FOREST AND STREAM. 



373 



faodbnd, ^mm und %mdm. 



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Gardening in California.— The markets of San Fran- 

 cisco are almost perennial in their supply of many veget- 

 ables. Lettuce, radishes, cabbages, and onions are always 

 in season. New potatoes come in January and last until 

 midsummer; peas and beans from February to December; 

 tomatoes from March and April until the end of the year; 

 cucumbers, ditto; carrots, cauliflowers, parsnips, yams; 

 turnips, beets, parsley, spinach, cabbage, rhubarb, celery, 

 asparagus, and many other vegetables are in season the 

 greater part of the year. There is scarcely a day in the 

 year when strawberries cannot be obtained, while the mar- 

 kets constantly afford a full supply of figs, oranges, lemons, 

 limes, pineapples, grapes, bananas, pomegranates, pears, 

 cherries, peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples, and all 



kinds of nuts. 



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Pyracantha Japonica.— Our Southern readers will 

 hear with pleasure of the introduction of this beautiful 

 new hedge plant. It is too tender to stand Northern win- 

 ters, but is hardy south of North Carolina. As its name 

 (Fiery Thorn) denotes, its flowers are of a brilliant orange 

 scarlet, succeeded by crimson berries, while its wood is 

 tough and thorny, of dwarf habit, and will bear the shears 

 well, and will turn cattle, and, if kept low, even hogs. 

 With this plant and the Cherokee rose, we hope before long 

 jfcp see Southern plantations with elegant hedges, instead of 

 the slovenly and extravagant worm fences; for we believe 

 these fences occupy thousands of acres that might be cul- 

 tivated. 



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A Tropical Nursery Wanted. — Planters of orange, 

 lemon, and banana groves at the South feel the want of a 

 nursery where they can order their young plants. In 

 France, which embraces some tropical territory, all the 

 nurseries in the north keep a good stock of tropical and 

 tender fruits and plants, and so it should be in this coun- 

 try. If some of our nurserymen would keep a large stock 

 of grafted oranges and lemons, bananas and figs, they 



would find a ready sale for them. 



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Khododendrons. — This beautiful flowering shrub is 

 called in England and on the Continent an "American" 

 plant; but to see it in perfection, we must visit some of the 

 large nurseries near London. We are pleased so learn that 

 one of them — S. A. Warterer, of Waking, Surrey, Eng. — 

 maintains a large collection of these plants in full bloom . 

 One peculiarity of these plants is, that the time of bloom- 

 ing can be calculated almost to a day, so that a gorgeous 



display may be expected. 



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New Ornamental Trees. — Mr. Thomas Meehan, of 

 the Germantown Nurseries, has purchased H. C. Thomp- 

 son's entire stock of new weeping dogwood. The same 

 nurseryman has introduced a new blood birch and yellow 

 weepiDg elm, both very ornamental— a most valuable addi- 

 tion to our hardy ornamental trees. 



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Oiling Harness. — A good harness is costly, but if pro- 

 perly used and cared for will last a good many years. If 

 neglected it will soon need repairs, and in a short time be- 

 come utterly worthless. In caring for a harness one great 

 point is to see that it is suitably oiled. A work harness, in 

 use on a farm, should be oiled twice a year, in the Spring 

 and Fall. It should be taken entirely apart; the places 

 where sweat and dirt have collected cleaned with a chip or 

 an old case-knife, then washed clean in warm water, in 

 which a little Castile soap has been dissolved. As they 

 are washed the straps should be hung on a pole to dry. 



When the outside is nearly dry, but before the moisture 

 is all out of the leather, the oil should be applied. This 

 may be done with a clean paint brush, which is the best 

 thing for the purpose, a sponge or woolen cloth. A moder- 

 ate quantity should be used, and if it does not soften the 

 leather enough, another light coating may be applied when 

 the first one is well dried in. This is better than it is to 

 put on a great deal at once. 



Care should be taken to obtain a good quality of oil for 

 leather. There are some patent preparations in which a 

 water-proof ingredient is added to oil and also a little col- 

 oring substance to make the leather look black and glossy. 

 An honest mixture of this kind is better than the crude oil. 

