I regret to aee that the black thrips ia m 
creasing among ua at a fearful rate. It ia by 
far the moat destructive of its class, and the 
hardest to kill. I believe it to be an importa¬ 
tion from Japan. It would seem to have good 
taste, for it attacks first some of our most, 
highly prized and beautiful plants, and soon 
makes them uneightlv things. It is very hard 
to manage. A strong solution of carbolic soap 
will kill all that it touches; but it ia difficult to 
make it reach them, and will Injure some 
plants when made strong enough to kill these 
pests. Tobacco smoke is an effectual remedy, 
but it must be made so dense and strong that 
It badly injures fuchsias, heliotropes, orchida 
and other plants, which should be removed 
from the house when smoking tor the black 
thrips. Unfortunately, It, is taking to the 
grape-vine, both under glass and in the open 
air, and is worse than its brothers, bad as these 
are. 
pel nature to make new feathers out of season, 
is a hardship to the suffering bird. The quills 
are still in demand for pens, although the de¬ 
mand for them for this purpose is nothing like 
what it was before we had steel pens. 
The goose does oot bear out the theory ad¬ 
vanced by some naturalists that an animal 
lives to a shorter or longer life in proportion 
to the time it takes to mature. Geese mature 
early yet live to a great age ; many are known 
to have lived thirty or forty years, and some 
say Ibey can live to double that age. but as 
they become ill-tempered as they get old, many 
are killed on that account. A blow from an 
old goose’s wing is no joke. They do not lay 
dark ones The bills are flesh-colored, the legs 
deep orange. 
Tbe Toulouse, so named from the city of the 
same name in southern France, are gray ; the 
necks are dark; the bodies and breasts are 
lighter; tbe legs of a deep orange, the bills 
dark-red, light towards the poh.ts. These 
noble geese stand squarely on their legs ; their 
large, deep breasts give them a very solid ap¬ 
pearance. The legs and necks are a little 
shorter than those of other breeds, and they 
show a Bort of dewlap, or loose flesh, under 
the upper part of neck. They are tbe embodi¬ 
ment of the true goose shape and buiid, and 
with that peculiar gray color, they are the 
under the larger breeds it furnishes the best 
and fattest market lambs, and makes desirable 
mutton for home use and for export. In 
short, if one intends to keep sheep of what¬ 
ever kind, uniesB it be some other pure variety 
for breeding, he cannot begin without the help 
of the American Merino. It not only exists as 
a splendid example of successful breeding, but 
it points emphatically to the hope that in time 
we may produce distinctive types of other 
breeds as greatly improved upon the imported 
originals as this has been. 
The American Merino is a medium-sized 
sheep, weighing, alive, from 120 to 150 pounds. 
Its figure is accurately represented in our il¬ 
lustration, which is a portrait ot a once fam¬ 
ous ram, “Golden Fleece,” bred by Mr. E. S. 
Stowell, Cornwall, Vt. It is squarely built, 
with deep fl unks and brisket, and is covered 
with wool in every part except tbe tip of its 
nose. It carries the still favorite wrinkles 
in its skin, although it is far from being as 
wrinkled as many rams of this breed. MeriDO 
wool is peculiar for its heavy yolk and plenti¬ 
ful grease, but while this Is a necessary and ad¬ 
vantageous peculiarity for a flue and close- 
wool sheep and prevents the cotting of the 
fleece, it is especially valuable when the rams 
are used for the improvement of tbe common 
native sheep of the Western States and Terri¬ 
tories, whose fleeces are dry, coarse, harsh and 
of little value; but which, when improved by 
crossing with the Merino, are soft, fine and of 
a staple almost of equal value with the wool 
of the pure breed. So in crossing with the 
long-wool breeds whose fleeces are apt to be 
thin and open on the back, the pure Merino 
cross has a fleece as long and as lustrous as 
that of the parent, but it is softer, closer, and 
gives better protection to the graded sheep 
from storms. 
