91 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



A Kansas Snake Dbn. — We are accustomed to give a very 

 limited credence to the marvelous snake stories -which are in- 

 termittently offered to us by the ambitious and imaginative 

 reporter. The serpent which figures in the columns of the 

 morning paper, with many yards of length, innumerable 

 coils and terror inspiring fangs, proves, when the account is 

 sifted down to the facts, to be a very attenuated and a very 

 harmless replile after all. Sometimes, however, to do the 

 much-maligned reporters credit, the snake does exist in all 

 his pictured enormity or multiplicity, as the case may he. 

 Writing to a correspondent for the confirmation of an account 

 of a Kansas anake den, we have received the following: 



Concordia, Kan., Aug. 3, 1878. 

 Editor Fobrst and Stream : 



Tn Teply to your inquiry I would say that there is a snake 

 den tialf a mile from my house, and I was there on the 

 day it was discovered. A little boy found it, and came for 

 me to help him kill them. I stood at the hole and killed for 

 about one hour, and in that time killed over three hundred. 

 Then 1 had to quit and go home; I gave out, and my bands 

 were all blistered. This was in 1870. and in 1877 we killed 

 100 ; and in 1878 we killed some 1.500 or 1.000, but the first 

 year— '76— we killed altogether 4,096. In all we killed some- 

 thing over 5,709, besides which hundreds were killed that I 

 did not count, for there would be some days from 100 to 500 

 persons on the grounds ; Suiidaysniosily would be the largest 

 crowd. This year there were several boys who went, down 

 into the den avid threw them out with their naked hand. The 

 snakes were cold as ice and very numb ; let them lie in the 

 sun five or ten minutes and thev could run very fast, but ihey 

 are rather harmless snakes. If you crowded on them they 

 would show fight. One day in April we killed 779. I have 

 seen, I should think, at one time, from 100 to 200 alive in a 

 heap or pile. It was a sight to see 4,000 in one pile. People 

 came from 100 to 200 miles to see them. They have quit 

 coming out this year. T. R. Gkavbs. 



P. S.— It is no humbug i thousands will testify to it. 



Iguanas.— Two living iguanas were recently receivedat the 

 Smithsonian Institution. They are a large species of lizard, 

 Iguana lubercutata. and are found in the West Indies and 

 South America. These specimens came from the island of 

 Navaza. They are about equal in size, about two feet long, 

 having a dark skin and a peculiar serrated or sharp-toothed 

 ridge or crest along the whole dorsal line. Beneath the throat 

 is an extensive pouch or dewlap, which they inflate when 

 under excitement. They are very dull and lhhargic in the 

 shade, but become lively and active when exposed to the sun. 

 They live among the trees and also run on the sand and 

 even into burrows, and swim with great activity in the water 

 They are omnivorous and feed upon fruits, leaves of certain 

 plants, insects 'ind eggs of birds whose nests they are said to 

 search for. Their eggs are deposited in the sand along the 

 Bhores of the sea, and'hatcb from the heat of the sun. When 

 enraged they are very fierce in aspect, and will often attack 

 an intruder, their sharp teeth inflicting quite a wound. Their 

 appearance at this time is quite formidable, the dewlap dis- 

 tended, the eyes glaring, and the animal standing erect and 

 threatening. " They are considered a very great delicacy, and 

 are hunted in all of the islands for food, in some of them to 

 such an extent that they have become pretty well exterminated. 

 They are usually taken by slipping a nooBe attached to a short 

 stick over their heads, suspending tbem by a jerk. Where 

 they are shipped to distant parts of the island or mainland it 

 is said they are sent alive, the mouth being sewed up or tied 

 in such a way that they cannot bite. Henry Hoban. 



A Garter Fcti, of Snakes.— Nantucket, Mass , Aug. 4.- 

 — Mr. Editor : Last Friday a man here killed a garter-snake,- 

 in the pouch of which were sixty-two little squirming serpents, 

 Jaok Curlew. 



ajflmals kbobived at central park menagerie tor week end 



ins Ana. 10 One Azaras fox, rulpes azarm, presented by Mr. R. J. 



