i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
543 
blackcap raspberries. I have never seen it sucker and I 
do not believe it can be made to grow from root-cuttings 
or pieces of the roots. In this respect I think it is like the 
blackcap species of the raspberry also. It has always 
been a strong growing, entirely healthy and absolutely 
hardy plant so far as I have grown it, and exempt from 
the attacks of all insects. As a dessert fruit it is not only 
of surpassing beauty and good, but cooked, its rich 
sprightliness excels anything in the way of a berry I have 
ever tasted—not excepting the finest huckleberries. Mr. 
Childs paid me $1,000 for the original plants of it, and a 
fixed price per thousand for those that grew from it. 
Little Silver, N. J. 
INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
VI. 
Hemiptera, Bugs and Lice. 
In the last article I described the three families of pre¬ 
daceous beetles. In speaking of beetles I stated that they 
were often called bugs, though very incorrectly, as the 
bugs belong to a very different order. The beetles have 
the entire upper or front wings thickened ; while in the 
bugs only about one-half of these wings are thickened. 
This is the basal half. Thus the wings appear half wings* 
and hence the name Hemiptera, which is applied to this 
order, and means half-wings. Again, the beetles have 
strong, curved jaws, which move sidewise, and so can bite. 
The bugs, on the other hand, have a sharp beak. This 
they can insert into plant or animal, which causes a flow of 
sap or blood and this they can sip or suck up. Thus while 
the beetle bites and eats, the bug stabs and sucks. The 
little striped cucumber or squash beetle eats the leaves. 
The big dark squash bug pierces and sucks the sap. So no 
one need mistake the one for the other. 
Of the true bugs, we have such enemies as the Southern 
Cabbage bug, Squash bug, Taraished plant bug and the ter 
rible Chinch bug, also the bugs and lice that infest animals 
and even man as external parasites. The plant and scale 
lice—which are among our worst insect foes—also belong 
to this order. No wonder then that the term bug awakens 
a feeling of dread and even repugnance. No wonder if one 
says: “Can anything good come from the order of bugs ?” 
I am happy to say that some of our most beneficial 
species are numbered among the species of this order. In¬ 
deed it occurs, strangely enough, that insects that are 
very harmful and also very useful, are numbered in the 
same family. I will describe and illustrate four of our 
most valued predaceous bugs, which will give an idea of 
their appearance and habits, though here one must actually 
know the insect and its work, before he is sure whether it 
be friend or foe. 
The first predaceous species that I shall describe is 
Podisus (Arma) spinosus. This is common throughout 
the United States, and is known as the Spined Soldier bug. 
I have often seen it with a potato beetle, caterpillar or 
other insect impaled on its beak. It is very common and 
its benefits are beyond question very great. 
This beetle (Fig. 219) looks not unlike many of our plant 
and flower bugs. Indeed it belongs to the same family as does 
the beautiful but destructive Cabbage bug, Murgantia his- 
trionica, of the South. While it resembles plant bugs it 
has a heavier beak. Figure 219 shows its heavy beak and the 
more slender beak of the common Squash bug Anasa 
tristis. The Spined Soldier bug is of a gray lavender or 
brownish yellow color. It is rather short and broad, is a 
trifle more than one-half inch in length—the figure is mag¬ 
nified twice—and on each side of the thorax is a sharp 
spine (see Fig. 219) which gives it its specific name. This 
insect is worthy all praise, and should be knowD and pro¬ 
tected by farmers and gardeners everywhere. It is so like 
many plant-eating bugs, that it is all the more important 
that it should be known. The sharp thoracic spines are a 
ready means to its identification. 
South Carolina Bee-Killer.— In the South there is 
another bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, which is very 
closely related to the Spined Soldier bug. This bug (Fig. 
220 ) is larger than the other—the figure is natural size. 
The color is purplish or greenish blue. The rostrum or 
beak, three marks on scutellum, triangle at base of wings, 
base of feet and underside are reddish. While this insect 
does great good, it also kills bees in South Carolina, and so 
I have called it the South Carolina Bee Stabber. I think 
without doubt it does far more good than harm. 
The Wheel Bug. —This interesting bug belongs to the 
group Reduvioidea, nearly or quite all ot which are pre¬ 
daceous. The Wheel Bug (Prionidus cristatus) is a large, 
fine bug (Fig. 221)j which probably has no superior as a pre¬ 
daceous insect. The rich, bronze color of this insect, the 
large .size, the half cog-wheel-like crest which marks its 
thorax, and its fierce predaceous nature all combine to 
make it a most interesting species. The wheel like crest 
suggests its common name—Wheel Bug, and its specific 
name Cristatus. 1 have often kept this insect in confine¬ 
ment for some days, and have been much amused, as I 
have fed it other insects. It knows no fear and eats as 
though its appetite was insatiable. We have not this bug 
in Michigan, but 1 have often received it from the more 
Southern States. As will be seen by the figure, this in¬ 
sect has a long, narrow head, and so is a type of its family. 
