FOREST AND STREAM/ 



213 



It is very -well to romance upon these birds; but when 

 we have a clear, prosaic letter, asking us as an agricultural 

 authority whether they are a benefit or a pest to the great 

 agricultural community, it spoils the romance, destroy* the 

 poetry, and reduces all the fine stories to a simple question, 

 Do they do good or harm in the end" 



We have opened one of the sparrows occasionally, and 

 found its crop filled not with the most noxious of in- 

 sects, but with by far the greater proportion of the little 

 black cricket, the green chofer, and others of the most 

 harmless kinds of insects. Ws never found in the crops 

 of the sparrows opened and examined a single rose bug, or 

 any other bugs of the hard scale, or shelled beetles. 



in concluding this article, we would certainly say, that 

 we do not hesitate to urge the necessity of keeping them 

 away from grain fields, particularly rye and wheat. In 

 our large wheat fields they would prove the greatest ene- 

 mies, «nd if suffered to breed unmolested for a few years 

 would, we fear, prove more damaging to the Western far- 

 mer than even the occasional grasshopper visitation. 



In a future paper we shall speak of our native birds as 

 the friends of man, and give some reasons why they should 

 be carefully protected. Ollifud Quill. 



Wild Flowers in our Woods.— There are numerous 

 wild flowers in almost any of our woods that are the ob- 

 jects of our admiration. 'We have made a list of quite a 

 number of these, which we know by careful experiments 

 to be admirably well suited to cultivation in the garden. 



We mention first the Antenn.Tiia margorUiKxa, or the 

 pearly everlasting, which is one of the well known wild 

 flowers of our pastures and woods. It is a modest, unas- 

 suming little flower, of pearly scales, covering a tiny yel- 

 low centre. Who has not seen its little golden eye peeping 

 up from its quiet home? Do we not consecrate the tombs 

 of our loved ones with these blossoms of the "immortal 

 flowers?" Surely we love it, and its memory we would 

 ever perpetuate; hence we plant it in our gardens, and 

 make it an object of our tenderest regard. 



We often pass by as insignificant and unworthy our atten- 

 tion flowers that in other countries are held in the highest 

 estimation. Our humble pasture and woodland friend— a 

 flower that comes the nearest to what are called the Eng- 

 lish balsam pride, is an everlasting flower in its wild state. 

 It is well known in all our Northern States as "pearly ever- 

 lasting," from its very peculiar shade of color, being a 

 beautiful pearl, not to be seeu in any other plants. The 

 strictly botanical name of this plant T find to be Allien- 

 narid. Though closely related to the "life everlasting," or 

 balsam, it. is not the same plant, and should not be con- 

 founded with it. 



The little annual Graphalium potyaephattufii is a good 

 plant, but less of globe shape, and its' flower heads are of a 

 dingy grey, and no botanist would confound it with its 

 pearly friend, the perennial everlasting, which throws up a 

 number of stems of a foot in height, and are finely 

 branched. Theso stems are downy, with long, narrow, 

 woolly leaves, green on the upper surface, woolly on the 

 under, and when once seen are ever remembered. The 

 flowers grow in what are termed corymbs, or heads. These 

 heads, though not larger than a common pea, are composed 

 of many florets and pearly while scales, which give the 

 flower its beauty, and add much to its value as a Winter 

 companion in its dried state. This flower so much resem- 

 bles the French immortelle that it is often gathered from 

 our American pastures and woods to meet a raady sale at a 

 high price in Parisian markets. To collect and" dry theso 

 flowers may yet develop their market value, and we'would 

 like to suggest to some of our lady readers this pleasant 

 recreation, which may bo made quite profitable to them. 

 We have met with good success in our transplanting ex 

 periments, the flowers growing larger, more stocky, and 

 more fragrant. Will not some of our friends collect an 1 

 . color some of these flowers, and give us the result of their 

 experiments? 



Many other forest flowers are worthy of attention, and 

 our experiments with them may be noted hereafter. 



Ollipod Quill. 

 «■» 



Agricultural Theory.— In looking over a copy of an 

 English agricultural gazette, we were strikingly impressed 

 with the want of successful training of those who are des- 

 tined by choice and inclination to give themselves up en- 

 tirely to the extension of "practical education and a knowl- 

 edge of husbandry." Our American schools also fall 

 immensely below the standard wants of what constitutes a 

 thoroughly educated and practical agriculturist. And we 

 find that very few of those who have become quite success- 

 ful as agriculturists in Europe had anything approaching 

 what is called a liberal education. On the contrary, very 

 few of those cited adopted this as their calling until late in 

 life. 



