44 NATURAL FOODS OF WILD DUCKS 



places, and duck breeders should see that the carp are 

 not introduced in their waters or should destroy them, 

 if possible, in waters where the natural foods for ducks 

 are planted. Mr. Howe says he has no carp in his lake. 

 In the letter above referred to Dr. Pierce says : 

 "I have planted a good deal of wild celery seed, Val- 

 lisneria spiralis, which I have obtained from Mr. Jasper 

 B. White and from other individuals in different parts of 

 the country, with very good success. I succeeded much 

 better by planting the seed of the wild celery than by 

 planting the roots of the same, and it is much cheaper to 

 obtain the pods of the wild celery and plant them than 

 to undertake to transplant the plants. My lakes and 

 ponds are now quite well seeded with this plant. I have 

 also planted a good deal of the Potamogeton pectinatus, or 

 'fox-tail grass,' and with good success. I regard the 

 fox-tail grass as one of the most valuable duck foods be- 

 cause it seeds prolifically and, also, produces bulbs 

 which are much sought after by many species of ducks ; 

 in fact, by all the species ; also by wild geese. 'Fox-tail 

 grass' spreads very rapidly. When once produced in a 

 duck preserve, one need have no fear of its ever running 

 out or failing to grow abundantly. 



"I have several other species of Potamogeton which 

 are indigenous to my lakes and ponds, one of which is 

 well worthy of mention, as it is prolific in the abundance 

 of seeds which it produces and spreads rapidly. I refer 

 to the Potamogeton lucens. Potamogeton persillus also 

 grows to a considerable extent in my lakes and ponds 

 and produces considerable seed. This year a most boun- 

 tiful crop of water chinquapins, or Nelumbo lutea, have 

 made their appearance in my lakes and ponds, covering 



