TIT 
4884 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Pom clerical 
THE RED B1ETIGHEIMER APPLE. 
The specimen from which our illustrations 
are drawn was sent to ns on the 1st of October 
by Ell wander & Barry. This is said to be 
a rare and valuable German variety. The 
core is rather large compared with those of 
average apples; but it is small for so large a 
fruit: it is quite open, containing two and 
three rather small seeds in each chamber. 
Flesh white, tender, juicy, sub-acid, sprightly 
and with a peculiar spicy flavor. A good 
cooking and eating apple. Stem short and 
stout, not over three eights of an inch long; 
calyx small, closed in a rather deep basin. 
Skin a beautiful pale red, irregularly striped 
with bright, red and covered with light yellow 
dots, about the size of the puncture of a piu. 
A highly promising apple. The tree is said to 
be a free grower and an abundant bearer. It 
is one of the largest and handsomest of apples, 
and is certaiuly worthy of general trial. Its 
season is early Fall. (Figs. 414, 415, page 716.) 
Cnlxrmxr logical. 
WIRE-WO RMS AND WIRE-WORMS. 
W. L. DKVKREALX. 
I feel a little adverse to entering the lists 
in opposition to a w riter so great and versatile 
as Henry Stewart, and I by no means expect 
that anything I could call attention to would 
change his views. He is, no doubt, as firm 
in his opinion as the defender of the myriapod 
wire-worm was in his in tho New York Tri¬ 
bune in the recent discussion of wire worms 
and potato scab. Nevertheless, 1 am con¬ 
strained to present some corrections in order 
that the truth may be reached, as well as to 
maintain the teachings of tho actual authori¬ 
ties in the matter, and to aid in reaching a 
correct understanding of the subject. 
First, it is just as incorrect to use the word 
“wire-worm” for a myriapod as for the larva 
of an elater, or snapping beetle. Neither is a 
true worm bo-longing to the branch Vermes. 
A myriapod is an insect os fairly os a beetle 
is; one is a hexapod, the other a myriapod; 
both belong to the class lusecta. Myriapods 
have an Internal organization like that of the 
larva- of winged insects. They undergo a 
distinct metamorphosis through egg, larva 
and successive moults to the mature animal. 
Some centipedes, however, that are quite 
close to hexapods, are viviparous. A “hun¬ 
dred legs” is a cenfciped, having a pair of legs 
to each segment, and a “thousaud-legs” is a 
mill!pad, and has two pairs of legs to each 
segment. 
Mr. Stewart aud Kart Off el agree, I pre¬ 
sume, and the latter, in the Tribune, calls his 
wire-worm a Julus; but the former says his 
wire-worm has a pair of legs to each segment, 
therefore it could uot be a Julus, which is a 
inilliped. Harris docs mention lulus—now 
written Julus—[The word is derived originally 
from the Greek ioulos, down, moss, catkin— 
the Latin word is lulus; the English lulus 
or Julus. for euphony.— Eds.], calling it the 
American wire-worm. Webster uses the 
same word. But no writings, I think, can be 
fouud showing whether it is a small species 
found about decaying vegetables aud in the 
ground where crops are growing, or a large 
species found In the woods. Did the name 
“American wire worm'’ originate from its 
supposed attacks on crops, or from its curious 
wiry movements aud dreadful appearance!' 
Did it come from the practical farmer or 
the curious observer# Harris was the first 
popular writer on American entomology, and 
he was the first to use the term, English wire- 
worm. He had no practical knowledge of 
any damage done to crops by the pests here, 
nor were they then noticed as being injurious 
or abundant. He used the term European 
wire worm simply to indicate the kind appear¬ 
ing in the writings of men who were treating 
on insects. It was the entomologists’ wire- 
worm, not purely the English wire-worm he 
had reference to. An English writer on farm 
insects at that time, stated that “every grub 
and worm found by the farmer and gardener 
at the roots of their crops, including centi¬ 
pedes and the larva* or maggots of gnats and 
tipula-, are confounded together under the 
appellation of ‘the wire-worm.'” Curtis, 
Westwood, Harris, Fitch, Packard. Riley, 
Lintner, Cooke, and all entomologists, both 
here ami abroad, uniformly give to the worm¬ 
like elater larvae, which feed in the ground on 
the roots of plants, the name “wire worms,” 
and I think a great majority of the agricul¬ 
turists throughout the States conform with 
this use of the term. Why endeavor to estab* 
lish a local definition ? 