Farmers' sons and laborers of common intelligence have 

 nearly always supplied this important field of labor, It 

 demonstrates to our own mind that farming is a business 

 which requires no small share of energy, attention, and 

 skill— that it cannot be set up as a tin shop, or with any 

 hope of success with no other education than our common 

 schools give upon this subject, or after one or two years 

 of labor with a common farmer. It requires an ingrained 

 love for the pursuits of agriculture, taught, as they Bhould 

 be, in the most thorough manner, every branch being fully 

 understood and loved, not because the young man has some 

 capital, and has become disgusted with city life, or is sen- 

 timental upon green fields and rustic life; but any young 

 man of only ordinary intellect, without any training at 

 schools of technology, or any other ology, if he will work, 

 and study at the same time the best appliances of his field 

 of labor, will be safe to stay upon the ground aud occupy 

 it, as he is just the man to reap the reward of his vocation. 

 Ollipod Quill, 

 ■«»» 



Sltp Propagation,— Our lady friends may with a little 

 care save themselves quite an outlay for plants, especially 

 if their garden is a large one and calls for the use of many 

 varieties. Procure shallow pans or saucers, in number 

 sufficient for your plant slips; fill these full of coarse sand, 

 and keep the same quite damp. Place these saucers in a 

 warm situation, and do not let the sand become dry. Into 

 this place the cuttings of the desired plants. All that is 

 necessary to success is to keep the saucer in full light in a 

 warm place in the sitting room, near a window, and the 

 ordinary heat of the room will do all the rest. As soon as 

 the plants have rooted they should be placed in earth, aud 

 will then grow well, Ollipod Quill, 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



E. B. P., Salem, Jlass., writes: — I am almost discour- 

 aged in my attempts at cultivation of small plants, fruits, 

 and even flowers, much as I love them. I am almost, ready 

 to believe what I have heard said, that "horticulture is 

 only a fight with weeds and insects." From your abun- 

 dant knowledge can you give me a word of consolation? 

 "•Never give up to the insects. Go to work at once. Hand 

 pick and kill what you can; give a decoction of quassia 

 and quinine chips through a tine syringe to one lot; ad- 

 minister sulphur in fine flower form to another, and to 

 others a dose of strong soap suds and tobacco water. Keep 

 on the watch and the slaughter for a week with persever- 

 ing industry. . Hire the boys in the neighborhood to kill 

 the big bugs by the hundred, and the small ones by the 

 pint. You will by these means be sure to cleau them out, 

 and you will have as fair a crop as any of your neighbors. 



As an aid to your efforts in the blossoming season of the 

 peach, the apricot, aud plum, hang upon the limbs of the 

 trees open mouthed preserve bottles, half filled with honey 

 water, or molasses and water, and you will catch quarts 

 of all kinds 0/ wasps and evil disposed insects. I always 

 use such precautions, and find my pay for my labor. Do 

 the same, and report your success. Ollipod Quill. 



JosEpn Omen, Illinois, writes to know whether quails 

 cat. the early corn. 



Quails do not depredate upon corn, although seen in our 

 corn fields near the woods at all seasons. Having the same 

 erroneous idea when quite a lad, I often wondered what so 

 many quails found to eat in the corn field, and thought I 

 would watch them carefully. I supposed they pulled up 

 the corn for the sweet kernel. I had observed a large flock 

 of quails busily at work in the corn field near the woods 

 day after day, "and noticed them very carefully. I found 

 their habits were just like the incidents related "in a former 

 number of Forest and Stream of a farmer boy's experi- 

 ment and observation in Ohio. His notice was particu- 

 larly called to the regularity of their operations in taking 

 row after row, and working the field, as it were. This in- 

 cident recalled vividly to mind my own observations aud 

 experience. On killing three of these quails, and opeuing 

 their crops, I found no corn, but innumerable striped and 

 chinch bugs, though not a single cut worm. I have since 

 that time made several experiments to test this fact, and 

 have found it true with one or two veTy trilling exceptions. 

