320 



CHIPS. 



[Feb. 



way, along which one hears that the 

 main herd has gone south across the 

 boundary. I have been over the line 

 as far as the crossing of the Saskat- 

 chewan, and I believe it is a fact that 

 no buffaloes have been seen along it 

 for fidly two yeai's. If the information 

 obtainable is at all to be rehed ujjon, I 

 think it may be regarded as certain 

 that there are now none between the 

 railway and the United States boun- 

 darj'-line — probably none, or verj- few, 

 between it and the Northern Pacific 

 road. In October last year I saw the 

 head of a buifalo, with the hair and 

 dried flesh still attached, over the door 

 of a settlei-'s shanty in Manitoba. The 

 animal was said to have formed one of 

 a herd of several seen during the pre- 

 vious winter by a gang of advanced 

 gradera working on the line in the 

 neighbourhood of the Cypress Hills. 

 There are said to be still a few of the 

 animals left near the extreme northerly 

 extension of the plains about the Peace 

 river ; but of this I know nothing. 

 Last July I had occasion to go out 

 over the Northern Pacific Railway 

 from St. Paul to Helena and b.ack, but 

 all the testunony I received went to 

 show that no buffaloes are now to be 

 found within at least fifty miles of the 

 track. The engine-driver, going west, 

 said he saw one in the distance, but I did 

 not believe him. It is certain, however, 

 that there were plenty close to the line 

 two yeai-s since, before its completion. 

 The mountain bison, which seems to 

 be always regarded as a distmct species, 

 almost certainly still exists, but in un- 

 known numbers, on the ranges in and 

 surrounding the Yellowstone Park, 

 especially on the Clark's Fork Range, 

 and one of our guides assured me that 

 he could conduct me to a place, within 

 two easy days' ride of the Mammoth 

 Hot Springs Hotel, where there was 

 every probabilit}' of my seeing one ; 

 but time and a companion were want- 

 ing. Quite an extensive industry has 

 recently arisen in connection with the 

 gathering up of the old buffaloes' bones 

 which strew the plains, and " shipping" 



them eastward for the purpose of mak- 

 ing artificial manures. Large heaps, a 

 yard or two in height, are to be seen 

 at most of the stations along the 

 Northern Pacific, and I saw men and 

 waggons at work bringing in more, 

 while no less than forty-eight tons, 

 valued at 312 dollars, and gathered on 

 the plains around Regina (N.W.T.), 

 recently passed through Winnipeg over 

 the Canadian Pacific Railway. — Robt. 

 Miller Christy (Cliigual St. James, 

 near Clielmsford, Jan. 7). 



Blue Gum-Tree in Brazil. — In the 

 province of San Pedro, Brazil, the 

 destruction of all eucalyptus trees has 

 been ordered. It appears that the tree 

 favours the generation of a terribly 

 dangerous dragon-fly, which attacks all 

 living creatures, and whose sting is 

 fatal within a few minutes. 



Are Sunny Seasons best for 

 Colouring Fruit ? — According to my 

 observation, they are not. Probably no 

 one will remember a brighter or sunnier 

 year than 1884 ; but I am sure many 

 will recollect seasons in which grapes, 

 peaches, apples, etc., were much higher 

 in colour than last year. There are 

 few better places in which to form a 

 correct opinion on this point than at 

 shows where the best fruits from many 

 parts are exhibited ; but throughout 

 all last year I did not, so far as I had 

 an opportunity, see anything of extra- 

 ordinary good colour. Indeed, if we look 

 over the reports of shows, we will find 

 in the majority of instances that the 

 gi-apes, especially black Hamburghs 

 and Muscats, were deficient in colour. 

 In the orchard here. King of the 

 Pippins apple always does weU. Dm-- 

 ing the very bright weather in July 

 and August we were looking forward 

 to its being higher than usual in colour' ; 

 but when we came to gather it in 

 October, we were sur]irised to find it 

 much less red and bright than we have 

 had it in what might be termed dull 

 seasons, and this applied to many other 

 varieties, and indeed to apples in 

 general in South Wales. — J. M. 



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