FOREST AND STREAM. 



leaves to cucIa piece, and plaining them separately in pc-ls 

 in some nice compost composed principally of peat and 

 sand. Thus treated, and plated in a warm, sliady corner 

 oT the greenhouse, the plants will grow away freely. This 

 is the time for such worls indeed, for dividing- up all such 

 Ferns as Ncphrolepvs, Onyclaum, Polypodiwin, 2?#i 

 p'enum, etc. , and in facial) that propagate themselves in 



this manner, as the. fronds are now in a quiescent stale, 

 and many of lliem just starting into growth. Another, 

 and a very interesting way of increasing Ferns, is by 

 means Of their > If any have been disap- 



pointed wilh the result of their efforts in this direction 

 heretofore, let them introduce a few pieces of peal, broken 

 bricks, or porous sandstone on the beds or benches on 

 which the plants stand, and allow the fronds to distribute 

 their own seed, taking care not to disturb Ihe surface, aud 

 their success will be certain. 



■»•♦■ 



Kfjl'ironiUA .i \ci;Uf. i.t-i.ouA.— Few plants arc so useful 

 or ornamenttillii winter as this. Planted out in a warm, 

 Cosy corner of the greenhouse where it gels plenty olTtghL 

 and sunshine, it will throw out. its lung, willow-like shoots 

 of glowing scarlet, the most charming of all floral wreaths, 

 aud the most useful For all loose, natural floral decorations. 

 Take two or three spikes of this with a spike of Eucharis, 

 bearing two or three flowers and a pearly bud or two, a 

 spike or two of Coilogyrie erislata, or any of the lovely 

 whilo orchids, or even a few while Camellias wilh their 

 . aud otic or two nice fronds of Pterin Iremula, 

 or of Maiden's. Hair Fern, and you have an arrangement 

 than which nothing could be more simple, rfhaite, or itU'ik- 

 ing, and which will give more pleasure than the most elab- 

 otately gotten Up ai rangement of mixed colors. 



-*•*• 



SELECTING LANDS IN FLORIDA. 



1'utnam, Ct., January 23d, 1877. 

 E Dixon Fomesr atsD Stukam:— 



1 have so many enquiring about Florida by letter, I 

 thought. 1 would write you. 



1 think the best lime to start from New England for 

 Florida is not before the first of November. The deer and 

 wild turkeys are then in good order, aud not as shy as they 

 will bo litter in the season. The ducks and northern biios 

 do not put in appearance much before the first of Decem- 

 ber, and are abundant from that lime Until the first of 

 April. In purchasing lands in view of building or raising 

 fruit, be particular about a healthy locality, and select at a 

 distance from the hammocks or swamps. Secure rich, 

 wooded pine lauds, rolling or high; they are to be had if 

 one is not too hasty to decide and will look around. Do 

 not buy an old worn out limueslead, but get dark soiled, 

 rich pine lands abounding in large trees. You will need 

 Die trees for lumber aud fencing. Do not, burn up the 

 waste wood, but pile it up to rot,, setting our, your orange, 

 lemon, and tig tiees, around Ihe piles of lotting, moulding 

 lumber, it is the best thing in the world lor bananas ana 

 all kinds of fruil trees. I speak I loin experience. I own 

 a large orange grove. It is well to have a small piece of 

 high hammock on your laud, for you sometimes need some 

 , i,, around different kinds of vines, But be careful 

 your place is not near any cypress swamp, lor it is said it 

 one sleeps wbere he Can see the limb of a cypress tree, it 

 is the linger of Death to him. Geokue F. Willis. 

 ♦«♦■ ■ 



In Ventura county there are a large number of ranches 

 ranging from 7, Out) to Uli, 000 acres, Which are aste Sed all 

 the way from $1,50 to $u an acre. Fifteen of these em- 

 brace 373,000 acres, and they contributed last year toward 

 the suo purl, of Government Jess than $1,200. Divide these 

 273,000 acres into 100 acre farms, and the county would 

 have, instead of a score or so of nomadic herdsmen, 2,720 

 families, who would contribute to tne support of schools, 

 churches, roads and public institutions iu a hundred-fold 

 ratio, and l lie same laud, under generous cultivation and 

 improvement would yield a handsome revenue to the State 

 and General Government. Santa Barbara county has made 

 rapid progress iu the direction of inhabiting these waste 

 has also Kern county, with her Central Califor- 

 nia Colony. — Sun Francisco Bulletin. 



