FOREST AND STREAM. 



231 



these grapes lie was converting into iaisins of as fine qual- 

 ity as ever were impoited. "Malaga raisins are very good 

 raisins, but the raisinsof Smyrna are better," says the old 

 play, and California will yet excel even Smyrna. The pro- 

 cess of curing the raisins was very simple. The grapes 

 were picked rather more carefully than for otber purposes, 

 and all imperfect berries clipped off with scissors; the 

 bunches were then dipped into a mild lye, and afterwards 

 spread upon tressels in the sun, care being taken to carry 

 them in doors out of the dew at night. In three or four 

 days the grapes were thoroughly cured and forced with a 

 gentle pressure into the boxes. 



The viniculturists of California are to be congratulated 

 i upon having at last taken bold of an industry which is at 

 once a pleasant and a profitable occupation, one in which 

 a lar^e share of the labor can be performed by women and 

 children, and one which partakes less of the uncertainties 

 of agricultural life than any other we can call to mind. 



The Best Breeds op Cows.— We find in the New York 

 Journal of Commerce the following very intelligent and im- 

 portant information in reply to the queries whether there 

 is any breed of cows that eats more than others, and what 

 proportion of milk they give; also what is the highest price 

 ever obtained for fancy stock cattle:— 

 J "The Durham, or short horn, either thoroughbred or 

 grades, are concededly the largest eaters, as they are the 

 largest in size. When bred with special reference to milk- 

 producing rather than beef-producing, the cows yield the 

 largest measure of milk, and of fair quality. The Here- 

 fords are also good feeders and bountitul milk producers, 

 but except a few herds, such as may be seen on the farms 

 of Mr. Hurst and of Mr. Coming in Albany county, have 

 not been brought to perfection in this country. The spot- 

 ted Dutch or Hoist eiti cows are becoming popular among 

 the dairymen of Orange county, and it is claimed that for 

 the amount of food consumed they give especially satis- 

 fs^tnry returns. For private use, where cream and butter 

 of the finest quality are the main points, the Alderney cow 

 is uuqunstionably the best. She is but a moderate eater, 

 makes no superiious flesh, and gives continuously a fair 

 amount of rich milk. She is gentle and generally hardy, 

 and may be kept in small pastures or in clean stables with 



profit. 



D'ur quantity of milk we may rate the several popular 

 breeds of cows as follows: — 



First— The Durham, or Short Horn. 



Second— The Herefords and the Ayrshires. 



Third— The Devon (especially adapted to the soil and 

 climate of New England). 



Fourth— The Alderney. 



The Dutch or Holstein cows as said to equal the Dur- 

 harns in milking qualities. For quality of milk for pro- 

 ducing cream and outter the foregoing list may be reuersed 

 with the exception of the Holstein cows, the milk of which 

 is said to be richer than that of the short horns, and equal 

 ' to that of the Hereford and Ayrshire cows, 

 i The highest figure ever received for a fancy cow w as $40.- 

 1 000, This large sum was paid for a 'Dutchess' at the great 

 sale of the YValcott & Campbell herd a couple of years ago. 

 As high as $10,000 has been frequently paid for cows both 

 iu this country and in England. At a number of recent 

 sales of shori horns in Kentucky the averages for the fe- 

 males, including heifers and yearlings, were generally over 

 $400. But these sales were of thoroughbred stock, and 

 bred mainly with reference to beef -producing qualities." 

 ■**«« . , — 



WHAT DYES THE AUTUMN LEAVES. 



What is the cause of these beautiful and endlessly diver- 

 sified colorings of the leaves in autumn? The immediate 

 cause is the lessened activity of their pores, or breathing 

 organs, owing to the feebler illuminating power of the sun, 

 which is nearer the horizon at mid-day, shines upon it 

 more obliquely, and sets sooner. It lias been observed 

 that plants bend from the red or calorific rays of Hie sun's 

 spectrum, iusiead of toward them, as they are found to do 

 in regard to every other ray. From this curious circum- 

 stance the inference has been drawn that the effect of 

 these rays is to cheek the vegetative processes, and favor 

 the formation and growth of the blossoms and fruit in 

 which the activity of every plant terminates. Light is only 

 a secondary cause of activity in blossoms, while it is the 

 principal cause of activity in leaves. If the deficiency of 

 ligtit is compensated by an increase of heat, blossoms may 

 be made active even in total darkness, while the leaves 

 will present only a very imperfect vitality. Thus we see 

 that heat favors the prodection of the blossom, while it has 

 little or no effect upon the leaves. And in accordance with 

 this, it has been further observed that the heat rays are 

 more powerful m Autumn than at any other seeson; while 

 the actinic rays which stimulate germination, and the 

 luminous rays which are required for the formation of the 

 tissue3 and their products, are proportionately diminished. 

