FOREST AND STREAM. 



1G9 



the first of last December. It is a mistake to suppose that 

 the very obscure "universities out West," individually 

 issue a like number of these "honoraries," though their 

 issms in the aggregate are of course considerable, and out- 

 number the aggregate "honoraries" issued by the well known 

 institutions of the East, two or three to one. "The Pacific 

 Methodist University," for instance, whose graduating class 

 of 1873 was compo-ed of a single individual, contented 

 itself that year with conferring a single D.D. ; and the re- 

 cipient of it was changed as completely from a "Rev." to 

 a "Rev. Dr.," as if his embellishment had been derived 

 from Harvard itself, which, by the bye, created that 

 summer no honorary doctorates whatever. The clergymen, 

 indeed, seem to be the persons chiefly benefitted by this 

 sort of thing, because the more dignified form of address 

 thereby attaching to them, presumably renders people will- 

 ing to pay them higher salaries. On the other hand, though 

 nobody addresses a person as "Doctor" because he has been 

 "dubbed LL. D.," the houor, perhaps, has a little commer- 

 cial value to a college professor, by virtue of the dignity 

 which it is supposed to add to the owner's name when 

 printed in the "list of faculty and instructors," or on the 

 title page of a book. Though it has been shown that 

 iNew England, in the last four seasons, has created almost 

 exactly as many LL. D.'s as D.D.'s, the attainable record 

 of the rest of the country for the same period, which 

 doubtless represents the average proportion of what the 

 complete record would be if discovered, show only 232 

 LL. D.'s to 459 D.D.'s. The contribution of the Western 

 colleges to this last summary, shows an even greater dispro- 

 portion, 79 to 194, in favor of the D. D.'s. Turning again 

 to the Conyregutionalisfs article, of which free use has 

 already been made, we find among the 39 LL. D.'s three 

 -college presidents, and a dozen professors, two clergymen 

 not professors, two generals, one judge, five past or present 

 state governors, and three or four past O) present congress- 

 men. Harvard honored Gov. Rice, of Massachusetts, a 

 graduate of Union '44; Princeton, Gov. Bedle, of New 

 Jersey; Tufts, Gov. Conner, of Maine, a graduate of its 

 first class ('59j; Marietta, Gov. Erwin, of California, a 

 graduate of its '48; Middlebury, ex Gov. Stewart, of Ver- 

 mont; and Rutgers Female College, ex Gov. Edwin D. 

 Morgan, of this State, the present Republican candidate 

 for election to his former office. Yale gave the title to 

 G.u. Sherman, whose sou graduated there this year; Harv- 

 ard to ex Senator Carl Schurz, and the College of Wash- 

 ington and Jefferson to ex-Secietary Benjamin H. Bristow. 

 Ot the 41 D.D.'s, three were given to presidents, and five 

 to professors iu colleges. In looking through a list of 

 college presidents, belonging in the Atlantic States, from 

 Maine to Virginia, it is hardly possible to find an individual 

 not possessed of at least one of these honorary doctorates, 

 and most of these who are clergymen have both of them. 

 The doctorate of philosophy (Ph. D.), which is given by 

 Harvard, Yale and European universities only in return 

 lor years of acual study, was conferred, this year, as an 

 "honorary," by about a dozen institutions, a practice which 

 seems open to much graver objection than can be urged 

 against the other two sorts of D 's, which are understood 

 by everyone to possess a purely complimentary signifi 

 cance. 



Ho! To the Lists!. — 1 he 19. h inst. is the day in which 

 the btates of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, and the 

 District of Columbia will do their devoirs at the great Cen- 

 tennial. The occasion is to be celebrated by a grand 

 touinament, not of pigeons, but of Knights clad in 

 coats of ght teriug mail and mounted on fiery steeds, who 

 will do battle in the cause of love and beauty. We noticed 

 in the list of judges the name of our esteemed friend Col. 

 Skinner, of the Turf, Field and Farm. .Now this is emi 

 neuily correct, as lar as it goes, for a more proper judge, 

 one who is intimately posted in all that relates to chivalry, 

 or more devoted to tbe gentler sex, could not be found. 

 But we would suggest that the gallant Colonel should him 

 self take the field and do service in the cause. Gladly 

 would we equip him with our own good lance and gallani 

 steed, and our Centennial Squire shall buckle on his spurs 

 and bear his helm and gorget. Aud when the crash is past 

 and the heralds proclaim hiu± victor would that we could be 

 there. 



