davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03

itary hermit, a foe to all other insects
her own species not excepted-living a
bandit life, with the black flag of ''no
quarter" always unfurled.
There are many good reasons for plac-
ing these Arab,like friends of ours in the
front rank. eternal vigilance" ''all at
it and always atit'' is their motto When
does spider sleep? do not know, as I
never saw one, day or night, but was
ready for battle the instant an unwary
insect touched it's net Or snare.
Nest spiders prefer building their nets
at night and those that act like wolves,
Lycosid@) and set no snares, prowl
around in search of their prey after dark.
The Attid@, OF which our very common
jumping spider is an example, is con-
stantly on the watch for her victims.
Over 100 species of the spider family
are found in Florida, building nets,
SHARES, tunnels, sheets and single lines to
entrap their victims. They seem innum-
erable in every nook and corner, on walls
fences, trees and bushes: in sinks,
caves and stumpa, under logs, rocks
and fences, always ready to attack any
insect that by great mischance ven
lures within reach. Some species discard
the use of snares and boldly attack their
prey tiger-like.
To be convinced OF the immense num-
Der of our spider friends one needs but to
look around early in the morning after
clear night, when the dew on the nets
renders them visible. Every bush and
tree festooned with beautiful geometric
nets, Or sheets, Or long lines stretching
from tree to tree, all shining with pearly
drops that soon will vanish and leave
the structures free for their real use in
the destruction of insects. In cotton
field often there will be dozen of these
nets to a single plant, and the worms,
beetles and moths caught in a season
amount to an enormous number, yet
how rarely do our farmers feel grateful
to their vigilant friends.
have but brief space and can only
give hints of the habits of some of few
Of the spiders found in our State.
One of the most common and beneficial
to the farmer is the Oxyopes (Peucetia)
viridans. This is @ beautiful insect; );
when young it is bright yellow, in ma
turity it is grass green mottled with
brown and black. The adult female, the
one always seen, is three-fourths of an
inch in length, her brownish body hairy.
on the sides, her eight legs are long, yell
lowish, almost transparent, and with
black spots and spines. The head-thorax
pale green, with three brown-red stripes
on each side. The ten eyes are upon the
apex of the conicaI head. The specimen
Ihave before me held her cocoon firmly un-
der her abdomen by her central legs, even
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03
Occasional Notes on Our Insect
Friends.-II.
BY j. G. NEAL, M. D:

1t would puzzle an entomologist some
what were the query asked, E'What fam
lily Of insects are most beneficial to farm
ing interests?"
Some of our tiniest friends do us excel
lent service in depositing their eggs
within the eggs Fof beetles, bugs and
moths. The parasitic egg Matching de
stroys the germ of what might have 9th
erwise been the parent of a destructive
brood of cotton moths, or cut worms.
Other insects use the Larvae Of various
inserting eggs beneath the thin skin Of
the hapless caterpillar, there to hatch.
and thrive, and eventually to prevent its
change into a perfect insect. Others depos-
it eggs upon the larva, these hatch and,
tick like, feed upon the juices CT their
host till it is too weak to pupate,
or the punctures bring on spots Of rapid
decay. Others wait till the chrysalis
stage has begun, and then insert their
eggs; others deposit eggs in or upon the
perfect insects In fact insect life is SO
beset with dangers that it is exceedingly
difficult to draw a just comparison.
However, at present, | am inclined to
award the medal to thefamily of spiders,
the Ishmaelites of the insect world.
Strange to say the most useful and
harmless friends of ours are "tabOoed,"
decried and universally destroyed by the
fair sex in Western lands, from "little
Miss Muffet" to her grace. Of the "4OO,"
or the still more "distingdes descendant
of her dusky Indian majesty, Mrs. John
Rolf, (Pocahotas). In Oriental lands
there is no such aversion to spiders, in
fact to see them build their webs, to have
their silken cords festoon the walls, or to
have spider fall on the person is an
augury of good fortune.
AS an example Of wisdom, which also
shows his freedom from prejudice, Solo
mon says, "The spider taketh hold with
herhands and in king spalaces." !" (Note
the words ''her" hands.)
Perhaps the great number OF insect
pests and the evident service rendered by
the spider family has had much to do
with this friendly feeling Of the Orientals,
for certain it is that the spider isby them
encouraged and pampered as favored
ally.
The order Arane@ is peculiar. While
many insects are not particularly friend
" to Others of different orders, yet to
their own species they are, at the least.
Indifferent, and some, as the ants, bees
and wasp, are gregarious, living in i'm
mense colonies. No such thing with the
spider family. Every individual is sol
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03