Wneelan, N. T. City; one Mexican deer, Cervus mexicanus, bora tn the 

 menagerie; one African elepn&nt, Etephas afrimnus ; one com] 

 rnli, Patiana mnlina, presented by Editor Forest and Stream and 

 Bod and Gun ; two ravens, Corvus carnivorus. presented by Mr. Ar- 

 thur J. Colbarn, Boston. W. A. Conklin, Director. 



Arrivals at the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens for Week 

 Esding Tuesday, Jclv 43.— two land tortoises, Testuda tabulate, pre- 

 sented ; one great horned owl, Bubo virgin ia7ius, presented ; one bald 

 eagle, UaUattu* tencocephalvs, presented ; one red-headed woodpecker, 

 Melamrpes erythrccephalus, purchased. 



Arrivals at the Philadelphia Zoolooioal Gardens for Two 

 Weeks Ending Acg 6.— Two great horned owls, Bubo riroinianvs, pre 

 sented; one gray squirrel, Scivrus carclinenttis, presented; three 

 beaver, Castor fiber var. canadensis, born tn Garden ; one diamond 

 rattlesnake, Crotalia adamantena, purchased ; one ground rattlesnake, 

 Caudisonia miliaria, purchased ; one whip snbke, Boscantm JtagoUi- 

 forme, purchased ; one black snihe, Boscanion constrictor, purchased; 

 one spreading adder, Hetirodon plaiyrinos, purchased. 



Qfoodlnnd, $mn mad §zrden. 



THIS DEPARTMENT IS EDITED BY W. J. DAVIDSON, 8EO. N. Y. 

 HORTICULTURAL 800LETY. 



HARDY EVERGREENS. 



ON visiting almost any nursery in the country, one is 

 struck with t.e large space devoted to deciduous trees 

 and shrubs, to the exclusion, we were about to say, of ever- 

 greens. It is well known that many, if not all, of the Chinese 

 and Japanese deciduous plants ripen their wood belter, and in 

 consequence give a better account of themselves here than in 

 eitheT Britain or on the Continent, but we are glad to see that 

 some of our larger nursery men are devoting their strength to 

 the selection and cultivation of choice evergreens, that are not 

 only most beautiful for lawn decoration or grouping, but per- 

 fectly hardy as well. The exhibit made by S. B. Parsons & 

 Sons Co., at the summer meeting of the N. Y. Horticultural 

 Society, was one of the best ever brought together, and drew 

 as much attention as even the choice roses, the floral designs, 

 or the rare exotics. It waa arranged under seven classes of 



Hardy Ornamental Plants, viz.: Ornamental Evergreens; a 

 collection of twenty-three distinct varieties of Retinosporas j 

 a collection of twenty-seven distinct varieties of Japanese 

 Maples ; a new plant of late introduction, of great beauty, 

 Pyrus Manlei Tricolor ; the new variegated Catalpa Syringse 

 folia aurca ; and two collections of striking Hardy Variegated- 

 leaved plaDts. Among the Ornamental Evergreens, the most 

 noticeable were Nordman's Silver Fir, broad aud massive with 

 finely curved leaves and branches, turning up their silvery 

 linings to the light. The Weeping Silver Fir is compact and 

 graceful, perhaps the most regularly curved of all weeping 

 evergreens. Hudson's Bay Silver Fir is a very small dwarf 

 variety, of a rich dark color. P. Nobilis, the most richly 

 colored of all the Silver Firs, was represented by a very blue- 



freen specimen, quite unique and picturesque in its form 

 'arson's Silver Fir has long, exceedingly recurved leaves, 

 whitish underneath ; it is one of the most notable and rare of 

 Silver Firs, and is also quite difficult to propagate. The Com- 

 pact Silver Fir, of which a fine specimen was shown, is the 

 hardiest, andpeihaps the most symmetrical of all, showing well 

 the special feaiures of Messrs. Parsons & Sons Co '8 exhibit, 

 which is their admirable system of pruning or pinching (for it 

 is often no more than that), whereby all formality is avoided 

 and the plant is given the most perfect habit of which it is 

 susceptible. The effect is natural, but at the same time al- 

 most an improvement on the intention of nature, even under 

 the most favorable circumstances. 