Now the word “bug” is applied commonly 
to all manner of creeping things, and to small, 
curious, horrid, or little-understood animals 
in the water, earth, or air; hut when we wish 
to be exact, tho kind defined fu entomology is 
allowed to be the only true bug. Finally, 
wliy should any kind of a myriapod be called 
a wire-worm? They might be called watch- 
spring worms, fringe-worms or even cater¬ 
pillars. 
Some speak of the insect us a Julus. Now 
this word in the original, does not mean any¬ 
thing like a wire; (t denotes furred, sparsely- 
haired, or fuzzy. In physiology it is applied 
to the first downy beard produced on the chin 
of a man. In botany it is applied to a furry 
catkin. This name is appropriate for the 
millipedes, in reference to their many legs on 
each side; besides, some are covered with hairs 
like a caterpillar. To be sure, they bend like a 
wire and some are colored like a wire; 
aud other fly larvae and nearly a dozen other 
kinds of insects. If the New Jersey wire- 
worm is over proved to originate the scab on 
potatoes, the proof of tho fact will certainly 
attract the attention of biologists; for, 
Messrs. Editors, you can obtain from farmers 
thousands of clear cases corroborating your 
statement, that colored potatoes are injured 
the most—ent rely the most. Some kinds 
seem to be quite free from liability to the in¬ 
jury—allow me to say, fungi-proof. 
Wayne Co., N. Y. 
[In the discussion on the cause of scab on 
potatoes, onr solo object—as i:i the case of 
every other subject treated in the Rural— is 
to find out the truth. To this end we con¬ 
tribute to the general fund of information the 
results of our own observations in the Rural 
Grounds; but our columns are equally free to 
on through a tin pipe in the bottom of the 
tub; the steam and the essence thus pass up 
through tho herb, thence up through a tin 
pipe in the top of the tub, aud are conducted 
to a condenser, which is from 12 to 16 feet 
long, and double, upon which a stream of cold 
water falls from a trough overhead. The 
condensed steam passes down into a tin worm, 
then down through tho worm into a large tub 
filled with water. The oil and water are 
separated, tho oil being gathered iuto a glass 
receptacle. The oil sells for from two to two- 
and-one half dollars per pound, an acre pro¬ 
ducing from 15 to 25 pounds. There is always 
ready sale for it. The farmer does uot depend 
ou one crop only from his planting. The 
following Spring there will appear a rank 
growth of mint; and it is found most profit¬ 
able to take up the roots from every alternate 
CATALPA SPECIOSA. (From Nature.) Fig 418. (See page 714.) 
but they do not present on all sides as 
cylindrical, polished a surface, free from ap¬ 
pendages, as do elater “wire-worms,” which 
are also clearly damaging to vegetation; 
while in the case of myriapods, isn’t It a 
difficult matter to show that they originate 
any injury to vegetation? Dr. Fitoli once 
began ft chapter on tho "flattened ceutiped," 
in which he attempted to show that it injured 
onions and cucumbers, and caused club root 
in cabbage, but he did not finish the chapter 
or succeed in proving his statements. The 
food of myriapods is decaying, sometimes 
sickly, tender vegetation in damp situations, 
and, above all, fungi. When any of the many 
species of Aatbomyia, or other fly larvm, 
rupture and penetrate and cause those rusty, 
scabby places on turnip, radish, cabbage, 
all our friends who have any facts to relate 
concerning the matter. From a collection of 
facts the truth can be deduced.—Eds. ] 
Peppermint.— During the past Hummer 
Prof. Nilhart, of the Kausas Ag’l. College, 
visited St. Joseph County, Mich., which is said 
to raise one-half of the mint iu the world. 