The introduction of the pure Merino in 
Texas. Colorado and New Mexico has doubled 
the value of the flocks there, for no flockmas- 
ter can afford to grow native wool when one 
cross of Merino not only doubles the 
weight of the fleece, but doubles the value 
of the staple. Moreover, the increase of size 
in the cross-bred wethers has giveu them a 
value as mutton which the native sheep never 
had. It is not uncommon for a Western 
flockmaster to import as many as 50 rams 
in a *' bunch," from Vermont or Western New 
York for use in his flock ou the Western 
plains. Our Merino is at home in the hills and 
valleys of Vermont and Northern New York; 
in the western fields of Wisconsin and Michi¬ 
gan ; on the rich prairies of Iowa and the bot¬ 
toms of Ohio; it braves the “ blizzards” of 
Minnesota, the hot, dry winds of Colorado 
and Kansas and the “ northers ” of TexaB and 
New Mexico; it thrives everywhere, in sun 
and snow, in valley and mountain and dry 
plain ; it is cosmopolitan; it is American in 
every sense of the word. It has also carried 
its good qualities into the far-off isles of the 
Southern Ocean and is welcomed as a ben¬ 
efactor among the flock6 of Australia and New 
Zealand, where it has gained the reputation of 
being the best sheep of its kind in the uni¬ 
verse, a distinction which it fully deserves. 
There have come to my personal knowl¬ 
edge some deplorable cases of poisoning by the 
use of Paris-green and London-purple in the 
state of powder. They are dangerous things to 
use in the garden in any form, unless the ut¬ 
most care be used, especially near beds of 
lettuce and similar plants. I think it is a 
plain duty of all editors and seedsmen to warn 
the public against the use of these remedies in 
the form of powder. Human life is worth too 
much to be risked in this way. 
I do not remember ever to have seen the 
mealy bug and scale bo very abundant as they 
are now (ftept. 2) and have been during the 
Summer. The season seems to have been favora¬ 
ble to their increase, for they have both multi¬ 
plied with a fecundity scarcely less than that of 
the green fly. It is al ways well to note such ex¬ 
ceptional seasons. They should have, andgener. 
ally do have, the effect of calling attention to 
better methods for their destruction. Thus far 
I have used nothing better than a solution of 
black carbolic soap. A little experience en¬ 
ables one to judge about how strong it may be 
made with safety. There are specifics sold 
in the seed-stores, some of which are good; 
but they are altogether too costly for use. I 
would advise all who grow plants in pots to 
free them thoroughly from these pests before 
taking them into the house, especially tho se 
who grow plants in rooms. 
MERINO RAM “GOLDEN FLEECE 
truest representatives of the goose. Some are 
occasionally bred a lighter silver gray. 
The China geese show two varieties.—white 
and gray. These are also large geese with a 
thick, almost black, knob at the upper part of 
the base of the hill. Their necks are loDg 
which gives them a swan-like appearance. 
They show a stripe down the back of tbe 
neck. In the gray-colored this stripe is brown; 
in the white, the streak is faint; but all pure- 
breds show this stripe and also a dewlap. 
This goose is a native of the southern and 
eastern parts of Asia. All geese have a strong, 
brassy-like call, but this one gives out a strong 
harsh note like a deep trumpet blast. It is 
more prolific than other geese; while others 
lay about 15 eggs, this bird lays about 30, but 
the eggs are not so large as those of the two 
former breeds. 
There are several other sorts of geese, but 
they are kept more for curiosity than profit. 
Geese are less troublesome than poultry or 
ducks. They are good mothers to the goslings 
but are not good hatchers. Two to four geese 
are enough for one gander ; the latter shows a 
preference for one female more than for the 
others. The eggs may be set under hens— 
three or four are enough for a moderate-sized 
hen, WheD a goose appears tractable (some 
are very ugly when Inclined to sit), it is well 
to let her hatch one brood, and when those 
hatched under hens are big enough, they will 
all go together. 
