FOREST AND STREAM. 



25 



OUR CENTENNIAL LETTERS— NO. 9, 



THE collection in Agricultural Hall is made upon the 

 most liberal construction of the term, and embraces, 

 besides the machines, tools, and products of husbandry, 

 all that pertains to woodcraft, the training, stabling and 

 feed of stock; the edible and useful products of the farm, 

 the forest and the water; food, pelts, hides, preserved pro- 

 visions, furs, leather; the common, rarer, and choice woods 

 of all countries; the hunter's spoils from the four quarters 

 of the globe; vegetable extracts, dyes, tobacco, medicinal 

 plants; materials for paper and for textile fabrics; and also 

 the more elaborate products, wine, whiskey and vinegar. 

 Yet, among them all, there is not much which I can prop- 

 erly assume to be of special interest to readers of Forest 

 and Stream; that is, leaving out the champagne and 

 cigars, vast quantities of both of which tantalize the eye 

 in this building. I think I stopped longest in the Brazil- 

 ian inclosure. The articles are displayed on counters 

 around the space alloted, in pyramidal structures, and in 

 trophies of Indian warfare on the posts and suspended 

 from cords. The effect is very fine. The most striking 

 feature is perhaps the skins of wild animals— the jaguar, 

 puma, ant-eater, peccary, ocelot, badger, snakes, and alli- 

 gators, and many small animals not so familiar. Beneath 

 the spoils of the denizen of the trackless forest pyramids 

 of timber from the trees themselves, all colors and varie- 

 gations, hard, soft, free, tough; boards from the Brazil 

 pine four feet wide and four inches thick; woods like 

 ivory, like tortoise-shell, like copper. There are probably 

 one thousand specimens of wood in the collection, not the 

 least curious of which is a piece of one of the immense 

 climbing parasites which eventually destroy their support- 

 ing tree. There are three kinds of vegetable fibers in 

 Brazil which can be made useful in the arts, and can be 

 supplied in great abundance at a comparatively cheap rate. 

 One grows on trees 70 feet high, and the other two on 

 bushes from 12 to 20 feet high. Tte fiber is called cipo or 

 vegetable silk, and is used in Brazil for mattresses and 

 pillows. It is found to work up readily into paper with 

 small expense for chemicals, and to be especially adapted 

 by reason of the strong silky threads for bank note paper. 

 On the counters and shelves are collections of fruits; the 

 cocoa-nut in its husky pericarp, the same denuded, and 

 again the shell made into cups; the cones of the gigantic 

 Amazon pine, the nuts from the same, and a species of pine 

 wood; palm leaves, and the hats, baskets, bags, and twine 

 made from them; caout-chouc in its milky, gummy and 

 colored condition; in bottles and slippers, the gum shaped 

 by congealing on clay models, and a host of other pro- 

 ducts. Their shape and color and smell are of the wilder- 

 ness, and suggest vividly the deep solitudes of the upper 

 Amazon or Madeira Rivers, where the scream of a parrot, 

 or the splash of a turtle, as it slips into the water to escape 

 the Indian's long arrow, alone breaks the silence. Among 

 other industries, that of sericulture has .a place in Brazil, 

 and one glass case contains twigs of the native tree with 

 the cocoons of the silk worm still attached, the cocoons 

 prepared for unreeling, and the silk unwound. A second 

 case portrays the history of one of their native silk pro- 

 ducers—the mirror- bearing butterfly (Attacusaurota), which 

 is abundant in nearly all parts of the Empire. In general 

 color it is light varying brown, with triangular and em- 

 broidered spots, and scalloped ornaments of a silvery 

 lustrous white, to which it owes its name. It is stated 

 that this butterfly produces in each generation, on an 

 average, 240 cocoons of silk, each weighing %\ drams, and 

 containing 30 grains of good silk, strong, elastic and con- 

 tinuous. The advantage of the culture of this species, it 

 is said, lies in using all the butterflies contained in the 

 cocoons, without the necessity of destroying the silk for 

 the winding up. Brazil's exhibiting also, in the Main Build- 

 ing, is particularly noteworthy, and attracts attention from 

 everyone; but there is not much there for us except some 

 cases of very brilliant, artistically stuffed birds, and the 

 exquisite feather flowers which excite so much admiration. 

 They are delicately beautiful flowers and leaves, clipped 

 out of -gorgeously colored feathers with scissors, and as 

 far surpass— to my eye— the best wax work, as diamonds 

 do glass. The presence of its Emperor has made the Bra- 

 zilian area the center of more than ordinary regard, and, 

 like its genial ruler, this "lay-out" of the Empire seems to 

 have made the best possible impression upon all visitors. 