AI. Riverside, San Bernardino counly, California, they 

 have 28 miles of irrigating canal, which waters 20,000 to 

 85,000 acres of land. This land, without irrigation, 

 would be woithless, not worth settling on; but with, irriga- 

 tion it is valued (very low, too) at ifcOO au acre, its products 

 selling each year lor more than the market p-fce of the 

 laud. The, locality has a Witter supply of 00,000 acres. 

 California has many valleys quite as well situated as River- 

 side, but it lakes time to prove what may he done wilh 

 land and water, aud most of them yet remain iu thorough, 

 unimproved aud unsettled A few such experiments as 

 that at Riverside (.where, as we understand, the canals 

 were mainly dug without capital and on the cooperative 

 plan) will explain the feasibility of like works in many 

 other parts of ihe Stale, and open the way to thou-auds of 

 prosperous farmers, and other thousands of day laborers. 

 —Hand Press, 



Every one who is at all acquainted wilh tie habits of Ihe 

 skunk, knows that it is an inveterate mouser as well us de- 

 stroy! rut other pests to agriculture; that it does not lie 

 inactive during winter, but searches over Ihe fields tor its 

 prey, which seldom escapes — as, being a digger as well as 

 a hunter, it possesses great advantages over oil) 

 of mice. 1 have been in the habit of observing the fieces 

 of the skunk, as well as of other animals, and rind that 

 the diet of the skunk is composed of mice, crickets, grass- 

 hugs, larvte, elc. ; in lad, we may say that ils 

 food is composed entirely of foes to the interests of the 

 farmer. I think it would be a wise policy to protect 

 skunks by legislative enactment for a few years, when, the 

 facts becoming known, I hey would not need legal protec- 

 tion. The farmer's wife holds. Ihe skunk in abhorrence 

 and dread as u poultry thief, but my observation and expe- 

 rience show that this fault of our friend is greatly exagger- 

 ated. My own loss in 12 years is very small, and if pro- 

 per precautious are taken there need be no loss of poultry 

 by skunks.— i 1 



$nswei{8 §0 f&ortiesgondmty. 



Ho Notice Token or Anonym 



L'ommuncatloni. 



B". P.. -One of our New England correspondents asks for ' 'a share and 

 Half chit tor. Wormvs in Doggs." We wish Dial success. 



B.a, Q , Waltoniau nub, New Haven. -Have untiled jou tlio docu_ 

 moats desired. 



I i ■ u.i i mi, formerly Df Utile fulls, N. ST., is requested to feud 

 his address to D. It. Eaton, of Peotouu, Illinois. 



T. II. II., Sheator, III,— Will you pleaecjzfvc mo your Opinion on bor 

 Ing the chamber of a 13 bore gun to tit a 10 shell? Arts. It would not 

 answer. 



F. li. 8., Jr., Norton, Conn. —Can hour all about the Dexter breech- 

 loader and buy one by addressing _£i. M. Smith, .Nell, 

 Ontario, I 



GaDONlA, Philadelphia.— Please send your real name and address to 

 Thus. Williamson, Lccsbnrg, Virginia. We have. uiUluidit. lie wishes 

 lo talk wilh yon about bass dies. 



1 1 a l.i , Vorgennes, Vt. - What is the best work on Ichthyology fat ibis 



' " inch would be within the reach or Ibotseot moderate means? 



Ans. Buy Prof. Gill's Fishes of .New lii 



s s. p., Bridgeport, Oonn,— I hove a lemon and white pointer dog, 

 imported In ulcro. Would the came be classified at a bunch show as an 

 imported or American bred! 1 Ans. As imported. 