Thirty days is the time required to turn out 
a gosling fiom the egg, They are hardy and 
easily raised when youDg. They should be 
fed just like young ducks. Oats, corn, or 
wheat meal with potatoes, chopped green 
onions, cives and salad are good for them; 
but they soou learn to graze. It is best to coop 
up the mother goose or hen for a week or two 
till the little ones get strong enough to fol¬ 
low her well, or they get tired out and left be¬ 
hind. I have seen au old goose turn back and 
try to rou6e up a flagging gosling, showing 
astonishing solicitude. Goslings grow quickly 
and when well fed take on flesh rapidly. They 
are more easily kept than ducks on a farm In 
Winter; they will eat more vegetable food, 
such as turnips and other refuse vegetables 
chopped up for them. It ib said they will eat 
hay, tied up in bundles in their house in Win¬ 
ter, but it must be kept off the floor. 
Geese are a great protection from thieves or 
intruders ; they will raise an alarm when they 
hear a strange footstep or noises. In parts of 
southern Asiatic Russia, where the people 
dwell far apart, they keep geese a6 a protec¬ 
tion in the lower part of the house when they 
retire up-Btairs for the night. Many people 
think geese simple things, but the reverse iB 
the fact—-they are very cute and observing, 
knowing friends from foes, and have a very 
discerning ear for soundB. 
Many people used to pluck the feathers off 
the breasts of these birds three or four times a 
year ; this is a barbarouB practice too cruel to 
be countenanced. Just before tbe time of 
molting it may be done with profit and not 
much loss to the bird, as the feathers at such 
times come off very readily naturally, and It 
does not make the bird any weaker, but to com- 
until they are over a year old, but as they are 
so easily kept on grounds adapted for them, 
they are profitable in such cases, especially if 
there is some natural water, as they must 
always have access to water, even if it he but 
a small pond. 
RURALISMS 
In speaking of metal labels in a former par¬ 
agraph I had concluded to say nothing about 
wooden labelB. They will continue to lie used, 
however, for a long time to come, ami I will 
therefore tell the reader how he may add to 
their usefulness and durability in quite au in¬ 
expensive way. I have for about five years been 
making experiments with this end in view, 
and find it most conveniently and satisfactorily 
accomplished by using a refined petroleum 
oil. It has also been tried with the best results 
by friends to whom I have recommended it. 
I waB led to use it from knowing that petro¬ 
leum is an excellent wood preserver. All you 
have to do is to dip the labels in the oil, or, 
better, tumble a buudte of them into a pan of 
it for a short time, aud take them out to dry. 
You may at any time thereafter write upon 
them with a common lead pencil, and the 
writing will remain legible for years. I say 
years, because at the end of two years I find 
the writing about as plain as when first put 
on. The oil has some body, and ia very pene¬ 
trating and preservative. Labels buried in 
the ground for a year showed no signs of de¬ 
cay. I strongly recommend thiB oil to nurs- 
serymen and florists as being better than paint, 
no trouble to use, pleasant to write upon, and 
very cheap. Those who cannot conveniently 
get this oil will find kerosene a good thing 
to use iu the same way, but uot nearly so last¬ 
ing. 
[In this connection we beg leave to Inter¬ 
rupt Hordeola for a moment. 
\ We have for three years 
_ past used wooden labels 
X with a copper wire so fast- 
\ ened, as shown in the cut, 
) that there can be no dan- 
. r^jT / g er 0 f f[g binding or cut- 
ting into the wood. One 
end of the wire passes 
through a loop in the other 
end. The labels are fir6t 
-' thrown into raw linseed oil 
” I that is barely colored with 
il ( j| ; !i white load. This will pre¬ 
serve them for years and 
ulllli l il j l l gj ve a 8U1 .f ace that can be 
wooden plant easily written upon with 
I.ABEI,.—fig. 314. lead pencil. Eds.] 
