JULY 26 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
years ago, when I resided in Brooklyn, there 
was a sub-basement beneath our residence, 
which was about twenty feet wide by forty 
long. Several windows were inserted in the 
foundation wall, and a work-bench and tools 
wer e provided for the boys, who were attend¬ 
ing school. Their parents never had occasion 
to request or command them to come home 
after school hours, or to keep out of bad com¬ 
pany, or to shun places of public resort. No, 
never. That workshop and the tools seemed 
to have almost a bewitching influence. There 
were two saw-mills, a trip-hammer, and grist¬ 
mill and other machinery all iu motion at 
once. Of course the machinery was of the 
rudest sort; yet the mechanical education and 
the self-training by way of handling mechani¬ 
cal tools, could not be computed in pecuniary 
value. 
(Momalofliral, 
APHIDES OR PLANT-LICE.-No. 1. 
PROFESSOR CYRUS THOMAS. 
If closely and carefully studied, the plant- 
lice will be found to present not only some of 
the most difficult questions for science to solve, 
but also interesting facts pertaining to the 
entire insect class. Lookiug at them hud¬ 
dled in compact masses on a cabbage leaf or 
cherry twig, the observer sees at first, but little 
to attract atlentiou or interest; in fact ho sees 
but little difference between these minute 
creatures, no matter where he finds them. 
But first impressions iu reference to natural 
objects are often erroneous. 
The study of any group of insects will al¬ 
ways repay in pleasure and interest all the 
trouble and labor necessary thereto; and the 
aphides are no exception to this rule. If the 
reader can take sufficient interest in such 
small things, I propose to give in two or three 
brief articles, a summary of the information 
obtained in reference to these insects, by a 
careful study of them for some years. And 
I may state as one of the results of this study, 
the conviction that their life-history i3 as yet 
but imperfectly known and that much that 
has been stated generally in reference to them, 
will have to be essentially modified. I have 
even serious doubts whether entomologists 
have yet ascertained positively the characters 
which distinguish the species from each 
other. The larger divisions of the family, as 
the sub-fumilies and tribes or sections, are well 
marked, and the anatomical variations, as a 
rule, correspond with material differences in 
habits, which is a pretty sure te6t that the 
characters have been well chosen and that the 
divisions are natural. But in reference to 
species the case is quite different; while 
some appear to be well marked, others grade 
into each other so gradually that no real mark 
of distinction is to be found. In the days of 
Fabricius and the older entomologists, it was 
the custom to indicate the species, simply 
by noting the plant and part of the plant it in¬ 
fested ; and notwithstanding modern ento¬ 
mologists have undertaken to define species 
with great minuteness, yet the species of plant 
they inhabit is probably, after all, their chief 
guide iu reference to specific identity in cases 
of doubt where the knowledge of direct descent 
is wanting. 
Some of the long-entertained opinions in 
reference to their biological history and hab¬ 
its will have to be abandoned, as more recent 
and careful investigations have shown them 
to be more or less erroneous. For example, 
their singular mode ol reproduction has been 
stated both in entomological and popular 
works to be as follows : The female deposits 
eggs in autumn which, iu the following spring, 
produce females only, which remain wingless ; 
these are viviparous, producing living young 
without the intervention of the male; these are. 
likewise all apterous females. This process 
i6 repeated during the season through some 
six or seven generations ; but on the approach 
of winter a brood of winged males and females 
is produced; these females deposit the eggs 
which remain over the winter. 
While this indicates generally their life- 
history, it is erroneous in several important 
particulars. In the first place, the method of 
reproduction is not uniform in the family, 
some being always oviparous, as the grape 
phylloxera aud its allies; others coutinue the 
viviparous method of reproduction for two or 
three years; while a few, so far as known, 
never produce eggs, though doubtless this 
mode of reproduction occurs at long intervals. 
In the second place, the winged female is sel¬ 
dom oviparous. Bnekton, tire latest Euglish 
authority on these insects, thinks it is never 
oviparous, but I am ineliued to believe that a 
species found ou the soft Maple, which I have 
receutly described, forms an exceptiou to this 
rule. Iu the third place, the males are of 
comparatively rare occurrence in most species, 
those which have heretofore been described as 
such being mostly winged viviparous females. 
In the fourth place, winged specimens occur 
in limited numbers, in the aerial species, 
throughout the season. In the fifth place, the 
facts recently ascertained render it probable that 
dimorphism occurs in a large number of spe¬ 
cies, enabling them in this way to pasB the 
winter without the necessity of oviparous gen¬ 
eration. This singular fact (which will here¬ 
after be explained), if established, will go far 
toward explaining a part of their life-history, 
which has long been enshrouded in mystery. 