All of these insects, I think are predaceous and our excel¬ 
lent friends. 
The last of these friendly bugs that I shall mention is 
also an enemy of the honey bee. It also destroys many 
other insects and, like all predaceous species, does far more 
good than harm. This is Phymata erosa and has been 
called the Stinging Bug, as its bite or stab is quite severe. 
It is a small bug (Fig. 222), and by its yellow color, marked 
with dusky or black.it is admirably fitted to rest concealed 
in the yellow flowers of golden rod, etc. Here it rests 
with its head up, and Is so obscure, that even sharp eyes 
will look at the flower, and pass the bug by unnoticed. 
Thus it captures many a weary insect that seeks the flower 
for nectar, pollen or rest. The method by which it cap¬ 
tures its prey is very peculiar. Its front legs are modified 
into a sort of jaw-like organ (Fig. 222), and by use of this it 
can seize its victim, when by its sharp jaws, it soon dis¬ 
patches it. It destroys many insects, some of which may 
be much larger than itself. I have often found this bee- 
killer or stinging bug concealed in some composite flower, 
and not infrequently has it held in its grasp a bee, fly or 
beetle, on which it was dining. I have received it from all 
parts of the country, and frequently a bee was sent with it, 
which it had been seen to capture. 
Thus we see that, obnoxious, and destructive as bugs 
frequently are, yet they too are often the farmer’s diligent 
Spined Soldier Bug with Beak and also Beak of 
Squash Bug. Fig. 2 19. 
friends. While many are very destructive, some are 
equally predaceous, and take no small part in holding our 
noxious insects in check. As these predaceous bugs are 
often so like the noxious species, it behooves every person 
interested to study each separate species, that he may 
know assuredly whether it be friend or foe: whether he 
should protect or destroy it. A. j. cook. 
THAT DISTRICT SCHOOL OF YOURS ! 
DO YOU GET TOUR MONEY’S WORTH ? 
1. What complaints are most commonly made? 
2. Are they just? Causes. Remedy. 
3. How a school's reputation gained ? 
4. How interest parents? What sort of men for 
directors ? 
5. How would you select a teacher? One teacher or 
three for the year ? 
6 . Text-books and studies. 
A Hoosier School Statement. 
Our district schools fail to enlist that warm interest and 
sympathy that they should in the patrons of the schools. 
Few children will succed well in their studies if they re¬ 
y 
South Carolina Bee-Killer. Fig. 220. 
ceive little encouragement from the parents at home. Many 
persons think their duty is ended when the child is granted 
permission to attend school, and they are given books, etc. 
to start with. It is no pleasure to be posted as to the pro¬ 
gress the child is making; a vexation to be asked to buy 
supplies for the scholar when he is advancing in his 
studies. The student dislikes to have his parents attend 
his examinations or recitations ; he is not accustomed to 
such attendance. To remedy this will be a difficult task. 
Wheel Bug. Fig. 22 1 . 
The failure to make practical, school studies is a serious 
fault, and can only be remedied by parents taking sufficient 
interest in school work to draw out the scholar’s knowledge 
and make it practical to him. Were I in control of the 
schools, I would endeavor to awaken an active interest for 
schools in every patron, urge his attendance during school 
recitations and examinations, and also urge him to buy for 
his children the best text-books and supplies (and this he 
would find economy). I would keep the school-house in 
good repair ; make it as comfortable and pleasant as pos- 
Phymata Erosa and Leg. Fig. 222. 
sible, and hire none but educated and practical teachers ; 
teachers who would take broader views of schools than 
merely to put in their time and draw their salaries. Such 
a teacher would not “ board around ” for he, too, must be 
a student and have his aid of books. The school cannot 
afford to have him “board around.’’ It is always economy 
to do everything well. We have few summer schools, one 
long term beginning early in the fall, ending late in the 
spring. I would continue to employ a teacher so long as 
he did good, practical work—no teacher is liked by all. 
Improvements are made in text-books, and I would en¬ 
courage new and better books at all times. I would think 
it economical to do so. bates. 
Rockville. Ind. 
Play Grounds, “ Entertainments,’’, Text Books. 
1. The want of properly arranged and inclosed play 
grounds ; the want of maps, globes and other apparatus for 
illustrating the lessons; the arrangement of children in 
classes without regard to individual capacity ; the result is, 
some are retarded and others are advanced too rapidly. 