By the bye, of all the celebrations held at the Centennial 

 we huve yet to hear of one commemorating the habits of 

 the aborigines of this country, the poor Indian, Lo; the 

 gentle -avage. We therefore call on Col. Skinner to im- 

 mediately arrange for a scalping knife and hatchet fight 

 between his friends the great White Chief of the Ononda- 

 gas and the Bald Eagle of Currituck. Let Pious Jeeme, 

 be umpire and Ted Grayson hold the stakes, while the 

 Japaue&e kite hovers over the lists. 



Weight of Wild Turkeys —Some time ago, in refer 

 ring to the weight of English turkeys, we instituted inqui- 

 ries among our own market dealers, for the sake of com- 

 parison, and ascertained that 50 pounds was an exception- 

 al maximum weight, and equal to the champion Euglish 

 weit-ht; but we observe that a trustworthy correspondent, 

 who wrote some interesting Pennsylvania reminiscences 

 for our last week's issue, sayj that thirty years ago in 

 Clearfield couuty "it was no u now //ion occarre/ice for gob- 

 biers to be killed that weighed 50 pounds undressed, and 

 so fat that in falling, if shot from a tree, they would burst 

 open the fat on the breast." 



—.» , , 



—The establishment of* the JSew York Aquarium elicits 

 frequent antLfavorable meafcioa ig Enu'ope&a journals. 



Forest Knowledge.— For the sake of fostering all 

 interests of forest planting and conservation on this con- 

 tinent, we reprint the following points to be investigated, 

 and upon which it would be useful to have information 

 recorded from as many different parts of the country as 

 possible. It is important to ascertain: — 



1st. Estimates of the area of woodland, in square miles 

 or acres, and average asjes of the trees. 



2d. Estimates of their productiveness per acre in cubic 

 feet of lumber and cords ot fuel. 



3d. Lists of native trees and woody plants, with local 

 and botanic names, and their special value in the arts. 



4th. Location of species, relatively to elevation above 

 the sea, to soil, et cetera. 



5th. Natural grouping and consociation of species, et 

 cetera. 



6th. Numbers, kinds and acres of artificial forests 

 planted, and areas prot< cted from cattle in order to en- 

 courage the natural reproduction of trees. 

 -+*+- ■ 



The Boston Shooting burr. — One of the most success- 

 ful manufacturers of Waterproof Shooting Suits is the 

 firm of G. W. Simmons & S m, Oak Hall, Boston We have 

 had one of their suits on duty at the Hunter's Camp at 

 Philadelphia Centennial Exhihition ever since last May. It 

 has grown gray in the service, but is good for use yet. 

 This suit is known as the "Boston Shooting Suit," in con- 

 tradistinction, no doubt, from the garments which are 

 manufactured out west by Holabird, aud at Washington by 

 Henning, each of which has a local demand of its own. It 

 is said that the western prairie fowl can distinguish any 

 sportsman who visits their domain by his clothes. They 

 cin tell him "by the cut of his jib," and the old educated 

 birds (which no one cares to eat, by the way,) know exact 

 ly what distances to keep from the rail-shooters, the brant 

 men, and the chicken-killers respectively, to be safe. They 

 have "got Ihem all down fine." This used not to be so 

 before the waterproof shooting suits were invented. Bos- 

 tonians, Hoosiers and Buckeyes all stood the same chauce 

 then. But now it is— with a shrill pipe to leeward by the 

 old- weather cock — "here comes a Simmons; cheese it!" or, 

 " 'Ere's a 'Enning— lie low!"' or, "Look out for Holabird! 

 Scatter! you beggars, scatter!" 



-*-«-»» 



ALONG THE FLORIDA ROAD. 



