1885 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



227 



hear of a good many markets where they get 

 about as much a pound for one as for the 

 other. Tender such circumstances, the ex- 

 tractor is, without question; ahead. I am 

 glad to notice that your article includes a 

 broader field than bee culture alone. It is 

 getting now so that in every department of 

 life one who is careless and slip-shod must 

 take a back seat, and work for small pay. 

 In our new book on potato culture, which 

 our printers are now at work on, friend Ter- 

 ry mentions passing a neighbor on the road 

 while he was hauUng his fine large potatoes 

 to market. Friend Terry had sold out his 

 whole crop at a big price, but his neighbor 

 was drawing back home a load of small 

 scabby potatoes, because the market was 

 overstocked. As they stopped to talk a min- 

 ute, this neighbor remarked: '' Well, Terry, 

 you are a lucky dog." The author of the 

 book replied that there wasn't any luck 

 about it; it was simply hard work and com- 

 mon sense. 



PURE GERMAN CARP. 

 Directions and Instruction!?. 



FKEEZING ()VEI{. 



Concluded from last number. 



ffllS is something thatmust be prevented, in or- 

 der to save the fish, more especially in the 

 Northern States. If there is a strong spring-, 

 or if fed by a tile ditch that affords a strong 

 stream, there is no danger of the freezfjig 

 injuring the flsli, unless it is extremely cold; then 

 they can be kept open by using the a.\ twice a day. 

 Apian that will never fail is this: Where yom- 

 bank is the most suitable, cut a ditch near the 

 l)Ottom into the bank far enough so that a 

 l)ei"pendicular line will make the top about 

 four feet above the high-water mark in pond; then 

 take tile or box; run it horizontally, forming an 

 elbow, then perpendicularly. To illustrate, see 

 drawing. 



FIXING A C.Vltr-l'OM) SO IT CA.N T KlfKKZE OVER. 



A, high-water mark in pond. 



B, bottom of pond. 



C, the bank. 



D, the air pipe or box. 



E, height of water in pipe. 



It being about four feet to the water from top 

 of ground, it will never freeze, therefore the air 

 will be passing under the ice in the pond all the 

 time. In a very cold climate the pipe can be run 

 further in the bank, which will make it deeper to 

 water from top of tube. As soon as you get the 

 banks, levees, and dams completed, set out peach, 

 cherry, or willow trees, and sow grass seed of dif- 

 ferent kinds. 



Now I believe wo have you ready for the carp. I 

 would advise you to get the three kinds. They will 

 not mix, and when prepared for the table there is no 



perceptible difference in them. Some prefer the 

 scale, because they are easily cleaned. The mirror 

 is the most rapid grower. 



C.\RE OF CARP. 



They are naturally vegetable feeders, but will 

 not disdain worms, larva?, and other animal sub- 

 stances. Where there is not an ample provision of 

 vegetable food, the fish may be supplied with 

 crumbs of bread, leaves of cabbage, lettuce, etc., 

 sweet or Irish potatoes, or with corn, rice, and 

 other cereals, either entire or ground, and which 

 should be boiled in plain water before administer- 

 ing. No more food should be given than the flsh 

 can conveniently consume without leaving any to 

 sour and spoil. You should endeavor to feed al- 

 ways about the same time, and at the same place in 

 the pond. If you wish to teach them to come at a 

 signal, choose some sound or whistle, and always 

 make the same before feeding them. After the 

 cold weather sets in they need no feed, as they bury 

 themselves in the mud whenever the temperature 

 of the water renders it necessary. In this condition 

 they should not be disturbed. I have found by ex- 

 perience that about 12 o'clock at noon is the best 

 time to feed, for two reasons. 1. The water is in 

 the best stage; 2. We feel more like spending a few 

 moments just after dinner, than at any other time 

 in the day. And I tell you, my friends, when you 

 get carp you will find more enjoyment in feeding 

 them and watching them eat, than in any thing you 

 ever watched before. Think of seeing them come 

 up, rolling over one another after the food, acting 

 like so many pigs. 



The carp, as I told you in my previous article, 

 are not carnivorous, and should not be in a pond 

 with other kinds offish. They do not destroy their 

 young, unless almost starved. Don't put them in 

 with other flsh. Be sure your pond is clear of all 

 flsh, or any tiling that would destroy either spawn 

 or carp. If you have flsh in jour pond, drain it and 

 clean out the nuul. If you can not do that, then 

 drag the pond with a good seine until you get it 

 clean. If this fails, the last remedy is to get some 

 experienced hand to blow them out with dynamite. 

 I am opposed to this, but it is the last resort. 



The ponds in which carp are placed should have a 

 muddy bottom, and be well provided with aquatic 

 plants, especially such as produce seeds that drop 

 into the water when ripe. The flsh should have 

 something to attach their eggs to, such as leaves 

 and stems of living plants in the water or grass, 

 and brush around the edge of pond, where the wa- 

 ter is not too deeu. 



Now you have the pond completed, and the carp 

 in it, the next thing is to get them out. Well, if you 

 want to get out a few small fry for your neighbor, 

 use a small minnow seine. Feed your carp, then 

 run around with one end of seine; but you must 

 be quick and still about it. If you do not catch 

 enough the first time, wait an hour or so, being still, 

 then tiy again, and so on until you get what you 

 want. 



C.A.TCHING THE CARP. 



I have a pole, line, and hook. I bait the hook 

 with stale light bread, which floats on the surface 

 of the water, and the carp come to the top to suck 

 it down. As soon as they feel the hook they start to 

 run, and I then tighten on the pole a little, then 

 slacken and play with them until I worry them out, 

 and land them without further trouble. After 

 catching one in this way they become very wild and 



