from the saddle-like 
mark on its back, and the scientific name from a 
Greek word which means “to burn,” and a 
Latin word signifying », “ goad." They feed on 
various fruit trees, and may occasionally bo 
found ou corn iu summer, and they change iu 
due time to a very pretty moth. Harris, in his 
“Insects Injurious to Vegetation,” refers to this 
under the name of Limacodes, but the former 
name is the correct one. 
POULTRY EATING POTATO BUGS, 
Mb, Dales :—In a late article, I saw it stated 
that poultry eat potato bugs. I« this true ? Is 
there any way to keep hens from going over 
fences, except shutting them up or cutting off 
one wiug very close ? The last seems cruel, but 
is it not better than the first, since with the 
cropped wing they can have a free range of 
meadow, orchard, and potato field ? What iH the 
best met hod to “ break up” hens ? Would sugar- 
beets or turnips bo good to feed fowls in winter 
for vegetable food ? What kind of fowl is hard¬ 
iest and best for laying—or rather, what kind 
combines both these qualities. Am much inter¬ 
ested in your Rural articles, particularly in those 
which refer to the practical care of poultry. Your 
arrangement for nests, Ac., in a lato number, 
was especially sensible, and I know of two cases 
where the hatching part has been already intro¬ 
duced. A Rural Reader. 
As to your first question, I have never seen a 
fowl eat a potato bug. I have frequently thrown 
both bugs and larvie to chickens and old birds ; 
but they always said, “ No, I thank you.” Sev¬ 
eral papors have had articles from correspond¬ 
ents, saying that they let their fowls run in tho 
potato patch, and never had any bugs ; others 
have advocated keeping fowls shut, up without 
food till late in the day, and then letting them 
have a run among the potatoes, on tho supposi¬ 
tion that they would eat up all the bugs. I should 
liko to hear from such persons as to what luck 
they had with their fowls after that style of feed¬ 
ing them. It stands to reason that no animal 
will thrive if compelled to eat food that it dis¬ 
likes, and it is very propable that the bugs are 
poisonous to poultry, if we may judge by the 
dislike they show towards them. 
It is loss cruel to hens to clip tho tip of one 
wing, as described in Rural for May 12, 1877, 
thau to confine them. As a proof of thin, shut 
up your hens which have had their freedom, and 
see how they stop laying. With a slightly tipped 
wing, they enjoy themselves quite as much as 
usual, not oven appearing to notice it- They 
only find it inconvenient when they try to fly 
over a fence. 
I have found the best method to break up hens 
in summer, is to have a little yard or square coop 
made of laths, say four feet square, open all 
round, without any perch or cover. Put in the 
hens on the ground, and as they cannot conceal 
themselves or find any corner to rest, they will 
get over their fever in a few days. Many cruel 
devices are advocated to cure broodineas, but 
they are mostly as foolish as they are cruel, and 
by no means have the desired effect. 
I have often fed turnips to fowls iu winter. 
Give hens a whole turnip when they cannot get 
grass, and see how it amuses them. They will 
eat out all the interior, avoiding the skin, which 
they leave cleanly scooped out. They may like 
beets, but I never tried them. Turnips boiled 
aud mashed with potatoes and meal, are much 
relished when fed warm on a cold day. 
Some of the best variotieH for laying and har¬ 
diness combined, are tho Plymouth Rocks and 
Brown and White Leghorns ; but as each breed 
has its peculiar characteristics, you had better 
see some back numbers of the Rural describing 
them more fully. I am happy to hear that the 
Rural has afforded you so much pleasure. 
Henry Hales. 
The accompanying illustration gives both a 
side and back view of the caterpillar as it appears 
when feeding on a leaf. 
THE NEW CARPET BEETLE 
Du. J. A. Lintnkk, tho well-known entomolo¬ 
gist of Albany, N. Y., iu writing to tho Country 
Gentleman about bisects of 1876, says of the new 
carpet beetle that this destructive insect, 
hitherto unknown to ns by name, has during the 
past two years presented itself for its share of 
public notice. Although not invading our gar¬ 
dens or om fields, its insidious depredations 
w'ithiu the narrow’ precincts of our homes, arc, 
or threaten to be, attended by perhaps equal 
pecuniary losses. 