when [ had her in my hand, utterly loos-
ing her usual timidty in her care for her
young. The cocoon is q wonderful affair.
1t is a dainty, sombt- brown capsule one
half inch in diameter and ree-fourths of
an inch deep, with a lid hinged below and at
one side The inside OF smooth, soft silk,
the outside covered with tiny knobs of
the same material. In this pretty shell
found 148 young yellow spiders packed
as close as could be, yet ready to run for
their lives the instant their home should
be opened.
tits issingular that the mother, now so full
OF solicitude for her little ones, as soon as
they are free regards them as lawful prey
to be eaten if caught. The spider weighs
oil grains, the cocoon 3.81 grains and
the young spiders 3.49 grains. This was
as if q human mother weighing 100
pounds were constantly to lug around
with her lusty brood of children weigh
ing ZIG pounds, and yet the Oxyopes
seemed to have no trouble in carrying
her load.
Two Of our most common field and
house spider, the Phidippus morsitans
(black) and the P. Galathea (gray).
build no snares, but hide in folded leaves,
under fence corners, i'll knot holes, or in
the house, live on window sils and on the
walls. 1t is very interesting to see the
cat-like action Of these spiders and how
sure they are of capturing fly or roach
when they spring for victim.
A few of these pretty spiders in room
will soon destroy all the flies there, and
as they areso beneficial and easily tanned,
beg for their lives and ask that the fair
danes who may read this article will
spare them from the deadly broom. To
the farmer and especially to the cotton
grower all this family of jumping spiders
are Invaluable, as they destroy hundreds
of noxious moths and worms in single
harmless.
Another very interesting spider is COM
mon in groves, where it spins the most
beautiful of geometric nets. These are
nearly hexagonal in shape and suspended
from three points. At the attachment
places theropes are single, but when near
the web they divide and thus give the
web it's beautiful shape. These guy ropes
are often eight or ten feet long, and at
short intervals are strengthened by
opaque bands that seem to act assprings.
The web is usually foot in diameter,
and in the center, head downward, is the
oldest of the family. She has pale yel-
low, hard-shelled back, curiously spotted
with black, and six red thorns around the
margin. The under side, legs and small
ead-thoraxare black.
l do not think the male, the cocoon or
the young of this odd Gasteracantha
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03
DeLand, Fla, Wednesday. December 3. 1890
So per Annunl, IN advance.

ESA -~N"-A--j - N%se' e'~A-oS'
have ever been found, and | hope the
keen eyes OF my y Dung readers will be on
the lookout for them.
Another great destroyer of ofmosquitoes,
flies and gnats is a weak, slender, long
legged spider that makes a very loosely
woven net i'll dark corners of little used
rooms, and that when disturbed swing
so rapidly as to be nearly invisible. This
vibration seems to be it's only means of
defence. This dainty Pholcus should not
be disturbed, as it is one of our best
friends.
On fences, old walls, knot holes and
crevices one often sees a fine net work
leading to funnel of the finest silk. In
the bottom of the funnel, out of sight, is
hid the cunning Filistata, ready at the
least touch of an insect upon the outer
line OF threads to spring out and seize her
prey. She has good sense, however, and
first peeps cut to see who intrudes, and if
it be wasp she deftly cuts all the en-
tangling threads and sets the dangerous
insect at liberty.
In many places one can find tbecurious
Trap-door spider (Eurypelma). This in
sect makes hole in the ground, lines it
with dense white silk and forms a circu-
lar closely fitting lid Of silk, hinged SO as
to close of it's own wci9 ht. This lid is
covered with earth, and when the lid is
shut it is nearly an impossibility to dis
cover the opening.
They usually choose clay hillsides for
their homes, and [ have found them in
such places in Alachua county, where
have often watched them peeping out and
have noted the force they use to resist
any attempt to raise their trap doors.
This spider catches young reaches, grass
hoppers and crickets and is therefore
good friend to the farmer. The Epeiras
are perhaps our most common geometric
or wbeel-like net builders. There are over
twenty species in the State, all harmless,
all beneficial. The smaller Theridiums
build tiny nets in the tops Of weeds, in
flowers and on bushes, where they de-
stroy immense numbers of moths and
worms as well as gnats and small flies.
During October. and later on, the huge
nets of our largest woods spider, the
Argiope fasciata, can be seen any dewy
morning in the open piney woods. This
beautiful insect has dazzling combina-
ton suit OF gold and black striped legs,
silver and black abdomen, silvery thorax
and spreads often four inches It's guy
ropes are sometimes twenty feet long and
the net four or five ieet in diameter and
SO strong as to stop the careless horse
man. This spider can bite severely, but
the puncture is not poisonous. as know
from experience.
One of our largest wolf spiders is the
Lycosa tigriana. A very stout, dark
The morning call., 1890-05-09
PERSONAL NOTES.