 There are many reasons why Americans should rejoice in 

 this, and seek to weld more firmly the bonds of friendship 

 between the two countries. 



Scientific study has been largely advanced in Brazil 

 during the past few years, by the labors of a well-known 

 geologist from Cornell, Prof. C. Fred. Hartt who, after 

 repeated visits of exploration to the Amazon, was made 

 Government Geologist two years ago, and is conducting a 

 Geological Survey of the Empire at present under the most 

 encouraging auspices. His assistants are Mr. Richard 

 Rathbun, of Boston, and Mr. H. Derby, of Ithaca, N. Y., 

 besides a staff of Brazilian gentlemen. Pictures of their 

 work are huug in the Photographic Hall. Prof. James 

 Orton, of Vassar College, has also made extensive scienti- 

 fic journeys on the Amazon. 



The Argentine Republic, which is just now in a most 

 prosperous condition, is fully represented. Her broad 

 pampas are roamed over by enormous herds of semi-wild 

 cattle, and hides are a staple export. These and the 

 leather produ&ed from them are shown in large variety 

 and of great size. The office of the agent is a rude lodge 

 of "bull" hides. At the entrance stands a tali trophy of 

 bows, arrows with points of hard wood 15 inches long, 

 spears, native clubs, carved powder-horns, etc. Several 

 miserably stuffed animals are wretched delegates from her 



fauna, the most noticeable among them being the cavys, 

 agoutis and armadillos. 



Peru seems always to have been known and thought of 

 as a country of mines and Incas, and not much else. This 

 reputation is to a large degree sustained by her appear- 

 ance here, although she brings the proofs of masy ad- 

 vanced industries, for which the world has not given her 

 credit enough perhaps. An exceedingly large collection of 

 minerals has been sent, and they appear to be judiciously 

 chosen; but I do not pretend to have a critical eye. Her 

 silver mines still yield great returns, and would far greater 

 if enterprise and ingenuity could get hold of them, for 

 there is little hope of making much out of the average lazy 

 Peruvian intellect. Their negligent way of doings things 

 is shown by the confusion in which all their exhibits are — 

 thrown hither and yon, as though just flung out of the 

 boxes; and in the almost total absence of labels, which 

 renders their extensive lot of relics of a past age almost 

 entirely unintelligible, or at least useless in a scientific 

 point of view. It is to be hoped this will be remedied be- 

 fore the Exhibition closes. 



British Guiana, the land of Cayenne pepper, is another 

 South American State on exhibition here. Sugar, rum, 

 chocolate, ginger, pepper, etc., are familiar objects, and 

 the zoologist will be attracted by a row of good prepara- 

 tions of serpents in the spirits— among them a rattle-snake 

 under the very appropriate name of "bush-master." The 

 secret of the fine show made by this small colony is found 

 in the fact that its settlers are Englishmen. Y/e have seen 

 the splendid displays of the British Colonies in the East. 

 Their colonies in the west are equally well represented, and 

 contrast very favorably with the West Indian Inlands 

 under Spanish and French rule. Take Jamaica, for ex- 

 ample — 1 wish I had space to do her exhibition justice. 

 The many rich tropical woods from her interior forests, 

 highly polished, and also in the bark, attest her resources 

 in limber; and not that alone, for these same trees bear 

 food and medicines which supply the world, and are here 

 shown in their raw state. Such are, sarsaparilla, chin- 

 chona (quinine), cassia, bread fruit, pomegranite, coffee, 

 gums and oils of many kinds, betel nuts, and a host of 

 other things. The areca-nut— blessed by dog-owners— is a 

 chestnut-shaped fruit, inclosed in a white, fibrous "shuck." 

 The various vegetable products, too, are all represented, 

 garden fruit, bananas and bread-fruit, cocoa, vanilla, yam- 

 flour, starch, various dyes, etc., etc. Out of the beautiful 

 fibrous inner bark of the lace tree, exquisite fans, handker- 

 chiefs and bonnets are made; and out of the straight or 

 curiously twisted llanos, quaint canes or serviceable walk- 

 ing sticks are cut. The forest is brought, in epitome, to 

 our doors, and even the ferns under the trees— 93 species 

 prettily labeled— are not forgotten. You may say that I 

 have mentioned a very minor part of the proper display of 

 a country. It is true, but all the rest— mechanics, trades, 

 textures, building and raw. material for manufacture in 

 every branch of art and industry, is represented on as large 

 a scale. Jamaica is not behind the other colonies of the 

 Crown of St. James. 