During tho past year notices had appeared iu 
several of our papers of the consternation caused 
in many households by the discovery of a strange 
and unknown beetle, which was working sad 
havoc on carpets, eating into them, and cutting 
through entire breadths as effectually as if done 
by scissors. If discovered in their habitat, be¬ 
neath tho borders of carpets, their rapid move¬ 
ment carried them out of reach beneath the 
base-boards, before they could be secured for 
examination and description. It was not tlie 
well-known carpet worm, or in the least, allied to 
it, but beyond that, no one seemed to know what 
it was. It had been discovered in a few localities 
in Western New York, and its presence was re¬ 
ported iu Schenectady in several dwellings. 
Upon search being made beneath tho carpets of 
my residence (iu Schenectady), the iusect was 
found in nearly every room. It was evidently 
the larva of a beetle, and I suspected it to be¬ 
long to the destructive family of Dermestidie. 
A number of the larvffi were captured, and fed to 
their maturity upon pieces of carpet. When 
they hud attained their full size m the fall, and 
had entered upon their pupal state, as could be 
seen through a longitudinal slit in the back, they 
presented characters which led me to refer them 
to the genus Anthrenus. 
In October, the first perfect iuseots emerged 
as very beautiful though small beetles, with 
wing-cases prettily marked in spots of white and 
black, and with a red line bordering tho inner 
margins of their wing-cases. Being entirely 
new to me, they were sent to Dr. Le Conte, the 
distinguished ooleopterist of Philadelphia, for 
determination, if known to him. He returned 
me answer that they were the Anthrenus scro- 
phvlari ®—a species well known in Europe for its 
destructiveness, but now for the first time de¬ 
tected in this country. 
Notice of the discovery was communicated by 
me to tho Albany Institute at its meeting of 
October 17th, and a report of tbe same published 
in the Albany Argus of October 21st. Owing to 
the interest attached to the introduction in our 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 
Eliza Nison .—Curiosity or suspicion, aided by 
ingenuity might readily solvo tho cipher you 
sent. A superfluous letter at each cud of poly- 
sylables—and occasionally in the middle of long 
words—would make it almost proof. Or it 
might bo written to read from right to left. We 
have prepared an article on cipher-writing 
winch, see iu another column. 
Annie H .—Tho lines to which you refer are 
Shelley’s, from Queen Mab: 
vxn. 
Joy to the spirit cume. 
Such joy as when a lover sees 
The chosen of his soul in happiness 
And witnesses her peace; 
Whose woe to him were bitterer than death; 
Sees her unladed cheek 
Glow mantliuK in first luxury of health. 
Thrilled with her lovely eyes. 
Which, like two stars amid the heaving main, 
Sparkle IkrouQh liquid bliss. 
A lice Wilcox .—Fumitory seeds should be sown 
as soon as ripe. They will grow and make good 
roots the first season, preparatory to making a 
running vine the next. It requires three years 
from the seed to blossom Peonies. The first year 
a root is formed, but no top; the second year a 
top grows, and the third year, with good luck, 
you will have flowers. 
A. W. B .—The whole process of lithograph 
printing results from the fact that oil repels 
water, while lithograpbio stone—which is a lime¬ 
stone—readily absorbs both oil and water. The 
lines to be printed are drawn ou the stone, with 
an ink of which oil constitutes a principal part, 
and the oil is immediately absorbed by the stone. 
Before printing, a wet sponge is passed over the 
stone, whioh absorbs water where the lines have 
not been drawn. Then an ink roller is passed 
over: tho ink, being oily, covers the lines, and 
the lines only as tbe stone is wet elsewhere. 
Paper is then laid ou the stone and subjected to 
a rubbjng pressure, causing the ink lying on the 
stone to be absorbed by or impressed on the 
paper. 
anau 
SUCCESSFUL BEE KEEPING, 
PIGS AND CHICKENS. 
Many farmers miss their chickens one by one, 
by their getting into the pig-pen, where they are 
gobbled up iffithout broiling, by its unmerciful 
occupauts. The holes by which the little things 
get iu are often so small that one hardly suspects 
that they are large enough to admit them; but 
look close for such holes, for the chicks get in 
When a woman speaks of her experience in 
practical matters, we are always inclined to listen 
and give tbe closest attention, aud for this rea¬ 
son, if for no other, we take from the Prairie 
Farmer the following on Bee Keeping, written 
by Mrs. L. Harrison of Peoria, III.: 
Those persons who expect to make bee keep¬ 
ing a success, should keep a watohful eye on 