 Cheap oils are generally poor. When dry, the harness 

 should be rubbed with Castile soap, then with a dry woolen 

 cloth. When this is done, it may be put together and used. 

 This work should not be neglected until the hurry of plant- 

 ing and hoeing time, but should receive attention now.— 

 Lim Stock Journal. 



Window Plants.— The Horticulturist and Gardener's 

 Monthly gives the following directions for their care:— 



"Many of our readers have only a few window plants. 

 These are often kept too warm, too wet, have too little sun- 

 light and have too many insects. In towns, in addition 

 to all these, they have often too much of the fumes of 

 burning gas. Leaks or escapes from the gas-pipe are well 

 known to be an injury to plants, but it is not so well known 

 that plants suffer, though in a less degree, from the com- 

 mon burning of coal gas. The trouble with most room 

 cultivators is, to know when plants get too much atten- 

 tion. Too many insects are easily known, one— a siagle 

 one— is by far too many. We still think there is nothing 

 like coal oil to destroy all kinds of insects. A very little, 

 just enough to make a colored scum on the surface of a 

 tub of water, is sufficient, and in this the insect-covered 

 plant may be dipped, inverting the pot, and plunging only 

 the plant and not the pot of course. If too much oil is used 

 the plant maybe injured. Too wet, is when a plant sel- 

 dom gets dry— a healthy plant should get dry, and have 

 light, dry-looking surface soil every two or three days. As 

 to heat, a temperature of about 55° or 60° h. best for room 

 plants; below that they do not flower freely; above they 

 grow weak, especially if they have not a great deal of 

 sunlight. Indeed, heat should be in proportion to direct 

 sunlight on the plants." 



Plants.— One of our lady readers, remarkably success- 

 ful with her house plants in the Winter season, giyes us 

 two points in their management. Every gardener and 

 florist knows the value of what is called "bottom heat." 

 A warm atmosphere— especially if a dry one— is often in- 

 sufficient to bring about healthy growth and is sometimes 

 injurious. What is wanted for many kinds of plants and 

 flowers is moist heat at the roots and fibres, where growth 

 early starts, and from which the stimulus is conveyed to 

 every other part of the plant. A thrifty growth below the 

 ground is sure to be followed by fruits and flowers above. 

 Our lady friend accomplishes this bv filling the saucers of 

 her flower-pots with hot water. This is, of course, ab- 

 sorbed and carried up to the roots and fibers, giving the re- 

 quired bottom heat. Unthrifty plants, in addition to this, 

 she places on the mantelpiece over the kitchen-range, 

 keeping them, of course, well watered. It supplies heat 

 where it is most wanted— at the roots— and the benefit is 

 marked. In warm rooms the temperature is warmest at the 

 top, and the coldest near the floor where the pots are. This 

 reverses the proper order, giving the roots of a plant the 

 coldest place. Another important matter in house plants, 

 is to give them the morning sun. Windows where flowers 

 are kept should, therefore face the East. The reasons are 

 not known, perhaps, but the fact is patent to all whose 

 business is to develop healthy growth in plants and flowers, 

 that an hour of morning sun is worth three hours of after- 

 noon sun. Every one observes this, and it may be o wing- 

 to some electrical action at that time.— iV". E. Farmer. 



The Use of Fallen Leaves. —In the Gardener's Monthly, 

 Mr. Meehan says:— These have to be gathered up. They 

 are excellent to mix with hot bed material, and, where prac- 

 ticable, should be saved for this purpose. They do not heat 

 so rapidly as stable manure, and in this have an advantage 

 as tempering its violence, making it last longer, and main- 

 taing a regular heat. They are excellent material to put 

 round cold frames to protect half hardy plants. A board 

 is put up the height of the frame boards, and about a foot 

 or more from them, and the leaves filled in between. 

 If the plants are somewhat tender, the bottom of the 

 frames may be filled in a few feet with the leaves. Much 

 heat is thrown off during the decomposition of the leaves, 

 which, though not enough to keep out severe frost, yet 

 modifies somewhat the temperature These leaves, after 

 they have been two or three years decaying, made admira- 

 ble stuff for potting and flowers in general 



r iht Mmml. 



BUYING AND SELLING SPORTING 

 DOGS. 