I have stated that I doubt whether entomolo¬ 
gists have ascertained the characters which dis¬ 
tinguish species from each other. That wide¬ 
ly separated species can readily be distinguish¬ 
ed by well marked characters, is certainly 
true ; but I refer to species of the same genu6. 
It would require too much space to give my 
reasons for this opiuiou at this time. But I 
may call attention to the following points in 
reference to the characters which have been 
used to distinguish species. 
Walker's method of characterizing them by 
the comparative distances of the veins of the 
wings from each other, will soon be abandoned 
as worthless by any one who attempts to fol¬ 
low it. Very marked variations may aid in 
connection with other characters. The color, 
which is now much relied upon, although 
quite uniform In some species, varies in others 
from almost uniform red to green throughout; 
from green to black, etc. While it is true that 
those which feed upon native uncultivated 
plants are usually confined to a single species 
or genus ; on the other hand, those found on 
cultivated species sometimes have a wide 
range of food plants. 
These and numerous other facts which might 
be mentioned, render it possible, at least, that 
some of these differences which are now con¬ 
sidered specific are owing to differences in 
food plants. Failure in attempts to colonize 
on different species of plants is not satisfactory 
proof to the contrary, unless carried step by 
step through the nearest allies. 
I should have stated above that some species 
produce but one brood in a season. 
Lest I make this article too loug, and weary 
the reader, I will close with the description of 
a new species found ou the tomato ; a species 
so well marked that it can readily be identi¬ 
fied. 
Mogourn aolnni—New species. 
Winged viviparous female .—An ten me seven- 
jointed, a little longer thau the body ; third 
aud seventh about equal, longest ; sixth about 
half or less than half the length of the fifth ; 
the tubercles on which these organs are placed 
and also the first or basal joint, gibbous inter¬ 
nally. The honey-tubes extending beyond the 
tip of the abdomen; excessively enlarged in 
the middle, expanding at the immediate tips 
in trumpet shape. Tail of moderate length, 
about one-third the length of the honey-tubes, 
conical. Wings of the usual form in Siphono- 
phora ; second fork of the third vein about 
equally distant from the apex and third vein ; 
stigma elongate, slender and pointed. Size 
rather large. General color green; tail green¬ 
ish-yellow at the base, darker at the tip ; legs 
pale; head, dark ; prothorax, pale; disk of 
the thorax, dark. 
It does not appear to be the habit of the in¬ 
sects of this species to collect iu colonies; but, 
so far as they were observed, they were found 
scattered singly over the leaves and stems of 
the plant. Their feet were clogged with the 
^viscous fluid which exudes from the plant, 
giving them the appearance of being club¬ 
footed. Their evident acquaintance with the 
tomato plant, as shown by the method in 
which they pass over the minute, sharp hairs 
with which the stems are covered, 16 a strong 
evidence that they are at home on it. 
Various, 
JOTTINGS AT KIRBY HOMESTEAD. 
COL. F. D. CURTIS. 
A Fair Joke. 
Our Dorkings breed more single combs than 
double ones. This leads ns to believe that 
single combs are the most natural. Last sea¬ 
son, at the county fair, the judges on poultry 
were selected as experts, aud when they went 
around to award the premiums, they ruled out 
our old trio of Dorkiugs as uot up to the 
standard, because they till happened to have 
single combs, aud awarded all the prizes to 
those with double combs. Every one of these 
were the chickens of those very same fowls ! 
We Want More Flowering Shrubs. 
Farmers would have more flowers about 
their homes if there was not so much labor 
connected with them. It took us a half day 
to weed out the petuuia bed, and while we 
were at work it occurred to us how much 
easier it would be to cultivate flowering 
shrubs. They could be tastefully set about 
the door-yards and lawns aud in the gardens, 
and very little labor would be necessary to 
keep them in order. Strong-growing plants, 
like Peonies and Hollyhocks, are not much 
trouble aud are beautiful in their time. Per¬ 
ennial plants are what farmers want the most. 
These can be set along the walks and in 
clumps, and one or two dressings during the 
summer will protect, them from weeds aud 
grass and keep them in thriving order. If the 
Rural will give its readers a list of hardy per¬ 
ennial plants and flowering shrubs, including 
Roses, which will bloom during the entire 
summer in their order, we are certain the 
favor will be appreciated, aud discouraged 
flower-growers will start anew. For the au¬ 
tumn we must have the Asters, Phlox and Zin¬ 
nias. but they are not so much bother as many 
others, and their beauty will pay for the extra 
care. This might be said of all flowers, if one 
only had the time to spare. Some flowers we 
must have, aud if we cannot adorn our homes 
with the pretty annuals, then we will make 
them as cheerful and attractive as possible 
with the shrubs. [Col. Curtis's suggestion is 
fully acted upon in the Rural’s free seed dis¬ 
tribution.— Eds.] 
-» ♦ ♦- 
PREVENTIVE FOR SELF-MILKING. 