W. L. Field, U. S. n. is at the Palace.
Judge B. b. Jones of Martinez is at the
Grand.
Y. S. McClatchy of the Sacramento Bee is
in town.
a. B. Call, mining man of Amador, Is at
the Grand.
Ex-Judge S. c. benson of Sacramento is
in the city.
/. de Turk, viticulturjst, of Santa Rosa. is
in the city.
DR.. G. H. Thoma of Reno, New, is a guest
at the Palace.
A. Jacobs of the MERGED Woolen-mills
is at the Lick.
E. G. Flanagan, a banker of Coos Bay,
is at the Lick.
II. A. Pellet, mining man of st. Helena,
is at the Grand.
j. P. Pierce, capitalist of Santa Clara,
is at the Palace.
DIR. F. w. Mitchell Of HOLSTER is regis
tered at the Grand.
Ex-Attorney-G General A. L. Hart of Sac
ramento is at the Grand.
ii. G. Wilson. a mining man of Tehama,
is In the city and at the Grand.
w. S. Leake and Russ Stephens of Sacra-
mento are quartered at the Lick.
Rev. A. Fletcher is in the city from Red
lands, and guest at the Occidental.
S. S. Curtis. a capitalist of this city, has
returned from an extended Eastern trip.
A. b. Butler and w. C. Forsyth, vine
yardists of Fresno, are visiting this city.
Louis Schoenberg, the money and note
broker, has returned from his wedding
tour.
The condition OF Judge Sabin of the
United States Circuit Court was reported
to be more serious yesterday morning. Dur
ing the course of the day, however, more
favorable symptoms took place. At 10
O'Clock last niphf the qffQU6inn nhxrSiaiau
stated that his patient was resting easily
and the symptoms were favorable.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
DEEIED THE POLICE.
A Ships Mate HOSTS His En-
sign, but Is Arrested.

The large German four-masted ship
Theodor, Captain Hamer, towed down
from Port Costa yesterday, wheat laden.
and anchored in the stream. She had not
been long at anchor before the third and
chief officers were arrested, the former for
battery and the latter for resisting an Off
Ger in the execution of his duty.
Shortly after the Theodor dropped her
anchor she was boarded by Joseph Bendix,
runner for city front clothing house, who
wished to collect bill owed to the house
by Heinrich Waldorf. third mate of the
vessel. The third mate, it is said, refused
to pay the bill, and struck, or threatened
10 strike, the runner with a Delaying pin.
BendlX then went ashore and swore out a
warrant for NaldOrfS arrest for battery.
The warrant was issued and Officer Tom
Mahoney of the Harbor Police was detailed
by Captain Dunlevy to serve it.
When the officer went out to the Theo-
dor the chief mate, who saw him coming
hoisted the gangway and refused to allow
him on board. Mahoney eXpostulated, and
finally the gangway was lowered and he
stepped on deck. As soon as he did so he
showed the mate his warrant, and said he
wanted so arrest the third mate.
=" You can't take him." said the mate,
whose name is Claus Schukin, you must
go to the German Consul" They then
went into the cabin where the third mate
was, and Mahoney placed him under arrest
As he did so the mate pushed him aside
and said, " You can't take him."
The mate then called all hands, about
twenty-eight men, aft and sent one of the
crew to hoist the German ensign. When it
was hoisted Schukin said: Now the man
is on German bottom and you dare not take
him" The men looked threatening, and
Mahoney, not wishing to have any trouble,
came ashore for re-enforcements. He met
Captain Hamer. who confessed that the
mate had acted wrongly, and agreed to de-
posit $40 for the third mates appearance in
court. Mahoney then swore out warrant
for the mates arrest for resisting him, aud
during the afternoon served the two war
rants on board.
The Mate Schukin, who was about the
only one on board besides the captain who
could speak English, still insisted that 'he
was on German BOTTOM" but the captain
told him that the ships anchor was dropped
in American mud, and deposited ten $40
gold pieces as bail for his release.
The two mates will have a chance to ex-
plain their conduct before the Police Court
The morning call., 1890-05-09
arrest of W. P. Perkins on charge of EN-

