UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 465 & 



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Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey 

 E. W. NELSON, Chief 



JPJV&WU 



Washington, D. C. 



February 23, 1917 



PROPAGATION OF WILD-DUCK FOODS. 



By W. L. McAtee, Assistant Biologist. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 



Wild rice 4 



Wild celery 9 



Pondweeds 13 



Enemies of wild rice, wild celery, and pond- 

 weeds 20 



The arrowheads 21 



Delta potato 21 



Wapato 24 



Chufa 28 



Wild millet 32 



The waterlily group 35 



Banana waterlily 36 



INTRODUCTION. 



Information concerning the propagation of valuable wild-duck 

 foods is constantly requested by State game commissions, game pro- 

 tective associations, and sportsmen's clubs, and by individuals inter- 

 ested in the protection, preservation, and propagation of waterfowl. 

 The Biological Survey has endeavored to meet the demand by issu- 

 ing three publications 1 on the more important food plants of wild 

 ducks, by correspondence relating to local problems, and in certain 

 cases by special examination and report. The bulletins thus far 

 published have contained accounts of the value, nature, range, and 

 methods of propagation of 19 groups of plants comprising more 

 than 60 species. 



The present bulletin is a revision of the first two of these publica- 

 tions and. discusses the following plants suitable for wild-duck food : 

 Wild rice, wild celery, pondweeds, arrowheads (especially delta 



iBiol. Surv. Circ. No. 81, Sept. 9, 1911; and TJ. S. Dept. Agr. Bulls. No. 58, Feb. 7, 

 1914, and No. 205, May 20, 1915. 



Note. — This bulletin is for general distribution among persons and organizations in- 

 terested in the protection, preservation, and propagation of waterfowl. It supersedes 

 Biological Survey Circular No. 81, dealing with wild rice, wild celery, and pondweeds ; 

 and Department Bulletin No. 58, dealing with delta potato, wapato, chufa, wild millet, 

 and banana waterlily. 