Some cows have the disagreeable habit of 
milking themselves, which, however, they may 
be broken of by dressing them for a time in 
the simple attire shown in the accompanying 
figure. A strong stick of some tough wood, 
varying in length with the size of the animal, 
is suspended between the fore legs, one end 
being attached to a surcingle buckled about the 
body, and the other fastened to a strap which 
is buckled to the halter. The strap that unites 
the stick with the halter should he at least 
twelve inches long ; this will allow the neces¬ 
sary movement of the head to graze freely, 
while it still prevents the cow from bringing 
the head to the udder. 
-- 
BOOKS, PAMPHLETS AND CATALOGUES. 
Something New. —We write this notice ■with 
a Stylographic- Pen, so-called, but which is re¬ 
ally not a pen at all, but a metal point combined 
with a tubular holder filled with ink, iu such 
a way that when the point is pressed lightly 
on the paper the ink flows, leaviug a line of 
uniform width. It might be called a pencil 
that writes with ink, that never ueeds sharpen¬ 
ing and never wears out. We have used Foun¬ 
tain Pens of different styles for the past fifteen 
years. Some were pretty good aud some were 
good for nothing, but we Hunk this new inven¬ 
tion is likely to supersede them all. For those 
who write much or little it will be found 
cleanly, convenient and always ready. We 
will not undertake to name all its good points, 
but readers will find them in a circular they 
can obtain from C. W. Robinson, 169 Broad¬ 
way, New York, on application by letter or 
otherwise. 
-- — 
NEW YORK STATE FARMERS’ ALLIANCE. 
The annual meeting of the New York State 
Farmers’ Alliance will be held in Syracuse ou 
the third Weduesday of August. It is import¬ 
ant that all localities and every grange, farm¬ 
ers’ club or other agricultural organization be 
represented. To this end delegates should be 
appointed at an early meeting of every local 
organization, at the rate of three delegates for 
each 100 members, each grange, club, etc., 
being entitled to at least one. Due notice of 
the meeting will be sent to officers of all socie¬ 
ties so far as known. Grauges, alliances and 
clubs not receiving any notice are requested to 
send names of officers and their P. O. addresses 
to the secretary. Harris Lewis. Pres’t, 
Frankfort, N. Y. 
Ww. J. Fowler, Sec’y, Pittsford, N. Y. 
-♦♦♦- 
Is Lawson Cypress Hardy at Boston ?— 
It is not. In the puuctuation, p. 408, had a 
comma instead of a period been placed after 
“Lawson Cypresses,’" the sense of the sentence 
would lrave been as 1 iutended It. A Visitor- 
Jnkstual Societies, 
STATE AND GENERAL. 
Alabama, Montgomery. Nov. 10, 16 
Maine, Portland.. •• Sept, lb, J0 4 
Montana Awl., Mineral and Mechanical 
Ass’n., Helena...Sept. 20, Oct. 5 
Northern Indiana, Waterloo. Oct. 6, 11 
North Georgia, Atlanta. Oct. 28, 27 
Oregon, Salem.Sept. 24, Oct. 3 
Southern Wls. & Northern Illinois In¬ 
dus. Ass’n, Beloit, Wls. Sept. 2, 6 
COUNTY FAIRS. 
CONNECTICUT. 
New London, Norwich. . Sept. 23, 26 
Danbury. Oct. 7. 12 
NEW TORE. 
Maine Agl. Soc., Maine, Broome Co_ Sept. 16, 19 
Del. Co. Dairyman's Ass'n, Delhi. Nov. 12. 14 
Dutchess. Washington Hollow. Sept. 23, 26 
Racket, Valley and St. Regis Valley Agl. 
Society, Potsdam. Sept. 23, 25 
NEW JERSEY. 
Cape May, South Seavllle. Oct. 1, 3 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
York. York. Oct. 7, 11 
KANSAS. 
Allen County Agricultural and Me¬ 
chanical Association, lola. Sept. 16, 18 
Seventh Judicial District Agricultural 
Society (Allen. Wilson, Woodson 
and Ncoslio oouPites), Channte. Sept. 10. 12 
Central Kansas Fair Association (Bar¬ 
ton county), Great Bend. Oct. 9, 11 
But.er County Exposition and Horti¬ 
cultural Sociotr- Augusta. . Sept. 10, 12 
Brown county A Hi., Hor. and Mechani¬ 
cal Ass'o. Hi-war lift. Sept. 9,12 
Spring River Valley (Cherokee county) 
Agl., Hor.. Meet, and Slock Ass'n. 