Two districts in Michigan and one in New 
York are the only ones noted for tho produc¬ 
tion of this article. They have stills and 
CATALPA BIGNONIOIDES. Fig. 419. (See page 714.) 
beet aud potato, and decay begins from this 
or parasitic fungi attacks, then the earth 
myriapoda are attracted; but under hoards, 
rubbish and cow droppings they find fungous 
food as well. Half of a decaying melon 
laid on the ground, will catch a lot of 
“thousand legged” wire-worms; but sliced po¬ 
tatoes, while fresh, will attract some of the 
true “wire-worms,” if there are any in the 
neighborhood. They are scarce in well-tilled 
gardens and farms under rotated crops. They 
cannot be considered the original cause of 
scabby potatoes. Undoubtedly Prof. Beal is cor¬ 
rect in considering the scab on potatoes as due 
to the attack of a sort of fungi. The decaying 
seed potato might furnish the spores, and also 
attract the many-legged “wire-worms” which 
would also resort to the diseased spots, where 
I have also found podura, species of tipula 
every other convenience for utilizing pepper- 
ment, spearmint, wormwood, and tansy. In 
Michigan many farmers own stills; these are 
used for dlstiliiug their own herbs, as well as 
those of their neighbors. To be successful in 
raising this herb, the ground should be well 
cultivated. Tho roots should be laid in rows 
about three feet apart, and covered to the 
depth of an inch. The cultivation is done 
with hoe aud plow% Grass should not be 
allowed iu the rows, for it not only prevents 
the growth of the peppermint, but injures the 
quality of the oil. Tho stalks and leaves 
Bomewhat resemble those of the potato. In 
August, the herb is cut with a scythe, and 
hauled to the still. The mint is packed and 
tramped down in large wooden tubs, one load 
of the herb filling two tubs; then the light 
cover is fastened down,and the steam is^turned 
row and use them for a first crop. The rows 
that are left produce from eight to fifteen 
pounds of oil per acre, of rather an inferior 
quality, however. Thus it will be seen that the 
growing of this herb Isprofitable ltdoe 3 best 
iu sandy soil, and requires considerable rain, 
except near the time of cutting, when dry, 
warm weather is porferable. 
Best Heavy Houses.— Col. Weld says, 
in the Weekly Press, that the best very- 
large horses which come to New York— 
best, both in regard to tho money they 
will sell for, ami for real endurance—are 
those bred by Clydesdale sires and out of the 
largest half or three-quarter bred Peieberon 
mares. These cross-bred horses, as already 
said, are of the largest size. They have the 
bodies of the French breed, with the legs of 
the Clyde, but much less heavy, and feet tak¬ 
ing after the mare. They are fine-looking, 
and are quite deceptive in point of weight, 
being much heavier than they appear, while 
iu color they generally follow the Clydes, 
though grays and roans are not uncommon. 
Col. W eld further says that farmers should 
take care what kind of horses they breed to. 
There have been hundreds of wretched, weedy, 
leggy, awkward brutes imported, which ought 
to have been gelded on arrivul. Somefarmers 
are, no doubt, breeding from them. The 
mere fact tbut a horse Is imported is no cri¬ 
terion that he is good for much, though ho 
may bo better to breed from, than a handsome 
half-blood. 
A Startling Potato Yield.— The Editor 
of the New England Farmer sayH that the 
Editor of the Rural New-Yorker reports a 
yield of potatoes, upon its experiment grounds, 
of 1891% bushels per acre. They were dug 
August 27, weighed, and the yield per acre 
figured out by disinterested parties. The New 
England Farmer remarks that it is not in¬ 
formed as to the size of the field, nor much 
about the method of culture. This is at the 
rute of eight bushels and 41 pounds per square 
rod. With rows 2% feet apart (88 inches), 
there would be six rows to the rod. The above 
yield would give five pecks and nearly seven 
pounds to each row one rod long. With the 
hills 16% inches apart, there would be 12 bills 
to the row, and almost seven pounds per hill, 
or a small fraction less than a half peck. 
There is plenty of room on an acre of land to 
bury 1.890 bushels of potatoes, but not many 
farmers have yet learned how to coax that 
quantity to grow upon so small an area. It is 
worth something to know that it can he done. 
Four hundred and eighty-eight, bushels was the 
largest yield of this crop, estimated from the 
produet.of onejsquaro rod, ever .produced by 