arrest of W. p. Perkins on a charge of en-
bezzlement. 1t was sworn to by 5. j. Far
rel, who alleges that he placed into the
hands of Perkins for collection a bill of SIS,
but that he refuses to turn the money over
to him. Perkins is deputy under Con-
stable Fassking.
The Executive Committee Of the Alameda
Improvement Association met last evening
Columbus Bartlett presiding. j. E. Bar
Der was reelected Secretary. 1t was the
sentiment Of the committee that the asso-
citation should be maintained, and thus con-
tlnue its good work toward improving and
beautifying the city. 1t was decided to re-
quest the property-owners to number their
b ouses, in the event of the city obtaining
free mail delivery.
The Board of City Trustees held an adj
1ourned meeting last evening, anqA1scided
to purchase the lot at the nortts7e9kG q rner
of Oak street and Santa Clara aveEue for
the City Hall site, thus settling question
which has been hanging fire for several
months. The lot is 197x207 feet and the
price to be paid is $4,000. This location
will give general satisfaction. The Trustees
failed to fill the vacancy in the Office of
City Treasurer, caused by the death of n.
w. Palmer. In addition to those already
mentioned Sidney G. Mitchell applied for
the appointment, but the merits of the can
didates have not been sufficiently canyassed
and action was postponed until next Mon
day evening.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
BarkeleY.

There has been no election of President
of the Society of Associated Students.
Ainsworth and Julliard each had forty
seven votes. while Bentley received thirty
seven.
The assessment notices for the Bancroft
way sewer have been issued and the total
amount is S2137 75 The sewer will run
from San Pablo avenue, West Berkeley, to
the bay.
President R. W. Andrews of the School
Board has rendered his resignation, as he
expects TO remove to Honolulu. The Com
mittee on School-houses and Sites has
recommended to the board the purchase of
the lot at Ninth street and Charming way,
200X200 at So per front foot
The morning call., 1890-05-09
Scharzkopf in St. Louis.

The Westliche Post a German news
paper published in ST. Louis, says in re-
cent issue: The news reaches us from San
Francisco that in the Baldwin Hotel of that
place man named r. S. Schwarzkopf. an
agent Of the Mutual Life Insurance. Com
pany. committed suicide. Rudolph s.
Scharzkopf, and it seems that he and the
Suicide was one and the same person, was
we'll known in ST. Louis lie had been ar
rested here while passing a forged check at
the Southern Hotel in payment for board
He was confined for several months in Jail,
when he became an intimate friend Of Max
well. the murderer of Preller, and later he
was acquitted and entered the service Of
the aforesaid companvv
The morning call., 1890-05-09

The fair in aid of the Presentation Con-
vent is still in progress at Irving Hall. The
attendance is constantly increasing, and
the many visitors are entertained by a
pleasant programme each evening.
The ladies in charge serve a fine lunch
each day from IL TO 2 o'clock at the low
price Of % cents.
A fine programme has been prepared for
this evening, after which the friends and
visitors may indulge in dancing.
The morning call., 1890-05-09

A Tulnre Farmers Suit.

John Applegarth. farmer in Tulare
County, has sued the Changers Business
Association for $4,000 damages, alleging
malice and oppression on the part of the
defendant In taking forty-nine horses off
his farm and refusing to return them. He
also asks for 5000, the value Of the animals
seized.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
WILL TAKE A WEEK.
Held Tor maph.m-

Thomas Brady was held yesterday by
Police Judge Lawler in bonds of 5000 to
await trial on a charge OF mayhem for Bit
ing piece out of Gus Bush's LID few davs
ago in saloon on the corner of Kearny and
Clay streets. Brady was intoxicated at the
Tune and attacked Bush, who is a bar
tender, for refusing him liuuor.
The morning call., 1890-05-09

Several months ago Frank Woenne de-
slred to sell butcher-shop at 351 Fifth
street to Charles w. and S. ID. Ingram for
$6Oo, but It was finally disposed of to them
to recover $50 commission from the Ingrams
on the ground that through his agency
The morning call., 1890-05-09
PALACE HOTEL.

THE PALACE HOTEL OCCUPIES AN ENTIRE
L block in the center Of San Francisco. It is the
model hotel OF the world Fire and earthquake
proof Has FIVE elevators Every room is large
light and airy. The ventilation Is perfect A bath
of access from broad. light corridors. The central
court, Illuminated by electric light, Its immense
glass roof broad balconies carrtage-way and tropf-
cal plants. features hitherto unknown Amert-
can hotels. Guests entertained on either the Amer
lean or European plan. The restaurant is the finest
IN the city. Secure in advance by telegraph
ing THE PALACE HOTEL.
noTu San Francisco. Cal.
The morning call., 1890-05-09

the price was lowered $500, but it was shown
that he was Woenne's attorney. Justice
Hebbard, on this showing, yesterday de-
cided against him. holding that he could not
act for both parties, being the lawyer for
The morning call., 1890-05-09
BERTELING has the only reliable methods to
1T defective sight. 427 Kearny street

Professor Goldwin Smith has character
lied the Revolution of 1776 as "a miserable
quarrel. the wretched cause Of which was
tea-chest."
The morning call., 1890-05-09
THE MANUFACTORY.