The adornment of the grounds connected 1 
with public suburban and country schools is a 
subject that has occupied a good many of my 
thoughts for years past. Mostly uDfenced, 
covered with stones, heaps of dirt, and over¬ 
run with weeds, they present a deplorable ap¬ 
pearance. It seems to be nobody's business to 
look after them; at least, nobody makes it his 
business, and nothing is done. This condition 
of things is a reproach to the country, and a 
great shame to school and district committees. 
It is sad to think that the young and plastic 
minds of children should receive their first 
teachings in the midst of such surroundings. 
I think that an effort to have a part of the 
public school moneys set apart for the im¬ 
provement of these grounds would be success¬ 
ful. If not, there ought to be public spirit 
enough in every school district to raise the 
money. In any case, there is no sufficient ex¬ 
cuse for the present general condition of these 
school grounds. 
I was for years a member of the Board of 
Education of a neighboring city, and I am 
therefore prepared to say that school commit¬ 
tees would seldom be without means of orna¬ 
menting the school grounds if they manifested 
some interest in tbe subject; but they seem 
generally to care nothing for it; which is pre¬ 
sumptive evidence that the right men are not 
in the right places. In the suburbs of New¬ 
burgh there is a district Echool. the grounds of 
which will compare well with almost any pri¬ 
vate garden in the place; but it Ib done by the 
janitor at his own expense, much to his honor, 
aud no thanks to the school committee. 
There is a district school almost within sight 
of the window where I am writing. Last 
Spring the grounds were inclosed with a neat 
fence. The principal and his scholars gather¬ 
ed the stones and built a mound of them, and 
made a Bmall bed for flowers, I gave them 
some cannas, etc., for the bed, and a tub 
planted with nummularis and portulacas for 
the mound. The children were given a kind 
of ownership in the plants, and undertook the 
weeding and watering, and daring vacation 
have done their part faithfully. The plants 
have looked remarkably well all Summer. 
This arrangement gave tbe children a personal 
interest in the plan, and secured its success. 
This might very generally be done, and this 
case is only mentioned as one of several such 
examples. But this column is not the place 
for a discussion of the subject, and I Bay no 
more. I thought, however, that an allusion to 
a subject of so much interest and importance 
might lead others to think seriously of it, and 
in this way do some good. 
Like poultry, geese contribute a considerable 
share to the sustenance of man, aud have done 
so from very remote times. Some of the first 
things we learn are the melodies of Mother 
Goose. The common goose is bred from the 
wild Gray-lag of the Old World, and was im¬ 
ported by the early immigrants to this conti¬ 
nent, with what results are seen at our great 
markets, where immense numbers are sold in 
Fall and Winter. 
Geese are kept at a good profit where the 
locality is well adapted to raisiug them. Wheu 
kept od some waste lauds which are of little 
use for any other purpose geese are often 
very profitable. They require but little 
water, being better vegetarians than ducks; in 
fact, they will graze like sheep. Their legs 
are set further forward than those of ducks, 
which enables them to walk easily. They will 
often walk a long way daily to beat all over 
their pastures. On commons, or such waste 
ground, where many cottagers turn out a num¬ 
ber of flocks, it is a pretty sight to see each 
flock trailing in Indian file at nightfall to its 
respective home. By giving them a light feed 
of grain or corn at night, they will be very 
punctual in this habit. 
There are several varieties of domestic 
geese, besides the common. The principal 
sorts are the Einden, Toulouse, aud China 
geese, all of which are large varieties. 
The Einden, so called from the town of that 
r ame, now in the province of Hanover, arc pure 
white and of immense size. Some geese have 
been exhibited weighing np to 26 pounds each, 
and ganders as high as 32 pounds. The 
feathers, being white, are more valuable than 
I must thank “Kit" for his kind allusions 
to me on p. 502. He does me but simple jus¬ 
tice in supposing that “ Ruralisms ’ will be 
free from any thing in the nature of malice 
or ill-will. Happily, I Lave no personal ani¬ 
mosities to ventilate, and I entertain none 
but the kindliest feelings for the whole hor¬ 
ticultural guild. 