Among the Spruces exhibited were noted especially the 

 Weeping Hemlock, most perfect and exquisite of evergrtens ; 

 Weeping Spruce, most picturesque and characteristic, with 

 pendent branches hugging the stem in grotesque forms; the 

 Conical Spruce, perfectly symmetrical without pruning, and 

 therefore on this, as wefl as on other accounts, deservedly 

 popular ; Gregory's Spruce, broad, massive and dwarf, a 

 veritable evergreen hemisphere ; the Oriental Spruce, waxy 

 in its lustre, dark and compact; the Black Spruce, with its 

 neat dwarf habit and wonderfully symmetrical outlines ; Max- 

 well's Glory of the Spruces, having an unusual amount of gold 

 and silver "markings on tbe leaves; the Tiger tail Spruce, 

 Abies polita, of a rich golden hue and very marked in form. 

 In this group was also the curious Umbrella Pine of Japan, 

 Sciadopilis verticillata, which grows in such rare and unusual 

 forms. The collection of Retinosporas shown by this firm 

 was perhaps the most complete ever exhibited at any horti 

 cultural meeting in America. The whole group was very 

 remarkablp, indicating the utmost diversity of form, both of 

 foliage and erowth, whioh hardy plants are capable of assum- 

 ing. Weeping platits here seem to obtain to positive exag- 

 geration, forms fern-like, thread-like, compact, erect, and 

 spreading. Their colors also, silver, golden, blue and green, 

 !i<kl greatly to the charms of these positively hardy evergreens, 

 and their special aptitude to the American climate renders 

 them fitted to the work of the landscape gardener to a degree 

 not yet appreciated. 



Among the delicate.and exquisite hardy plants of the ex- 

 hibition the Japanese Maples are as curious as they are inter- 

 esting. Messrs. Parsons & Sons have been able to show larger 

 plants this season of these, their special introductions, and 

 consequently their beauties, were shown to better advantage. 