What astenishes the visitor to the factory
on Bryant stree: most is the nimbleness
with which finger follows eye in every de-
partinent. The rapidity with which the
weaver weaves his stack of wood strips into
the diamond-shaped. plaits. as if it were
silk, not wood, he was handling, and the
lightning movements of the trimmer are
simply astonishing, Though why the latter
gentleman should insist ON making a hard
ware shop of his mouth by keeping it
choke-full OF an assortment Of tiny tacks,
which he seems in imminent danger Of
making dozen square meals minute on,
is beyond ordinary ken.
Then there is the trimmer and the man
who fixes on the handles in jiffy, as
basket after basket is chucked atop of the
growing pile; the man who does the hing
ing; the girls who do the thinning end the
mailing and the chattering, and the men
and boys scattered over half a dozen floors,
apparently doing half dozen things at
once-all 20 to make about as livery and
busy hive OF bees as one can we'll imagine
but no drones. We've no room Tor then"
said the manager.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
Reid wi,hou, Rail,

Hoey Jing was examined by Judge
Joachimsen last night on the charge of MUIR
dering Gee Wy on The 18th of March. The
accused was held to answer without bail.
The morning call., 1890-05-09

THE WEEKLY GALL Is a most 40
ceptable present to send to
your friends in any locality
81 Is year postpaid.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
l--2l--2
Mission Residence Lots.
WARM BELT, FOG AND WIND STRANGERS.

Sc. cer. of l9:h and Guerrero sts; ehoics and
handsome residence and business lots, located
In rapidly improving neighborhood, and in
the center of good surroundings; convenient to
downtown; lots all ready to build upon; con-
venient to school; Valencia-st. cable; very
inviting and central location for home. Do
not forget TO examine them! Lots 25x90, 25x
Is, 24:4x95
The morning call., 1890-05-09
JOHN o'BYRNE,

Attorney and Counselor-at-Law, Rooms
10 and go. Flood Building.
NEW YORK CORRESPONDENTS: ROBERT
~ o,BYRNE and FRANK o'BYRNEs $50 Broad
way. New York City. my1 I'm cod
The morning call., 1890-05-09
Terms on all the Above Property

Only one-quarter cash, balance in one,
two and three years; interest per cent
per annum, payable monthly.
The above offers splendid opportunity for I'm
vestors, as the bank, having held the property the
limit OF time allowed by law, must sell in order 10
satisfy the Commissioners.
H3 Do not fan to examine all the property as big
bargains will be presented.
For further particulars. catalogue etc. inquire OF
EASToN, ELDRIDGE & CO., Auctionesrs
mys 0t 6ls Market street. s. f.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
Downtown Residence Lot,

W. line OF Mccormick St. bet Hyde and LsrkIn
1l6 feet s. of Pacific; good lot for French flats:
only half block from Hyde-st cable, and about one
block from POlk-st. line OF Sutter-st cables Pacific
st. is paved with basaIt rock: neIghborhood good,
and sunny exposure to lot; oil ready for building:
lot u :Gx5S Is.
The morning call., 1890-05-09

K. line OF Mason 10 feet s. of Chestnut; good
location for store and French fats would pay large
on Investment: good neighberhood and car accom-
mediation first class; North Beach and Mission ard
Powellst cable; street In frst-cass shape and &C
cepted by the city, lot ready building lot runs
through to alley; lot % :6x6S.
The morning call., 1890-05-09
Downtown French Flats,

S. line NO. 1ll5) OF broadway, I60 feet W. Of
Jones ST.; building, stories; contains French fats
OF rooms each street in good condition; neighbor-
hood good; school convenient; car accommodation
first class; rent S1S: lot 23x60.
The morning call., 1890-05-09

Northerly line no. 2s) OF South Park about l75
rect from Third ST.. brick house, rooms and bath;
tenant pays all repairs and water: rent S25; this
location Is fast becoming business propositions lot
20x97 IS; lot runs through TO street; centrally
located; North Beach and South Park ears.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-03-12
a Boon to Wives.

Having used "Mother'e Friend" I
would not be without it. It is a
boon to wives who know they must
pass through the painful ordeal Of
Childbirth. Mrs. G. Melbourne,
Iowa, Write The Bradfield Regu-
lator Co., Atlanta, Ga. for further
particulars. Sold by w. J. Conley.