Next door to her a vast quantity of corals attracts my 

 eye, and stepping over I find myself in Bermuda. Three 

 sides of her space are bounded by a reef, so to speak— heavy 

 base corais from the foundation, round star-pitted "heads" 

 from deep water, widely branching madrepores, convo- 

 luted brain-corals, laminated f ungias, slender and delicate 

 miliepores, and broad sea- fans which shade the reef with 

 their rosy foliage. These corals are accompanied by many 

 shells from that favored tropical sea, and all merit careful 

 btudy. It is rare that so large and good a collection is 

 seen. _ The long, wand-like "sea-rods" {Plexaura flexuosa), 

 especially, are uncommon in collections, and the flue ones 

 here should be attentively observed. This display, no 

 doubt, owes its origin to Governor Rawson, who is an 

 enthusiastic and astute scientific man, well known in 

 Europe. Their. neighbors, the Bahama Islands, also have 

 tent a good many shells and corals, but none so valuable or 

 beautiful as Bermuda's. There is a lack of scientific appre- 

 ciation in the arrangement which mixes old denuded sea- 

 urchins and pieces of crabs with shells, and labels the 

 whole Mollusks. Some tortoise shell from the loggerhead 

 in rough is interesting; with it as manufactured we are 

 already familiar. Another Island not far off is Trinidad, 

 but its principal exhibit is in the shape of basket work and 

 cane splint weaving, a great variety of which we have just 

 left behind us in the other Islands of the Antilles. 

 .».«. 



Shooting Prospects.— It is with pleasure that we can 

 say to our shooting friends that game is more abundant 

 throughout the length and breadth of the land this season 

 than it has been at anytime during the past ten years. 

 We have letters of invitation from our shooting friends 

 from all sections of the country assuring us that owing to 

 the open winter and the very favorable breediug season, 

 the birds "have done their duty in the family way, and 

 we may depend upon excellent sport. The only trou- 

 ble with us is too many have spoken at once, yet we intend 

 that not all the birds shall reproach us for want of proper at 



tention. 



.*.•«. , — 



Florida Midsummer Temperature. — Our New Smyrna 

 (Fla). correspondent gives the mean midday temperature 

 at that place for July at 88 degrees; mean temperature at 

 9 P. M., 77 degrees. Highest for the month, 93°, or 10° 

 lower than in New York City; lowest, 74 degrees. At 

 no time during the month did the thermometer indicate 

 higher than 79 degrees at 9 P. M., so that with a refresh- 

 ing ocean breeze during the day, and tolerably cool nights, 

 a midsummer residence on the coast of Florida would be 

 far more enjoyable than in this latitude. 

 — <-*-*. 



—Among the most popular of the hotels at Saratoga is 

 the Clarendon, under the proprietorship of Mr. Chas. 

 Leland, of the Rossmore House, of this city. It is charm- 

 ingly situated near the principal springs, and is frequented 

 only by the best class of people. 



-**♦- 



—Two manatees, a cow and a calf, are offered for sale 

 by a gentleman residing at Fort Capron, Florida. The 

 sum of $1,500 is asked for them. 



E^~ The subscription price of Forest and Stream has 

 been reduced to $4. Twenty-five per cent, off for Clubs 

 of Three or more, 



§%chting xnd§ vaiing. 



♦ — 



All communications from Secretaries and friends should be mailed no 

 later than Monday in each week. 



HIGH WATER. FOR THE WEEK. 



Date. 



Boston,. 



New York. 



Charleston 



Aug. 17... 



Aug 18 



H. M. 



9 7 



10 11 



11 7 

 11 53 

 eve. 35 



1 5 

 1 56 



B. M. 



6 57 



7 ;.o 



8 36 



9 22 

 10 1 



10 38 



11 19 



H. 



5 

 6 



7 

 7 

 8 

 9 

 9 



M 



7 

 11 



Aug. 19 , 



7 



Aug. 20 



53 



Aug. 21 





Aug. 22 



5 



Aug. 23 



56 







THE "AMERICA" GUP RACES. 