C. E. W., North Milforu, Maine.— What can I get for a lire caribou de- 

 livered in New York or Philadelphia! Also what, is tbe price far live red 

 deer'.' Ans. The Dealers m animals Will pay $1'J for caribou. There is 

 no market at present for live deer. Usual price la $10 to 



ft MoCtTBOT, Dansville, H. Y, Having captured a wade-headed or 



bald euglo, I desire Id dispose of it. Wbattsits valoeS Wbi 



be disposed of 7 Five OjiilH missing from one wing. Ans. Address 

 I 'lias. I,Vn he & Pro., animal dealers S3 Chatham street. See advertise- 

 ment in this paper. 



• I ■"!,-, Co: i as, Highland, N. V.— Please inform me where, cau i pro- 

 cure central-Arc metallic cartridges of .35 calibre, H such are manufac- 

 tured? Ans. The Winchester Arms Co. make a, 33 central -Un. earn idee, 

 we know, but we are not .-are whether ihe t\ U. C. Co., do or not. You 

 can obtain tLem at retail from 11. C. Squires, No. 1 Couitlaud street, 

 this city. 



I'..'.:'.::..:, Dcrlin, Wis.— Where cau I purchase a telescope lor a rifle? 

 Dp you know ot any second hand for a 21 inch barrel! Is there any 

 Western manufactory? Ans. Your can obtain telescopic sights for rilles 

 pom almost any first class dealer in opticians goods. They arc so little 

 used, however, that no one, to our knowledge, makes a specialty of 

 them. 



.1. ,t. MoO., Natchitoches, La.— Please tell me what portion of Florida 

 is best roi raising vegetables? Do you know a small place of BOO Ot 300 

 acres, or less, for sale, near a railroad and good market] Ans. We have 

 mailed you a reply, and also turned your letter over to Col. J. 15. Oliver, 

 of tbe Florida Land Agency, 21 Park ltow, who will also answer jour 

 o.her queries. 



V. P., New York.— Will yon please inform roe what part of Illiuols, 

 or near Chicago, is the best for Bhooting, also the variety of game to be 

 found! You may include the Stale of Ohio. Is February a goood 

 month for ench sport! if not please name one? Ans. At Calumet, near 

 Chicago, you will probably get some duck aud suipe shooting in Feb- 

 ruary or Maich. 



W. S., House's Point, "N. Y.— Would you iuform me what to give my 

 spaniel, he has the distemper, and be seems hungry; what will I feed 

 him! He runs at tbe eyes and nose and kind or slobbeis at tbe mouth, 

 and breathes quite bad? Ans. (live your dog 15 grs. calomel, placing the 

 dry powder on the back of the tongue. QivcSgre. of quinine twice a 

 day, keeping the bowels moved, if necessary, with siohiI doses of calo- 

 mel. 



J. D. 11., New Ysri;.— Will you lie kind enough to give me tbepedi- 



, , ■■.-.. ...!, II. M Fiigatc.L'urraconta, oil Cape Ho.-: 

 Funny. Captain was by Plan to o.:i of .Jo.-ie, bred in IrC u 

 ..;nh:-, : any was by King put Of Betty, bred by Squire Pclfiey of 

 Dublin. You can see this pedigree extended In ourXinndl Register by 

 calling at our office. 



J. C. M., Mason City,— What is the best, point for bnnting and trap- 

 ping in Montana, and about the cost for one Mason, Starling from 

 Mason City? Would'ut $300 bo plenty tor three? we have our guns. 

 Ans. Co to Fort Benton by steamboat up the Missouri river, or by Pacific 

 Railroad and stage. Tbe best napping grounds lies abdnt 150 miles 

 south and southwest, of Fort Benton. We Cannot estimate the cost. 

 Should think $300 would he quite sufficient for three experience trappers 

 or woodsmen. It would not pay for tbe return trip, however. 