 That the quail does not eat corn at some seasons I do not 

 say; but generally, when other food is abundant, I believe 

 corn to be the food least appreciated by them. 



" ^_^ Ollipod Quill. 



THE COCOANUT TREE. 



Phu.adelpuia., November 6ih, 1874. 

 Editor Forest a.tD Stream :— 



la your Answers to Correspondents about the cocoannt tree, ie there 

 not a mistake? I have ween many a one, and never saw one a bit like a 

 cherry tree in form, and think them very ugly . Those that I saw wero 

 some of them fifty feet high, and not a branch for thirty feet. They 

 grow like a palm— a bunch at the top, the nuts growing amongst the 

 leaves, and neither branch nor leaf for many feet from the ground. The 

 Iree is girdled from root to branchos with rings, and I think anything 

 but handsome. B. W. H. 



Your description is quite correct. The cocoanut belongs 

 to the family of palms. Tbo editor of this paper is unable 

 to ascertain how such an improper description as is re- 

 ferred to was admitted to these columns?— Ed.] 



the Mennel. 



DOG BREAKING.— No. 4.— RERTIEVING. 



IN England it is considered damaging to a setter or 

 pointer to allow them to retrieve, and it is argued that 

 the contact of dead game with the nose of either has the 

 effect of diminishing their susceptibility in scenting live 

 birds. In America few broken dogs can be sold unless 

 they can retrieve, and almost the first question asked, is: 

 "Can he fetch?" 



We confess we much prefer shooting over a retrieving 

 setter, and always train one of a brace to this usefulness, 

 and in our individual case have never had steadiness at 

 point or charge one particle lessened by it. Probably it 

 may be attributed to our strictness in breaking our dogs to 

 perfect obedience in dropping or charging and remaining 

 so until the order fetch was given. It is also held by 

 trainers abroad, that if a dog is taught to retrieve he 

 should be made first to point dead before, being allowed to 

 lift it. This is considered unnecessary by Colonel Hutch 

 inson, from whose admirable treatise on dog-breaking we 

 quote: 



"Some good sportsmen maintain that a retrieving setter 

 or pointer, on finding a dead bird, ought to point it until 

 desired to lift it. This training they hold to be advisable 

 on the ground that it conduces to the dog's steadiness by 

 diminishing his wish to run forward on seeing a bird fall; 

 but the plan has necessarily this evil consequence, that 

 should the setter when searching for the dead bird come 

 across and point as he ought, any fresh game, on your tell- 

 ing him to fetch it — as you naturally will — he must spring 

 it if ho attempts to obey you. Surely this would tend 

 more to uusteady him than the habit of lifting birds as 

 soon as found?" 



We believe, also, that the ordering of a dog to fetch 

 while standing a live bird which, in mistake, is thought to 

 be the one just killed, would tend to puzzle in a great 

 measure; but we likewise know that an intelligent animal 

 ■soon learns that after the report of the gun he is expected 

 to seek dead and fetch it, and if properly trained awaits 

 the command to do so, and in a majority of cases sees 

 where or about the direction of the bird's fall, and while 

 going for it, if ho wind3 a fresh bird, will point it, owing 

 to the difference and nature of the scent, and likewise its 

 situation. 



In this country the sportsman, as a rule, owns but one 



dog, and it must be his Better and retriever combined, and 

 therefore the most useful. 



We begin as soon as possible with our puppy, if we wish 

 to teach him to retrieve, by allowing him to play with a 

 ball, or an old glove thrown first a short distance from him, 

 each time allowing him to tug and pull at it when he brings 

 it. Increasing the distance gradually as you throw the 

 glove, and after he fetches, giving him a reward in the 

 shape of a morsel of food. The most difficult part of the 

 task, however, is when we wish and command him to 

 fetch when he has not the inclination to do so. Determi- 

 nation, and probably severity, will be required at this point, 

 and we have adopted this plan with success. When he 

 refuses the order, drag him to where the object lies, saying 

 fetch in a distinct tone, place it in his mouth, and by hold- 

 ing your hand under his jaws and forcing him to retain it, 

 lead him back to where you first stood, all the while saying 

 fetch. This may have to be repeated many times before 

 you succeed in gaining perfect obedience, and the patience 

 of the calmest temper is apt to be tried. We follow the 

 plan of rewarding again just as soon as the order is obeyed, 

 and we have stated our adoption of this plan from the 

 training of a six months old puppy alluded to before. 