The agony is over, and the piece of silver plate which 

 has caused so much wrangling, so much letter writing, and 

 so much discussion, remains in this country. Our Cana- 

 dian friends who, from their own straightforwardness and 

 courtesy were met in a like spirit and granted every 

 concession, have been no more successful than Mr. Ash- 

 bury, who demanded much that was not in the bond, and 

 received but little. That the race of Friday was a suprise, 

 and that the Countess of Dufferin is a remarkably fast and 

 able boat, especially in a light breeze, no one who witnessed 

 the race will deny. Indeed, notwithstanding that we be- 

 lieve the Madeleine to be the fastest vessel under any con- 

 ditions, had it not been for the error made by the Countess' 

 pilot in keeping over on the west bank in the full strength 

 of the tide, while the Madeleine was in the slack water of 

 Gravesend Bay, the yachts would have been much nearer 

 at the finish. The real beating was done on the run 

 home, before the wind, and here the trained crew of the 

 Madeleine handled their sails in the most admirable mauner , 

 while on board the Countess the "kites" were not set with 

 the rapidity necessary in a close race, and although the 

 "dimity" was there in like quantity, it was not made to do 

 such good service as on board of her antagonist. Of course 

 Saturday's race, outside, settled the question of superiority, 

 a difference which we believe would have been more 

 marked had there been a "breeze of wind," for, as these 

 races were sailed mostly on an even keel, we believe that 

 with scuppers under, the faulty quarters and stern of the 

 "Countess" would have left her far behind her almost 

 faultlessly modelled antagonist. In such wind as there 

 was the Canadian yacht presented an entrance as clear and 

 smooth as could be desired, going through the water grace- 

 fully and without fuss or drag. Although not successful 

 as far as the cup was concerned, the Canadians can con- 

 gratulate themselves upon having produced a remarkably 

 fast yacht; one which, in her first attempt, has done her- 

 self no discredit. For which of our crack vessels has dis- 

 tinguished herself in a first effort? Almost without an ex- 

 ception they have required lengthening, cutting down, 

 hipping, or some alteration to bring them to their best con- 

 dition. So it may be with the Countess. The result of the 

 late matches may have been to show her owners what is 

 wanted, and we expect yet to see her leading a fleet past 

 the home stake boat. 



THE FIRST RACE. 



The course for the first race was what is known as the 

 inside course of the New York Yacht Club, being from off 

 the club house at Staten Island to and around buoys Nos. 

 8i and 10, off the Southwest Spit, thence to and arc%nd 

 the Sandy Hcok Light Ship, returning over the same 

 course, but finishing just outside the Narrows. The scene 

 at the starting point was very animated. The wind was 

 light from the south, and the tide running flood. Yachts 

 of every size and description were cruising about, and a 

 large number of excursion steamers fully loaded, and 

 with steam whistles charged to the screeching point, were 

 on hand. At 10.55 the first signal was given from the 

 judge's steamer to prepare. The Countess was then stand- 

 ing in towards the line, but hauled her head sails to wind- 

 ward and lay to for the word. The Madeleine was at anch- 

 or, with lore and mainsails and main club and fore work- 

 ing topsails set, but got her anchor and stood for the line, 

 and when the signal was given to start she was near the 

 line, and went about and stood off again. Twice the 

 yachts stood for the line ready to cross, but a small sluop 

 yacht being in the way, they were obliged to go about 

 again. Finally they came, nearly side by side, but the 

 Countess was obliged to luff to clear a brig at anchor, and 

 the Madeleine being to windward becalmed her sails and 

 crossed the line first under good headway, while the 

 Countess was nearly at a stand still. There was no time 

 however, for another start, so the latter went over, the 

 times being: Madeleine, 11.16.81, and the Countess, 11 17.6. 

 Both were on the port tack, standing in for the Staten 

 Island shore, so the stretch was a short one, the Madeleine 

 tacking at 11.18$>and the Countess a minute later. The 

 latter was carrying fore and mainsails, club main-topsail 

 and working tore-topsail, jib, flying jib and jib-iopsail! 

 The Madeleine was under the same canvas, with the ex- 

 ception of the jib-topsail; in going about she set a woik- 

 mg main topmast-staysail, which was almost immediately 

 taken in again as it did no good. At 11.29.80, the Made- 

 leine being well over on the Long Island shore, tacked 

 again, and the. Countess followed suit. On this tack it was 

 very perceptible that the American yacht was sailing the 

 fastest; she tacked again at 11.38, but the Countess kept 

 on long enough to break tacks with her opponent. The 

 Madeleine made one more short tack, as did the Countess, 

 the latter passing far enough astern to show that the Made- 

 leine was gaining on her. The latter now made a long 

 stretch way up into Gravesend Bay, and when she went 

 about again was flying by the Coney Island shore, out of 

 the tide, like a race horse. In the mean time the Countess 

 had stood on the opposite tack, way over on the west bank 

 wherein we think her pilot greatly erred, for he was con- 

 tending with a strong tide. When the yachts agaiu crossed 

 the Madeleine was at least a mile ahead, and tiie race bar', 

 ring accident, seemed a foregone conclusion. Both yachts 

 now made a long stretch, to enable them to pass to wind- 

 ward of buoy l^o. 10, which they did, the Madeleine at 