THOSE who closely scan the map of Florida will find 

 in the extreme northeastern portion a small island 

 named Amelia. At the northern end of this island lies a 

 city. I say it lies, but whether it lies or not, or whether I 

 lie in saying so, or whether the city fathers lie in calling it 

 a city, is open for discussion. On the local map of the 

 Land Company and Immigration Society it is set forth as 

 a large city, occupying all the narrow peninsula between 

 its tine harbor and the ocean, with wide streets crossing 

 each other at right angles, spacious wharves, elevated cor- 

 ner lots and fertile garden sites. It is well laid out, and 

 much of the land can be secured at a reasonable price on 

 easy terms. Geographically Feruandina has many natural 

 advantages. The river St. Marys comes down from some 

 hundreds of miles in the interior, from a country fat wiih 

 res.n and turpentine and huge mill logs, and throws its 

 waiers into the ocean ten miles from town. The city is 

 ouilt between a system of sounds and creeks extending 

 from the St. Johns river to Savannah, Ga. The peninsula 

 here is about two miles in width, the laud rolling and de- 

 pressed. Thehaiooris magnificent, and the best on the 

 6outh Atlantic coast. A weekly line of steamers connects 

 with JNew York, which, under able management, has now 

 an immense business. Semi-wtekly lines run to Savannah, 

 Charleston, and Jacksonville, and the various poits along 

 ihe Georgia coast. A railroad 150 miles in length connects 

 the Atlantic with the Gulf of Mexico, terminating at Ce- 

 dar Keys. Its connections seem to have been made with 

 an eye to its being the port of entry for all east Florida. 

 Unlike many southern ports Feruandina has something 

 upon which to draw to support its communications, aua 

 bids fair to float to prosperity on tne incoming tide of im- 

 migration. Through the railroad and the smaller steam- 

 boat lines it can drain the entire State of its supplies, and 

 afford abundant facilities for the transhipment of freight. 

 The first question asked when Florida is mentioned is: 

 "How's the climate?" In a word, it is mild. Though va- 

 riable, aud at times tyrannical, the climate of Fernandina 

 is nearly as mild and luliy as enjoyable as that of the St. 

 Jouns aud southern Florida. Take the temperature of 

 JSew Year's week for example. There came to us vague 

 hints of the thermometer at 20 in JNew York, but we had 

 it so warm as to need no fire; an under coal was a burden 

 and shirt-sleeves a luxury. The sun shone, birds were 

 singing, and flowers in full bloom. Peas were green in the 

 garden, and plump on the table fre&h from said gardens. 

 A few roses, jonquils, geraniums and tuberoses were bloom- 

 ing out of doors, oranges hung ripe on the trees, and a few 

 plum trees were prematurely in bloom. It recalled a 

 northern spring to see the birds we were wunt to welcome 

 north in Maich and April. The beautiful yellow-rumped 

 warbler and the various vireos filled the shruobery with 

 bright colors, and the native birds, the cardinals, mockiug- 

 birds and doves fraternally greeted them. An occasional 

 norther comes down upon us, but it lasts but a few days, 

 and the man who was one day shaking the camphor out of 

 his overcoat, the next was exposing the patches on his pan- 

 taloons. The royal birthright of Fernandina, the ocean 

 beach, must not be forgotten; sixteen miles in length, hard 

 as rock, white as snow, broad and smooth, it forms a drive 

 unsurpassed on the coast. The waves break upon 

 ilje beach- with tjje wliQl® Atlantic to back tbeift; 



the sand hills on the shore are fantastic in shape and 

 peculiar in a vegetation semi-tropical and wild. 



The lighthouse is picturesquely situated a mile from 

 town on the bluff of a ravine, just where the g^eat inland 

 marsh runs in. It is surrounded with large oaks, and 

 forms, with the keeper's cottage, a pleasing picture. From 

 the lantern dome is obtained an extensive view of the 

 island, the ocean, the town, and of southern Georgia. Old 

 Town is, as its name implies, the ancient portion of Fer- 

 nandina. It is a mile from the city proper, and reached 

 by a wretched road and a plank walk across the marshes. 

 Here live the pilots, who have a "look out" GO feet in 

 height from which to observe the vessels in the offing. 

 The ancient earth-works erected by the Spaniards upon the 

 first occupancy by them of Florida, m ly still be traced. 

 They are semicircular in shape, and inclose the preseut 

 Government house. Fort Clinch, a brick structure, now 

 going to decay, commands the entrance to the harbor. 

 Not least on the list of attractions to Fernaudina is the 

 cheapness of living there. The hotels do not display the ra- 

 pacity so commonly met with along the St. Johns river, 

 and at the principal one, the Mansion House, one may get 

 for ten dollars a week very good living and the best of at- 

 tention. This much for Fernandina. 



I left the town one morning at da /light in mid August. 