Baxter Springs. Oct. 1, 3 
Walnut Valley Fair Association (Cowley 
coantyi, Wlndeld... Oct. 8, 11 
Crawford County Agl. Society. Girard.. Sept, 10, 12 
Ellawuxth County Agricultural Society, 
EDswurth. Oct. 2, 4 
Franklin County Agl. Society, Ottawa., Oct. 1, 3 
Harvey County Agl..Society. Newton... Oct. 1, 4 
Jefferson County Agl. and Mecb. Ass’#, 
Oskaloosa.Sept. 30, Oct. 3 
Valle> (fells Kansas Disirict Fair Ajs’h, 
(Jeff>*rtOn county). Valley Falls. Sept. 9, 12 
Jewell County Agl. and Indus. Society, 
Jewell Center,., sept, oo, oo 
Labette County Agl. Society. Oswego.. Sept. 3, 5 
Linn County Agl, Society. La CvgiiB,.,. Sept. 16, 19 
Linn County Agrienllural and Mechani¬ 
cal Association, Mound Citr. Oct. 1, 4 
Marion County Agl. Society. Peabody.. Oct- 1, 3 
Marshall County Agricultural Society, 
Marysville.-..,, .. Sept. 30. Oct. 3 
MorrisCoUuty Agl. Society, Parkcrville. Oct. 1. 3 
Pawnee County Agl. Society. Lunied... Sept. 00, 00 
Rilev County Agl. Society. Manhattan.. Sept. 23. 26 
Washington County Agricultural Socie¬ 
ty, Washington. . Sept. 10, 12 
OREGON. 
Washington,.. Sept. 32, 26 
(California district and county fairs. 
San Joaquin Valley District, Stockton. Sept. 16, 30 
Northern Disirict, Marysville. SepU la, 20 
Golden Gate District, Oakland. Sept. 1, 3 
Napa and Solano District, Vallejo,. Sept. 16, 20 
Monterey County District. Salinas..Sept. 30, Oct. 1 
Siskiyou, Vrcka. Oct. 1, 4 
El Dorado. Placervllle. Sept. 16, 19 
Santa Oliira Valley, Sao Jose. Sent. 22. 27 
Southern District, Los Angeles. . Oct. 20, 25 
Upper Sacramento Valley. Chtco...Sept. 30 Oct. 4 
Southern California Horticultural, Los 
Angelos. Oct. 120, 
Mechanics' Institute, San Francisco.Aug. 5, Sept. 6 
KENTUCKY. 
Paducah Fair Ass’n, Paducah. Oct. 14, 18 
Jithstrial Jnijlrmutts. 
THE ONEIDA ENGINE. 
The Oneida Iron Works have large facilities 
which are devoted exclusively to the manu¬ 
facture of steam engines. Several style-6, be¬ 
sides the agricultural, are made ; but it is with 
this that we are more particularly concerned. 
Those who have used it, iu connectiou with 
separators, speak highly of Its economy of 
fuel and excellent service. 
Not alone thrashermen, but farmers are 
rapidly becoming conversant with the advant¬ 
ages of steam, as may be shown by the large 
sales during the past few years. It is only a 
question of a few years when it will be the ex¬ 
ception to find an agriculturist who sets his 
face against steam on the farm. The Rural 
ha6 given extended attention to this subject, 
and has chosen examples of the leading styles. 
In this issue we present the “ Oneida,” made 
by the firm above named, at Oneida, N. Y. 
The most important feature in any engine is 
the boiler, and for this one the following good 
points are claimed: The fire-box is of large 
size and curved form, its under side forming 
the ash-pan, which allows a constant circu¬ 
lation of water under the grates, preventing 
sediment from adhering to the sides. Nothing 
but the best quality of American charcoal ham¬ 
mered iron is used, and care is taken in laying 
them out to see that the rivet-holes are accu¬ 
rately punched. The tube-sheets are of half¬ 
inch iron, which insures long wearing qual¬ 
ities iu a part of the construction which is apt 
to give way the soonest. 
The smoke-box is formed by the extension 
of the boiler shell, and being of boiler iron is 
not liable to rnst off. A hinged smoke-stack, 
improved spark arrester, thoroughly con¬ 
structed engines, aud substantial running gear 
complete a steam engine that is graceful in 
design, strong, serviceable and economical to 
operate. Circulars may be had on application. 
--:- 
The Heath String Binder, made by The 
Johnston Harvester Co., of Brockport, N. Y., 
was recently submitted to a thorough test in 
the presence of our representative, at Brock- 
port. The wheat, though well filled, was short— 
a condition making it unusually difficult to 
form a good bundle. Notwithstanding this fact, 
the binder worked to perfection, throwing off 
the bundles well-hound, and in good shape. 
The size of the bundles is gauged by a foot 
lever, which is at all times under the control 
of the diiver. The machine is light, well con¬ 
structed and easily handled. Next, season the 
binder will be placed upon the market, aud it 
would seem to he an event decided in advance 
that the sales will be large. 