C. E. B., Bloomfield, N. J.— 1. Where cau I get good d uck shooting 

 about the Hist of Mareh, on Long Island or New Jersey shores, for about 

 two weeks! What would be a comfortable house to stay at, aud to 

 whom should I write to engage a room, boat, &ef 2. Can you toll me of 

 some person or firm who would blnu my Fonrssi' and SlBHiura for me, 

 do it well! Ans. 1. Probably at Good Ground, Long Island. Write 

 to Vt iu. Lane. 2. We can have your papers bound for 3011. 



14. M. L., Scraulon, Pa.-l. la. tie pointer bitch Teal of the large size? 



!■, i" been broken, and a retrieverJ What is ber color? 2. What is 



LadyTt'sculoi? Will she also remove* Ans. 1, Teal would probaoly 



come in the small class, but Young Hang, lowborn .-ee has been bred, 



.i ids. Shi Is liver aud while has never been broken. 



8, Lady Ti is white and lemon i - . . ■iot broken to 



to retrieve, (thjt is, setter:- and ; ;rsj Wt -. . -be is not. 



J. J. ft., Pittsburg, Pa.— From tbe symptoms you give and which are 

 too letigtny to print, your pointer bitch is trouulcd with wenus. Give 

 , powdered Aieea nut in thice doses of all giains each two 

 hours apart; four hours after the last dose give ber one ounce cuslor oil. 

 If you cau not get ihe Areca nut at your drug stores wide to itolberlon 

 & B.emer, No. 102 Nassau sueei, this city, who will -mil n. to you pre- 

 pared in proper doses. 



D, L. D,, Philadelphia.— The wider would like you to post him as to 

 the.proper manner in which to break a totlei pup before breaking him in 

 the Held next fall. The pnp is now six weeks old uud conies from pure 

 Irish (imported) stock. If thcie is i . rblislltd relative to the sub- 

 ject, will you kindly give address! Ans Do not commence to break 

 jour pup nnlil he is at least six luonlbs old. liny '-Dinks, Ma) hew A: 

 Iluicbinsou," ill Which work you will Bud full instructions. We can 

 send It; piiee 53. 



It. L. VV,, Mansfield, P.-Can Ely's wire cartridges and buckshot be 



shot out or a choke or modified r, , l.i -I g i Jti, and with good pattern 



and penetration! 1 tee in the pu| .-.., ,, ■ itcanbt done, while 



OtUJ , il e.auuot wllhout in 111 ,i .....le loader be 



choked-horcd! Ass. Buckshot can 1 



wire cartridges A mujKlfc- louder ran be choked bored if ii is not Loo 

 much worn at Ihe muzzle. Tin gun you allude lo has been sold. 



■ ■I u or, Cleveland, o. — w ,■ aeci and elr content 



bited at the Centennial byPuidj unci i tigny, Dougali, and tbe 

 other prominent London gunmakers returned to England by their respec- 

 tive owners, or left on sale wlih gun c\ . . , [ryj If left in 

 America I Should be glad to know wine application lor examination 

 with a view to purchase should 



■" - "i,- 



Greener guns are ail in tl B ' i mi land 



street, this city. Tbf 



Sportsman, Canton. -Will you please state the provisions of tne game 

 laws of this State, aud if you think best suggest some means or tei 

 ingllie slaughter of deer? Ans. Although the law says I ,,, 

 shall kill or chase an/moose or wild deer in any part or the Stale, save 

 only anil during the months of September, October, and Novem 

 Yet it, I- practically extended through Deeeuibev and January, by Ihe 

 very next sentence, which permits any person "to sell, csposo for sale, 

 i i "t, or have in his or her possession* moose, wild deer or frctll 

 venison, during (he month of September, October, November, December 

 and January." The penalty is §50. 



J. W. K.,Ayor.— 1. Do you think it makes any difference whether 

 the eyes and nose of a setter dog are light or dirk, oi in oilier words, 

 wined do you consider the moat reliable? 2 In picking out a pup at the 

 age of eight weeks old, what are the principal points? Ans. 1. Yes, 

 Ida. :k nrj-e and eyes are distinauishiug marks of high breeding, 

 adding much to the beauty of tbe dog. 2. Color and markings generally 

 come first in choosing a puppy. The strongest aid healthiest is peiceiv - 

 lanco, and the chest, lega, loins, hips, and hind-quarters, should 

 be examined, and the shape of the bead looked to. It is difficult 1 , 



a rule for selecting a puppy; the eye must be the judge, and sonn 



the runt of a litter turns out the best. 