 It was very cool; for, though our days are rather hot in 

 Florida, the nights and mornings are delightfully cool. In 

 fact, the temperature, even by day, was not so oppressive 

 as I have sometimes felt it at the north, and the summer — 

 my first in Florida— had been ver/ agreeably passed. The 

 train glided out of the station and along the shore of'the 

 bay with 150 miles before it to Cedar Keys, and all day to 

 accomplish it in. As we crossed the marshes the sun was 

 just rising, and its beam* beautifully gilded the trees of 

 the forest aud painted the lovely bay in rosy tints. Leav- 

 ing the marshes, the home of busy snipe and curlew, we 

 plunge into the pine woods where, on each side of the 

 track, the vegetation is dense and luxuriant. Attractive 

 creeks glance at us as we cross them, revealing cool depths 

 of water suggestive of trout and peich. The pine barn ns 

 stretch away on either side far as the eye can reach; here 

 and there a settler's cabin, and lowing herds of cattle pro 

 claim man's presence; but the country is sparsely settled, 

 and there is room for many thousands more. Twenty- 

 seven miles from Fernandina is Callahan, where a project- 

 ed railroad from Savannah to Jacksonville ciosses the Flor- 

 ida road. There is little attractive here, though the gar 

 dens and peach trees speak well for the soil. 



The character of the scenery remains about the same for 

 many miles — pine levels with occasional hammocks. My 

 attention is called to the car in which we are riding, and I 

 am surprised to learn that it was made in the shops of the 

 road, and that it is made of Forida wood. Panels of magno- 

 lia with trimmings of red bay, cedar and cypress, tastefully 

 relieved and set forth, with no artificial ornamentation, 

 form an interior elegant and agreeable. The work through- 

 out was excellent and I have rarely seen it surpasssed by 

 our northern workshops. 



A few miles east of Baldwin we are very near the big 

 bend of the St. Mary's river, where, I am told, are several 

 good parcels of land and springs of sulphurous water. We 

 reach Baldwin about 9, to connect with train for Jackson- 

 ville. Baldwin is a place of eating houses. It, conse- 

 quently, is much maligned. Everybody is supposed to 

 eur«>e Baldwin; it is so flat, so wet, so disagreeable gener- 

 ally, because, frequently one has to wait hours there to 

 make connection. But 1 have waited there eight hours, in 

 the heat of early summtr, and found it not so very disa- 

 greeable. Seated on the piazza of the only hotel, the 

 "Farmer's House," with a cool breeze playing around the 

 corner, with the fragrance of roses wafted to me, I slept 

 comfortably away those tedious hours, aud depart edfrom 

 Baldwin feeling that it had been much maligned and over- 

 much abused. But our train keeps on, after the Jackson- 

 ville train has passed, and we reach near tne highest por- 

 tion of the road at Lawtey, where I leave the train to take 

 a look into the forest. It may as well be stated here that 

 my object in making this trip was to ascertain the most de- 

 sirable place for a residence during the winter months, and 

 for starting an orange grove. I had heard of a lake near 

 Lawtey where the water was clear and the banks about it 

 high. We were met, my friend and myself, by (he pro- 

 prietor of the place, Mr. Burrin, who insisted that we should 

 dine with him before leaving for Kingsley's Lake, six miles 

 distant. Mr. Burrin is the owner of 25 square miles of 

 pine land. He purchased it with a view to logging for 

 timber and turpentine, and. where three years ago was a 

 wilderness of pines, he has created a small town by tireless 

 industry. The store, station, the turpentine still, the long 

 row of houses for workmen and his own comfortable cot- 

 tage have all arisen within three years, at the will of an 

 energetic man. His house, a miracle of cosy neatness, is 

 surrounded by a garden, a miracle of luxu iant vegetation. 

 From the soil of the pine barrens he has produced vegetables 

 and fruits in abundance. The tropical wealth of bananas, 

 with which his house is surrounded, is worth making a 

 special visit to see. From them he has had tons of fruit, 

 I forget how maDy — all in three years time, and aided 

 only by muck from the swamp and judicious drainage. 

 His orange trees presented a fine appearance, and peaches 

 gave promise of early reward. We did justice to an ex- 

 cellent dinner, and then set out for the lake. My compan- 

 ion rode a wiry little mare, and I occupied a mule cart, 

 with a negro driver, all provided by our worthy host, 

 Mr. Burrin, The road was rough and the mule— v^, 



ft? m® » »ul# ? mi 