 The rise of the sap i;j spring is quickened by the actinism 

 which is then most abundant iu the solar beams; the se- 

 cretion of carbon in summer is due to the greater predom- 

 inance of light; and the reversion of the sap, the ripening 

 of the fiuit, and the discoloration of the leaf .in autumn, 

 pwy be traced to the increased power of the parathermic 

 influence, from which the plant is found to bend, and 

 which appears to be a modified form of heat. Tiie distri- 

 bution of plants over the surface of the earth, as well as 

 their periodic changes, are dependent upon these causes — 

 the greater or less amount of actinism, light or beat in the 

 climates, and the seasons iu which they grow. Given the 

 proportion of these different principles of the sunshine of 

 different countries and seasons, and it will be easy to pre- 

 dict the character of their vegetation and the nature of 

 their vegetable products. 



Bearing these curious influences in mind, it is easy to 

 understand why, with the diminished light of the shorter 

 days of Autumn, the natural stimulant ot vegetation should 

 be correspondingly withdrawn, and the circulation of the 

 sap through the lamina, or blade of the leaf, cease. Carbon 

 cannot be formed from the atmosphere, except under the 

 influence of light; and when this stimulant is weakened, 

 the vital powers of the leaves are proportionately dimin- 

 ished, and the affinity which they have for oxygen acts 

 with little opposition. The great natural life process of deox- 

 ulatioo. not only stops but is reversed. Oxygen is absorbed, 

 v Iks product of ' combustion is given ofi * and th@ 



chlorophyl, or that carbonaceous product which gives the 

 green, healthy color to leaves, is slowly oxidized, and rusts 

 away into tbe various tints of autumn. The hues of the 

 foliage become brighter as the process of oxidation goes 

 on ; those of early autumn being dull and dark greens, 

 passing later in the season into the bright yellows and reds, 

 which make our woods full of sunshine, and their depths 

 more brilliant than the open fields, or the mountain tops. 

 The coloring of leaves and fruits undoubtedly proceeds 

 from the same cause, viz.: a cessation of the deoxidating 

 process in the contents of the superficial cells. The leaves 

 ripen in the same way that the fruit does; and the chemi- 

 cal change which the chlorophyl in both undergoes indi- 

 cates that nutrition has ceased and growth has culminated. 

 The erythopyl, or peculiar red substance which the young 

 unfolding leaves contain in early spring, before the chloro- 

 phyl has had time to develope itself, and which gives them 

 their peculiar autumnal tint, passes away as the season ad- 

 vances, lingering only in the leaf -stalks, which usually con- 

 tinue from first to last of a reddish hue; but it reappears 

 in autumn, when chlorophyl has vanished from the leaves; 

 only it is then more oxidized, and becomes comoletely dis- 

 colored by further oxidation, as in the fallen leaves that 

 have lain long on the ground. We thus see a most inter- 

 esting connection between the leaves of spring and those 

 of autumn, and are deeply impressed by the wonderful 

 co-relation between the tinting of the smallest and most 

 obscure leaf of the forest, and the changing qualities of the 

 sunshine. The leaf changes as the sumbeam itself changes; 

 and as the light of heaven fades through all the hues of the 

 spectrum, from the darker actinic to the brighter parather- 

 mic, so does the sympathetic leaf pass from the dark green 

 colors of summer to ihose brilliant tints of autumn whose 

 flue effect in the landscape we all admire. — Dt\ MacMillan, 

 i/i the Westerji liural. 



* — . 



No Notice Taken of Anonymous Communications. 



J. K., New York. —Please inform one of your subscribers to what 

 class or family of birds tbe woodcock is allotted. Does same belong to 

 tbe class called "snipes?" Ans. Yes; technically, family ecolopacidse 

 genus pbilohela. 



A. K. S., Lancaster, Pa.— Can you give me the name and address 

 of Sec. of tbe N.J. Game Proiective Society? We intend making a sim- 

 ilar association iu tbis locality, and I desire to communicate with him 

 on this subject. Ans. Address B. W. Richards, Esq., No. 104 South 

 Thirteenth street, Philadelphia. 