AS the taste for field sports is increasing in this country, 

 and as many persons who would indulge therein 

 have not the time to spare which is necessary to break 

 dogs for their own use, or are living in cities or places 

 where there is not game enough for the purpose; or have 

 not the necessary skill to break them, they are therefore 

 compelled to purchase dogs already broken. We have 

 frequently heard it argued that no man can have a first- 

 class, satisfactory dog to shoot over unless he breaks him 

 himself. This view of the matter is entirely erroneous. It 

 would be just as absurd to say that no man could ever 

 drive a horse at his best speed unless he raised and broke 

 him; or that a shooter could not shoot a gun well unless 

 he made it. We admit that it is well for those who have 

 the facilities to raise and break their own dogs, if they 

 have the skill to do it. But let the best breaker 

 in the country raise and break a dog, and after he 

 gets him broken let that dog go into the hands of a skillful 

 sportsman, who will continue to work him properly,* and 

 nine dogs out of ten will be improved. Eemember, we 

 say a skillful handler of dogs; but here the trouble arises. 

 Our long experience has convinced us that not more than 

 one man out of twenty who shoots right well has patience 

 enough, or will exercise skill enough, if he has it, to 

 keep a dog up to his work. And then again, very many 

 shooters spoil every dog they undertake to handle; and 

 from this fact arises the trouble which frequently tak^s 

 place between buyers and sellers. We are fully convinced 

 that if the best breaker that ever lived should sell twenty 

 of as good dogs as were ever whelped, to the same number 

 of purchasers, who had the privilege of trying the dogs, 

 and of returning them if they did not suit, that at least 

 one-half of those dogs would be returned and the seller 

 slandered. And this difficulty will continue, because al- 

 most every man who shoots well feels confident he knows 

 all about the management of dogs. In our long experi- 

 ence we have never known more than four or five shooters 

 admit they could not break or manage a dog. We well re- 

 member one gentleman, whom we frequently assisted in 

 getting his dogs, who used to say that it was a wonderfully 

 good one that he did not spoil in one season's shooting. 



A skillful handler of dogs has no difficulty in purchas- 

 ing a good one, because he knows what to expect of a 

 strange dog, and how to work him into his ways. On the 

 other hand, there are many who purchase dogs who 

 never give the dog an opportunity to show his education. 

 This is a matter that should be carefully considered by 

 those who are compelled to purchase their dogs. It is 

 surely a fact, that where you will find twenty men who 

 shoot right well, you will scarcely find one who manages 

 his dog skillfully. To be able to shoot well is certainly a 

 desirable thing, bnt there is no great difficulty in learning 

 to shoot well. In looking around we see plenty of men, 

 with a very small show of intellect, who are proficient ; but 

 to be able to handle a dog skillfully is a very rare and a 

 very desirable accomplishment— one well worthy the close 

 attention of every field sportsman, particularly those who 



are compelled to purchase their dogs. Those persons who 

 consider the matter beneath their attention had far better 

 dispose of their guns, and look for other sources of 

 amusement and recreation. 



JARVIS' DICK. 



» ■ . 



THE illustration on our first page is a capital likeness 

 of this celebrated red Irish setter dog. Dick was 

 bred from a pair of pure Irish setters, imported from Ire- 

 land into Boston by Mr. Goodwin. From what stock they 

 came Mr. Jarvis has been, as yet, unable to discover. That 

 they were well bred there can be no doubt. Dick is a rich 

 deep red in color, and his hair — of which we have a lock 

 in this office — is soft and silky. He is very stylish and 

 fast, a capital field performer, has a splendid nose, and is 

 a good retriever. His nose itself is large, open, and of a 

 very dark mahogany color; eyes, brown. His tail, which 

 is of fine length, is never carried above the level of the 

 back. Dick's intelligence is something remarkable. He 

 will go back for any thing lost while driving, and find it, 

 no matter how great the distance; will go to market, or 

 for the papers ; will lead a horse, and bring his dish at 

 feeding time. Mr. Jarvis relates the following instance of 

 his sagacity: Shortly after coming into his present own- 

 er's possession, Mr. Jarvis, Sr., and his son were staking 

 out a young pear orchard, using as stakes some made from 

 the remnants of a picket fence, and which were stored be- 

 hind the barn at some considerable distance from the or- 

 chard. Dick followed them as they each took a few stakes 

 from the pile and went to the orchard. When nearly 

 through, however, the stakes gave out, and it struck Mr. 