RBA.WER, Buffalo, Iii your Issue or duly full, I nolicejui article bv ■ ,, 

 H. Kollius, Boston, on the subject or "canvas Canoes." lie «»] In 

 "will write directions and give measurements so any of your readers can 

 make one." I have written him but can got no answer. Can you iell 

 tn& where lean get the photographs of ihe boats ho mentions, and direc- 

 tionsfor making the same! or are there any makers of canvas i |l 

 Shaped boats! An-. We are not P. rsonally acquainted with Mr. l.'i.llin, 

 and do not know his address, but you may obtain it by writing lo John 



II. Treat, Lawrence,. II, -s. i Hie or Colvln's car , - , inoei thought 



by addressing Holbertou 4 Beemtr, 1U2 Nas.au street, this city They 

 are made iu Troy, we believe'. 



W. F. R., Covington. Ky.- 1 . What pari, of Colorado ca» 1 se 



under [he Homestead , Law for general farmlng.sucli as would raise a 

 and wheat! 2. Will the country around La Porle, Col ,an -■-■., ■< I, i, , 

 rotlUlromentef a. ia game plentiful around La Porle! Ans 1 Tib 

 is liule "general'' furniingin Colorado- Corn and wheal, are not namml 

 crops tin re, and crops are dependant largely upon civilization, w ' 

 BBuatly a co-operative enterprise of several farmers. 2. La Pone e on a 



nan, Tbe same stream at Greeley is largely used for irrigathra 

 Tneiv are antelope about La Porte, waterfowl in season, and lav i 

 west among tbe mountains. For bunting aud "ranching" combined, go 

 into the parks, aud adopt grazing) the most profitable fanning in 

 Colorado. 



TnArpBR, Belleville, Canada.— Canada seems to be on the decline for 

 fur, and as I see in your Trapping Department favorable report from 

 Mississippi and other States in the Southwest, can you tell mo anything 

 about Arkansas! I have heard that it was a good ground for fur and 

 not, hunted at all. Is it too late to go there, aud bow shall I reach it? 

 What part of the State shall I go to! Ans. The country watered by the 

 M.. Francis river and its tributaries is an almost unbroken swamp, nota- 

 bly the counties of Crittenden, Green, Craighead aud Mississippi, and 

 abouudsm bears, panthers, wild cats, wolves, deer, beaver, otter, mink, 

 coon, opossoms, etc. It is sparsely settled and but little known 

 Memphis and Little KockB. K. to Forest City; thence wagon 73 miles, 

 more or less, as far as yon wish to go. Trapping is done until ' " 

 There is no better field for trapping and hunting in the Southwest. 



Laukji:nt, Philadelphia.— Will yon please give me the name and color 

 for flies, for perch and bass fishing! Ans. Tbe Ferguson, William oi 

 Academy, and Page flies are the best known, and constitute a van, ■. 

 styles and colors sufficient to cover all waters. The Ferguson Hies are 

 generally very gaudy, with wings or bodies of brilliant eiimsou 11 

 and green. The Williamson and Academy flies are less showy, with a 

 more liberal combination of turkey browns and grays. The Page lly hna 

 broad scarlet ibis wings with guinea fowt scapulars. The Ferguson and 

 Williamson wings are not flat, but in shape resemble the majority 64 

 trout fly patterns, Wc do not put as great faith in scarlets a 



10, except for spoon dressing. Flies should bo small, c ,. 

 for very rough water. Duns and grey colors suit southern water! 

 blight colors for northern waters. There are no distinctive perch 

 as those fish rise readily to bass flies. 



