i5° 



FIELD AND FOREST. 



the year 1574, forty-six years before the 

 Pilgrim Father's landed on the New Eng- 

 land shore. I found another hemlock of 

 smaller size whose life stretched back far 

 beyond the discovery of America by Co. 

 lumbus. I omitted to record its exact size 

 and age, but recollet that it was a good 

 deal over 400 years old. 



I should say that 300 years would be 

 not far from the average age attained by 

 hemlocks in this region, and presume that 

 spruce when allowed to grow, will live 

 quite as long. White pine probably grows 

 faster. I should like to have some one 

 who has opportunity to make the examina- 

 tion, report the note of growth in other sec- 

 tions. How fast do white ash, rock maple 

 and other hard woods grow? 



This is an important matter for persons 

 proposing to make plantations of forest 

 trees, and I would suggest whether the rate 

 of growth of all native trees can not be bet- 

 ter ascertained by such examination ihade 

 at home than by deductions from the ex- 

 perience of planters in other climates and 

 on other soils. It would also be interesting 

 and instructive to know the difference in 

 growth caused by such cultivation as is 

 recommended for artificial plantations. — - 

 C. G. A. in Maine Farmei . 



Polypodium Vulgare on Trees. — 

 I have found a birch tree (Bettila nigra,} 

 with a large amount of Polypodium vul- 

 gare, growing upon its trunk several feet 

 above the base, after the manner of P- 

 incannni. It is a clear case as no more 

 of the plant was to be seen in the vicinity 

 and there were no rocks near by. The 

 roots have taken a firm hold in the clean 

 living bark, so that I collected my spec- 

 imens with a knife leaving the bark at- 

 tached. I would be glad to know whether 

 this habit has been observed before. — 

 Lester F. Ward. 



Relaxing Insects. — For relaxing I use 

 what is termed here a stone butter pot, 

 a low, wide mouthed sone-ware jar, with 

 a cover, holding about a gallon, which I 

 half fill with clear sea sand, then pour 

 in enough water to dampen the sand, 

 adding a few drops of carbolic acid to 

 kill all parasites and prevent the forma- 

 tion of mold upon the insects, should they 

 remain in the sand pot for any length of 

 time. Place the insects to be relaxed on 

 a piece of thin muslin, or if on pins, push 

 the pins in the sand, cover the pot with a 

 damp cloth and put on the lid. In a few 

 days they can be set as if freshly taken. 

 I find that if left in too long they will rot 

 and drop to pieces. — James S. Johnson. 



Late Arrivals at Zoological Gar- 

 dens, Philadelphia. — 1 Zebu, (Bos in- 

 dicus.) Born in the garden. 1 Cuban 

 Chamelion; 1 Tree Boa, (Epicrates an- 

 gulifer ;) 2 Angora Goats, (Capra hircus.) 

 Boin in the garden. 2 Woodchucks, 

 (Arctomys mona<;) 1 Raccoon, (Procyon 

 lotor;) 2 spotted Salamanders, (S. mac- 

 ulosa ;) 1 Bactrian Camel, (C. bactrianus.) 

 Born in garden. 4 Alligators, (A. misssis- 

 sippianus ;) 1 Ruffed Grouse, (Bonasa um- 

 bellus;) 2 White Rabbits, (Lepus cuni- 

 culus;) 8 garter Snakes, (Eutania sirtal- 

 is; 2 Water Snakes, (Tropidonotus sipe- 

 don;) 1 Common Bittern, (Botaurus mi- 

 nor;) 1 Red Fox, (Vulpes fulvus;) 1 

 Kangaroo Rat, (Hypsiprymnus rufescens.) 

 Born in garden. — Arthur E. Brown, 

 Sup't. 



Erratum. — Our readers will please 

 correct the error on the first page of the 

 January and February issue, in the title 

 head, reading 1878 for 1877. The whole 

 edition was " off" before it was noticed. 