 Twenty-seven distinct varieties were grouped together ; more, 

 we believe, than have ever been exhibited at one time either 

 in this or any other country. The two collections of hardy, 

 varieeated leaved plants contained over seventy of the most 

 remarkable cut-leaved, variegated aud weeping deciduous 

 plants that can possibly be gathered together, and include 

 Variegated Ashes, Purple Beeches and Huzels, Golden Oaks, 

 Weeping Larches and Beeches, etc., etc., all with the foliage 

 preserved in the most perfect manner. In conclusion, we 

 would say that these plants are peculiarly adapted for small 

 places, especially if restrained by a little simple pruning. As 

 a means of producing effects in groups on the lawn, they are 

 scarcely as yet recognized by the landscape gardener; they 

 are gaining in public estimation every day, however, and it is 

 this fact that made this exhibit so interesting and valuable, 



Hanging Baskets. —Baskets of living plants may easily 

 be had in perfection, so long as care is taken to select those 

 best suited for the purpose aud location. After all, perhaps, 

 the most satisfactory is a wire basket, which should be painted 

 of some neutral tint, as bright colors quite destroy the effect 

 of the flowers, which should be gay enough of themselves 

 without any addition in the way of paint. Inside the wire 

 work a thick layer of green moss should be put, so as to pre- 

 vent the soil from dropping through, and the plants then 

 arranged with regard to the season and place they will 

 occupy. For summer decoration there are numberless plants 

 that can be utilized ; even some of our drooping annuals can 

 be made to do duty, and will be found very useful Phlox 

 Drummondi, Sweet Alyssum, Lobelia gracilis, Maurandia, 

 and even the morning glories and Portulacas can be used to 

 advantage if the basket is large enough. Iresinea, Cenlaureas, 

 Coleus, Ivy-leaved Geraniums, Scarlet Geraniums and Nastur- 

 tiums, aud a host of other plants may be named as effective, 

 both for summer and winter use, either for their color, for 

 their gracefulnes, trailing or twining habit. For winter, 

 more especially for halls or dry situations, the vatious Eche- 

 verias, Sedums, and plants of a like character, will be found 

 very useful, and may be arranged in the sides of the basket 

 with the taller and drooping plants on the top. A window- 

 box, made of wood and lined with zinc, suspended by four 

 cords or wires, up which can be trained creepers, also makes 

 a very pretty ornament for a room. The great point as re- 

 gards keeping plants in baskets or boxes fresh and in good 

 health, is to give them plenty of water during the growing 

 season, but more sparingly in winter, and to keep the leaves 

 clean : this is imperative. If baskets are hung high there 

 should be some means of lowering them, which will suggest 

 itself according to circumstances, as it is very troublesome 

 getting up to them every morning with steps. This alludes, 

 of course, to large baskets. For small ones, the best and 

 really only safe plan is to take them down and dip them 

 thoroughly, say twice or thrice a week, and let them draiD off 

 before being placed in position again. Should any of our 

 readers wish any information on the subject, or a list of plants 

 suited for winter or summer use, we will he happy to" give 

 him or her all the benefit of our experience. 



Ufa? £ftftf£ 



ST. PAUL BENCH SHOW, 



St. Path., Minn., August 9, 1878. 



Kottob Forest and Stream : 



1 send rule which will govern at the forthcoming field 

 trials. The trials commence Sept. 10, ou grounds near Sauk 

 Centre. Mr. Beaupre, the President ot the Club, and other 

 members of the committee, go up to Sauk Centre on Monday 

 to locate the grounds, and secure them as far as possible from 

 baing shot over. They will also arrange for camp, tents, etc. 

 The following gentlemen have accepted the Committee's invi- 

 tation to act as judges on the field trials • John Davidson, 

 Monroe, Mich. ; C. J. Butler, Stillwater, Minn. ; Win. Mulli- 

 ken, St. Cloud, Minn. The following railroads will carry 

 dogs free, to and from the show, when accompanied by their 

 owners: Penna. Central, Erie, Atlantic aud Great Western, 

 Wabash. Great Western of Canada, Michigan Central, and all 

 of tbe Minnesota Stale railroads. Tho entrance fee for any 

 of the stakes in the field trials will be ,f 5. The entries for 

 the Bench Show close on the lftth inst Entries for the field 

 trials can be made any time during the Bench Show. The 

 following rules, as revised, will govern the field trials in tbe 

 various stakes : 



aged pointer and setter stakes. 



Bole 1. — Managers of field trials ninst sdvertiee the names of 

 the judges before the trials take place, and in tbe event, from any 

 cause, that any Judge or judges are prevented from aetiog, then 

 the owners of the dogs entered shall have the power to elect a 

 judge or judges to fill all vacancies, each owner ol the doga entered 

 to be entitled to one vote. 



Kule 2.— Two dogs shall be run at a time, to he drawn by lot in 

 the usual manner, except that no two dogs which are owned or 

 trianed by one person shall he run at once. When two such dogs 

 are drawn together, one shall be run only, and he with another 

 dog which shall be immediately drawn, and the dog which was 

 drawn and left over shall ho drawn for again. If at the latter end 

 of a trial, it be found impossible to avoid running two doge to- 

 gether which are owned or trained by the same person, it may ho 

 permitted. 



Rule 3.— In this class, if dogs do not drop to shot, hnt remain 

 quiet in ft manner not liable to do any harm, it shall not be con- 

 sidered a demerit. 



Rule 4 —If, in the opinion of the judges, the day is such that a 

 dog, running from 12 M. to 2 r. M., runH under disadvantages ow- 

 ing to tho weather, the judges may, if the owners demand it 

 give such dogs another trial. 



Rule 5 —Each dog shall have the opportunity of making five 

 points on game. HavlDg made five points they shall be taken up 

 and their positive totals for merit shall be reckoned according to 

 the ecale of points in Rule G. 



Rule 6 — Positive points of merit; For each point, 5 ; hacking 

 8. General points i Nose, 1 to 7 ; pace, 1 to 10 ; style, 1 to 5 '• 

 quartering, 1 to 5 ; retrieving, to 5. 