 Having become successful in teaching him to fetch, as in 

 play, we oue day commanded him in a rather severe tone, 

 which he did not comprehend in the least, and would not 

 answer to; taking him by the neck we shook him rather 

 roughly, forced the object into his month and pulled him 

 after us. Feeling we had been too severe on the young 

 dog, we gave him a piece of biscuit, and in a few minutes 

 attempted the ordering again; he obeyed at once, and ever 

 afterwards we experienced no trouble whatever. A good 

 plan to confirm your dog to retrieving birds is to take him 

 to a pigeon match and allow him to witness the whole pro- 

 ceedings; but we advise that he should be taken into the 

 field on game first, and be thoroughly broken to charge and 

 to romain so until you order him to fetch; if he is not, 

 nothing would be more damaging. 



Dying- or Grief.— About two weeks ago a man named 

 Parcels, a blacksmith residing near Dobb's Ferry, went, 

 hunting "coons" at night. His companions consisted of a 

 neighbor, residing close by, and a faithful dog, apparently 

 a cross between the setter and fox hound. W hile search- 

 ing for game at Sneeden's Landing, on the Hudson River, 

 Parcels approached the brink of the Palisades, and by some 

 mishap lost his balance and fell down a distance of thirty 

 feet. His friend having missed him sought him, and by 

 diligent search found him lying where he had fallen, and 

 his faithful dog by his side moaning piteously. On attempt- 

 ing to approach the body, the usually friendly auimal 

 strongly protested by growls and threatening attitudes, and 

 even jumping forward whenever the effort at drawing nigh 

 was essayed. The mau seeing that his companion was se- 

 riously injured, went for aid, and in a short time returned 

 with a surgeon and some friends, but the dog, which lay 

 with its head across the body, refused to let them touch 

 the treasure it so faithfully guarded. They were at length 

 compelled to club him most unmercifully to drive him 

 away from his post. An examination proved that life was 

 extinct, so the remains w r ere placed in a boat and a piece 

 of canvas thrown over them. The dog, half dead from 

 the beating, on seeing the disposal made, jumped into the 

 boat also, and, seeking sholter under the cover, placed his 

 head across his master's face, and remained there until a 

 landing was effected. The body was then placed in a 

 wagon and conveyed home; but no sooner had it been cov- 

 ered than the loving friend again sought his old post. 



After the burial the dog became much depressed, refused 

 its food, and wandered listlessly about, moaning in alow, 

 nervous tone, and heedless of everything. He would pay 

 no attention to any of the inmates of the house, and all 

 their efforts could not cause him to manifest any signs of 

 lecognition. After dragging along for a week, apparently 

 without food or water, aud suffering from a severe nervous 

 prostration, he finally died — a martyr to his own love. 



Portable food for Doos. — Our readers may remember 

 that not long siuce we advised the use of a portable food 

 for dogs, especially where Western trips are taken by the 

 sportsman, when it is oftea very difficult to obtain proper 

 nourishment for pointers and setters. In response to our 

 recommendation Mr. John ICrider, of Philadelphia, has 

 lately imported from England a large, invoice of Spralt's 

 celebrated dog biscuit, a sample of which was handed u<> 

 for our inspection. It is manufactured in cakes of 

 about a quarter of a pound each, and composed of propor- 

 tionate parts of animal and vegetable matter, submitted to 

 great pressure; it is claimed to be proof against fermenta- 

 tion and putrifaction and is extensively used by sportsmen 

 abroad. Three or four of the biscuit, soaked for two or 

 three hours in warai water, will make an ample meal for a 

 dog doing hard work during the shooting season, and the 

 cost per pound is about equal, if not less, than that of re- 

 fuse beef. We are particularly pleased that a portable 

 food can now be procured by sportsmen, and should advise 

 again, that a similar article be manufactured in America, 

 feeling confident it would meet with a ready sale. The 

 Spratt dog biscuit has been tried by miray Philadelphia 

 sportsmeu, and we daily hear much in its praise. 

 <■> 



Advice to Purchasers of Doos,— After purchasing a 

 setter or pointer do not be discouraged, and do not con- 

 demn, if after he has been sent from a distance to you, ho 

 will not at once work as yon desire and expected in the 

 field. No matter ljyy-/ "yell a dog has been broken, it is 