Teaching children the same old subjects which were taught 
their grandfathers, without regard for their circum¬ 
stances in life or their probable future. 2. The com¬ 
plaints are usually just, although a measure of responsi¬ 
bility usually rests upon those who are loudest in their 
complaints. The remedy is a livelier interest on the part 
of the people in their local schools. Apathy discourages 
the teacher, makes trustees indifferent and demoralizes the 
general management of the school. Another source of 
trouble is the putting of false notions of independence 
into the minds of the children by their parents. The 
teacher’s authority and ability must be recognized. 
Nothing should ever be said to children about the lack of 
ability or authority on the part of the teacher. 3. Our 
school is considered one of the best in the county. Its 
reputation depends chiefly upon an annual exhibition, 
which absorbs the time and attention of the scholars for 
several months before it takes place. The result is that 
two studies—if such they may be called—elocution and 
music, attract more time and attention than all the 
others combined. The best speakers and singers are the 
lions of the school, and are emulated by the unfortunates (?) 
who have no talent for such things. 4. I know of no way 
to interest parents in schools except by getting up enter¬ 
tainments, participated in by all the children. Such 
entertainments, however, interfere largely with the work 
of the school, and in most cases do more harm than good. 
It is impossible to say what sort of men should be elected 
directors. Ignorant men, feeling the need of education 
themselves, often take more interest in education than 
those who have been educated to no purpose. Men 
of good executive ability, regardless of education, make 
the best directors. 5. I would select a man of good com¬ 
mon sense, regardless of his diplomas or certificates. In 
these days of complete text books it is not at all necessary 
for the heads of teachers to be crammed with trigonometry, 
ancient history or Greek. What children need are good 
habits, good health and executive ability, and a teacher 
possessing these qualities can hardly fail to teach success¬ 
fully. The less changes are made in a school the better. 
One teacher is vastly better than three. The itinerant 
system is one of the curses of the district school. The 
system of boarding around is an abominable one. 
It does not save the district money and makes an 
immense amount of trouble and bother to all concerned. 
I would burn three-quarters of the present text books. I 
would reduce the arithmetic to about one-half its present 
size, cutting out everythmg except the fundamental rules, 
fractions, weights and measures, and percentage. The 
other rules belong to the technical schools and colleges 
rather than to the “ common school.” I would teach gram¬ 
mar orally, chiefly, and abandon nearly all rules. I would 
teach geography chiefly by globes, and would locate places 
by railroads rather than by rivers and water-courses. It 
is of far greater importance for a business man to know 
that Harrisburg is on the Pennsylvania Railroad than on 
the Susquehanna River, although it is well to know both. 
The products and manufactures of each locality are, how¬ 
ever, important things to know. Spelling and composition 
are of the greatest importance, although the type-writer 
bids fair to make the art of pen-writing of little financial 
value, yet it must be taught in school, at least for the 
present. Domestic and political economy and United 
States history are very important. Plain reading (not 
elocution) is necessary. Music is elevating and recreative, 
but it should never take the place of more important 
studies. In a word, children should be started upon the 
road they are likely to follow through life, not prepared 
for an ideal journey in the Elysian fields of literature or 
art, which only one in 1,000 can take. I think a school 
should be modeled after the ideal home and the ideal busi¬ 
ness establishment. It should be the connecting l ink be¬ 
tween the private home life of the child and the public 
business life of the man, or the business-domestic life of 
the housekeeper. The school-house should not have the 
sanctimonious appearance of the church or the barrenness 
of the public hall, but should be largely domestic or home¬ 
like in its character and appearance. The play-ground 
should be ample, well shaded and protected. The sanitary 
arrangements should be perfect. The teachers (preferably 
women) should have good, sound, common sense. They 
should be the very soul of honor and truthfulness. They 
should have that undefinable power of teaching children. 
Their opportunities for acquiring education is a matter of 
but little consequence. Above all, it must be remembered 
that a good school is largely democratic in its character. 
Like good government therefore it depends upon the 
people. If the people are indifferent, objecting to their 
tax-bills and opposing all improvements, the directors and 
teachers are likely to become indifferent also, and a poor 
school is the inevitable result. 
Queens County, L. I. an interested parent. 
A Woman Teacher Best. 
There have been no complaints made against the manage¬ 
ment of our school; there have been complaints made 
against the teachers personally, but not with their man¬ 
agement of the school. The greater part of the people in 
the district are well educated and industrious, but still 
they seem content to let matters run in a way that will be 
the least tax upon the directors, and if the teachers serve 
full time and conduct themselves properly all is well. 
This is true of the majority of school districts in this 