 Jarvis that perhaps Dick knew enough to go back to the 

 pile and bring some. So he called him to him, showed 

 him the stakes and started him. Dick soon returned with 

 a stake, dropped it at his master's feet, and looked up into 

 his face, as much as to say: "Do you want another?" On 

 being ordered back he started off, and kept up the supply 

 all the afternoon. Dick is a splendid stud dog, getting 

 good puppies. Mr. Jarvis' address is Claremont, N. H. 



Detroit Bench Show. — The second annual exhibition 

 of sporting and other dogs, in connection with the Michi- 

 gan State Poultry Association, will be held at Detroit on 

 the 31st inst., continuing until February 7th, bidding fair 

 to be very successful. In connection will be held a cat 

 show, and a baby department has also been arranged for 

 the benefit of bachelors, from amongst which body the 

 judges will be appointed. Premium lists can be obtained 

 by addressing E. C. Skinner, Secretary, Detroit, Mich. 

 •+*■+• 



— The name of Phil, Jr., is claimed for a black pointer 

 puppy, by Old Phil, out of Fanny, whelped on the 20th of 

 October, at the kennel of A. C. Waddell, at Newtown, N. 

 J. Fanny was bred by, and late the property of, Jacob 

 Glahnj Esq., of Merriden, Ct. 



-e^^S*. 



BLACK AND TAN SETTERS. 



Baltimore, January 8th, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I will be mnch pleased if you will give me through, your paper a full 

 description of a black and tan setter. I have one here that, by popular 

 opinion, has been considered one of the handsomest in this State; I had 

 her at the dog show in this city on January 6th and ?th, but the geutle- 

 men who served as judges did not think her hair was the proper style. 

 The owner of the two Gordons, Mr. Stromburg, of this city, to whom 

 the second prize was awarded, offered me his two dogs and $50 for my 

 Gyp. These two dogs are full brothers to the one that got the first prize. 

 All of these three dogs have very curly hair. You can see by the offer 

 Mr. Stromburg made me what a wide difference there is hetween judges 

 aud owners. Mr. Stromburg thinks mine the best or he would not have 

 made this offer in the presence of ten gentlemen at the show. I ordy 

 breed for pleasure and my own hunting. Amateur. 



[The true Gordon setter should be, if a dog, not less than 

 twenty-three inches high; if a bitch, not less than twenty 

 inches high; coat, wavy and soft, by no means curly. A 

 curly-coated Gordon setter, although he may be a good 

 dog, yet such a coat would detract materially from his 

 beauty, besides indicating a cioss with some other strain. 

 He should have a straight tail ; ears should be long, reach- 

 ing to the end of the hair at the nose. Deep black and 

 rich tan is the most approved color, but we have seen 

 some very beautiful tricolor dogs— black, tan, and whitcj 

 — which we knew were thoroughbred Gordons, and it is a 

 color we very much admire, as such are more easily to be 

 seen while working in cover. — Ed.] ' 



Tonks!!— -Last week a correspondent asked through our 

 columns for information regarding one, Fonks, or Tonks, 

 a gunmaker, Or Boston. A small boy has been kept ac- 

 tively engaged ever since in opening the letters, which in- 

 form us that our correspondent must mean Joseph Tonks, 

 of 45 and 49 Union street, a gunmaker of excellent repute. 

 We find that not to know Tonks argues oneself unknown, 

 and are glad that when we next visit the "Hub" we shall 

 go duly armed with this important information. 



, -!&*.<£>- — ■ -?' 



— A correspondent of the Spirit oi the Times says that 

 Col. Caldwell, of the Brock House, Enterprise, Fla., has the 

 largest and most valuable library of sporting literature in 

 the South. It contains all the standard works of this 

 class from the English, French, German, and American 

 press. 



—Attention is called to the poetical recommendation of 

 Vanity Fair Tobacco in our advertising columns. It, is 

 believed that the eulogium is entirely deserved, and smok- 

 ers will do well to make its virtues the subject of an imme- 

 diate experiment. 