N.gativo points for demerit: Each flush to count a lost oppor- 

 tunity only ; refusing to back, 3 ; each chase, 3 ; breaking shot 8- 

 false points, 2. Two chases on birds shall put a dog out of the 

 stakes. 



Rule 7.— In oaee of running off ties the brace shall have the op- 

 portunity of making five points on game. Ties can he divided by 

 the consent of all the owners or dogs making I he lies. Should it 

 be impossible to run off tbe ties the Bame day, (hey shall be run 

 off the day following. 



Rule 8.— No spectators are allowed nearer the handler or dogs 

 than seventy-five yards to the rear. No spectator or others shall 

 make any remarkB about the dogs or judges within hearing of 

 the judges ; such persons so offending shall be expelled from the 

 grounds by the iudgeB, who shall order tho special police to Bieot 

 snch persona offending. Should any handler of dogs annoy the 

 judges in any way, the judges shall order such handler of dogs tn 

 desist; should he Btili annoy the judge:, the judges shall order 

 such doge as Iib is handling, np and out of tbe race. The privi- 

 lege is granted the handler or dogs to ask the jndgea for informa- 

 tion or explanation that hasadirect beating on any point (| is.sn.e- 

 pending such question the handler of dogs shall order bie doga in ' 

 and cease to hunt until the judges have rendered their decision 



Rule 9.— Under the head of retrieving, the judges will only allow 

 those dogs the maximum number of points who do tho-r work 

 without the handlers going with them to show tbem the bird aud 

 without mouthing or mutilation. 



rtTFT STAKES. 



Rule 1.— Dogs over eighteen months old shall not be eligible for 

 the puppy stakes. 



Kulo 2.— All the rules foraged imd single dogs on pn»m y( > points 

 for merit, mid uegative points for demerit, nod general points 

 shall apply in the puppy stakes, except that a puppy shall only 

 have an opportunity to make Eve points on game, arid except in 

 running olt ties, when ho shall have an opportunity to male three 

 points only. 



Rule 3.— No point for merit shall be given for retrieving, and 

 none for demerit if a puppy fail to retrieve. 



BRACE STAKES. 



Tbe rnles shall bo tho same as those for all aged pointers and 

 BetteTB, except that two doge owned or trained by the same portion 

 may be run together ; and that in case one dog of Hib brace re- 

 trieves, and the other dog does not, only one-half the number of 

 points for retrieving shall be allowed. 



Tho judges will be given fnll discretionary powers to Bay when 

 a dog has a true or f«lse point, and to allow or penalize accord- 

 ingly. Also, in the case of a flush, the judges will be 

 Bretiooary power in penalizing. CHAS, Lincoln. 



Transportation.— The Chicago, Milwaukee and S . Pnul 

 R. K. will return exhibitors at one-fifth full fare, they paying 

 regular fare in going, on presentation of certificate issued by 

 the club, and will carry dogs free both ways. 



CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. 



The following novel execution I myself was an eye witness 

 to: 



My father's huntsman, '♦ Lige," was in addition to that po- 

 sition chief herdsman and shepherd on Ihe estate. He fully 

 appreciated the responsibility which, iu connection with some 

 peculiar eccentricities, made for him a reputation which was 

 widespread. As the country, with the exception of the 

 sparsely-settled plantations, was a wilderness, Ihe cattle bad 

 an almost unlimited range. " Lige " never went upon one of 

 his herdsman's rounds, therefore, without being fully equipped 

 with gun and bunting accoutrements, and generally followed 

 by several of his dogs. It was while starting upon one of 

 these expeditions that one of the dogs committed an offence 

 which cost him his life. Re killed h sheep. Most men would 

 have shot the dog on the spot, and ended the matter at once. 

 But " Lige "decided instead to bang him, and in the presence 

 of his whole pack. The place selected for tho execution was 

 the kennels, which were in tbe same enclosure as ''Lite's" 

 house. These consisted of two long sheds about five' feet 

 high, with wide projecting roofs, the beds being I welve inches 

 from the ground, divided into compartments three ft 

 for each dog. These were considered the best arr 

 for so hot a climate as that of Mississippi. On entering the 

 yard I found the dogs all in their places, looking as though 