U.S. P., New York.-l Would I find any shooting in the vicinity or 

 ,, Sfork on Washington's birthday, and would there be any in , 

 shooting at Jamaica, Bockaway, or surroundings? 3. Would not oral 

 and sugar cane be a paying plantation in Florida! Where are 1 1, 

 grounds! Are there any near Homosassa? What is tbe fare to lhal. 

 place, and what could land be purchased for! Am. 1. Depends entirely 

 upon the weather. If the warm weather continues there will be, no 

 doubt. 8. There is a line abandoned sugar plantation three miles from 

 Homosassa, on the river, which could bo bought. Sugar aud syrup, tire. 

 latter especially, pay well. Most parts of Florida are well adapted i 

 culture, especially on the interior south of Palatka, and on tbe Gulf. 

 1 soon become a popular staple, and the earliest produces will 

 find the best market. The fare to Uomo.-assa is about $85 fron 

 Vorlc by cheapest route, via Fernundina and Cedar Keys. Improved 

 laud can be bought for a few dollars, and wild land ror about nothing. 



W. U.S., Philadelphia.— 1. I have a Scott choke-bore breech-loader, 

 and in trying it atsix targets yesterday at 1 1 yards with B drs. or powder 

 and i. :.-. of No. 6 shot, found It to average 96 pellets. I bad lb 

 pink edge wads on powder and 1 dz. shot; have seen the gun do a rri lit 

 deal better, and would like, to know whether I had it. load, I ,, . , 

 that is a very poor target; the gun is 13 bore, cost, J-.00! .'. Pli a 

 un- the way to load sin IIS lo get tbe best patterns, and does it makl . fuj 

 difference whether tbe inside of metal shells are cleaned or e, , 

 Does 40 yurds range mean 40 yards from wbere you stand, or from thu 

 end of the barrels? and do they clean tbe barrels after e„eh sin 

 1 Your pattern is certainly a very poorouc. Yon do not give III 

 of yourgun, but we should suggest 3, drs powder and H tiz. shUI I 

 only two pink edge wads over powder. .'. You must learn this by ex- 

 periment as guns differ greatly. We prefer to have tbe i 

 shells cleaned. 8. From where you stand, and tbe cleaning of il 

 is optional. 



A. J. A., Manatee, Florida.— 1. I have lost a valuable pointer by a 

 .ailed in this locality, "staggers," which affects both doge ihi 

 horses) 2. My horses, Gordon setter, and English pointer, all recent 

 importutic ii.-, an: seriously annoyed by licks upon which insect powder 

 seems to have no effect. 3. 1 have lost onu young and valuable maro 

 from becoming ''sanded" i. 8., eating sand with grass or forage, causing 

 inflammation of bowels, and eubec qneutiy death-. What remedies or 

 course of treatment would you advise in. the three instances herein 

 named! i. Also what treatment would you recommend for So 

 hoises! 5. What is the correct amount of glanbcr salts for a doei 



a purge for both dogs and horses? li. Is there any bettor, laxu- 

 tion. for ordinary complaints of those animals? Ans. 1. This is due 

 digestion, causing flow of blond of the brain. Treatment: for !h< i 

 cathartics, followed by tonics; Tor the horses, in the mi . 



iwed by cathartics and easily assimilated rood, 2. Till ol 

 oxe pound, toft water, four gallons, boil for twentj mil 



' - I wash animals wilh it. One application will be aufl 



If properly applied. 3, For a sanded animal, give from a pint in 



of linseed oil, as a purgative, the dose regulated by the sine of lh 



pud, une dose, if it operates, will be sufficient. •!. For bolts or w onus 

 , , n - t. Worm Powder, Tor which uddlcss Prof. J. ,i I [og | Q 



, i;, New York city; price, $1 per bos, 5. Glauber salts il I 



, un to dogs, as it acts 88 a drastic. Dose for a borse, f>,, , , 

 ounces to one pound- fi. There are several better laiatives, euch 

 seed oil, Barbadoee aloes in mild doses, &0 . 



—The name or B. T. Babbitt is synonymous with honesty 

 aud his pioducta are the very best in the market, tl 



as ihe finest soap for toilet purposes in the world, bei 



free from poisonous elements, and the el, a 



, 



