ELEVEN IMPORTANT WILD-DUCK FOODS. 



13 



germinate is unknown, but it is certain, so far as utility as duck food 

 in concerned, that they keep in perfect condition far into the succeed- 



ing spring. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Swamp privet is native from central Illinois and Tennessee, near 

 Nashville, south to Texas and Florida (see fig. 12). 



PROPAGATION. 



Fruits of swamp privet fully ripen upon the tree. The seeds, 

 being protected by a fibrous cover and the pulp of the berry, undoubt- 

 edly will stand shipment for ordinary distances. Prompt handling 



Fig. 11. — Seedlings of swamp privet. 



is advisable, however, and the usual precautions against fermentation 

 should be taken. The seeds should be sown in well-watered beds 

 and the young plants grown to some size before setting out. Col- 

 lected young plants and the offshoots produced by the rooting of the 

 tips of branches of older ones may be handled like those of the water 

 elm. 



EEL-GRASS. 



VALUE AS DUCK FOOD. 



Few who have written of the habits of sea brant have failed to 

 mention its fondness for eel-grass. The relation between this spe- 

 cies of bird and plant seems to be as close as, if not closer than, 

 that existing between the noted fresh-water pair, the canvasback 