J. W. W. Waterbury.— I am informed that ecrne party has invented a 

 useful article of rubber for stamping or printing the number of the shot 

 on the outer wad of a loaded shell. Can you inform me where it can be 

 procured? Ans. Prom Messrs. Scott & Co., No. 291 Broadway, this 

 city. 



E. B G., Montreal.— What is the proper dose of areca nut for a set- 

 ter pup of eight or nine months old? Ans. 60 grains divided into three 

 powders of 20 grains each, and given two hours apart; four hours after 

 the last powder give one ounce castor oil. 



W. A. D., Nashua, N. H.— Will you please inform me in your paper 

 what to put on a gun barrel to imitate stub twist? Ana. We do not 

 know; but you will find an article on browning gun barrels in our issue 

 of 2d inst; have seut you some powdered areca nut, with directions for 

 its U6e. 



C. E. C, Franklin, Pa.— 1. Please inform me where I can get a Rem- 

 ington breech- loading second-hand gun, $ib, $60, or $75 grade? 2. 

 What is the price of the ''Complete American Trapper," by W. H. Gib- 

 son? Ans. 1. We know of none just now. 2. $1.75. 



E. C. B., Beverly, Mass.— Can you tell me where I can obtain a copy 

 of John Krider's' Sporting Anecdotes," and the price? Ans. Address 

 John Krider, corner Second and Walnut streets, Philadelphia. 



M. W., Wilmington, Del.— Please answer me tbe question whether a 

 slut in the first or last stages of being in heat will likely throw the most 

 dog puppies? Ans. It is considered by many breeders best to have a 

 bitch "lined" late in her season in order to have a preponderance of dog 

 pups in the litter. 



Teal, Salem, Mass —I have a fine Newfoundland dog which I want to 

 exchange for a setter that is broken, if I can; would it be possible do 

 you think? Ans. Th^difference in value between a broken setter and 

 a Newfoundland would be so great us to be equivalent to buying the 

 former. Still, your query may flnl a response from some of our readers. 



Rat*. Sandy Hill.— Some time since I observed in your paper an item 

 recommending the use of some simple article for riddiug premises of 

 rats. Having forgotten it, and lost the paper, I wish you would repeat 

 it. Ans. See Fur and Trapping Column this issue. We do not readily 

 find the recipe you speak of. 



W. L. W., Nashville, Tenn.— What snbstance could I put on the 

 sights of my rifle to make them visible in the dark? Tbe best time for 

 deer stalking is about daik or very early in the morning, and at these 

 times the sights of a rifle are very indistinct. Ans. Old backwoodsmen 

 chalk the top of the barrel from breech to muzzle. 



E. F. C Eaglesmere, Sullivan Co., Pa.— There is a fish in the Sus- 

 quehanna river near Williamsport which the fishermen call salmon; they 

 weigh from 5 to 15 pounds. Are they the genuine salmon as caught in 

 Maine and Canada? Ans . They do not belong to the sai?no family, but 

 to the percidas. They are the pike-perch (luciperca.) 



Aquarium, Lynchburg, Va.— What are the name3 of a few of the best 

 plants for a small aquarium? Can you give me the address of some 

 dealer in such stock? Ans. We mail you to day a copy of our paper of 

 July bth, 1876, which contains an illustrated article giving full instruc- 

 tions for making and keeping an aquarium. You can obtain the algse 

 from Bagot & Co., 31 Fulton btieet, New York. 



A. H. S., Boston.— How late in the season is it safe to stock a pond 

 with large black bass? Ans. At any time. They are hardy. Will 

 land-locked salmon thrive in a pond without any running water? Ans. 

 No; they need running water to spawn in. Is it well to have both land- 

 locked salmon and bass in the sauae pond? Aus. The bass will run out 

 the salmon in a short time. 



G. W. B., New Castle, N. Y.— I have a setter pup one year old that 

 has for the past six weeks been apparently sick, showing no inclination 

 to eat food of any kind, and preferring to lie out in the rain to lying in 

 a kennel, making frequent attempts to urinate with little success, and 

 most of the time sleepy and drowsy. If you can inform me of a remedy 

 by which he can be cured I shall be much obliged. Ans. Try the con- 

 dition powders we have mailed to you. 



R. S. McC, York Snl Spring.— Can you tell me what ails my setter 

 dogjandwhatl had better do for him? He slobbers a great deal es- 

 pecially while hunting; his eyes are red, and discharge a white matter 

 more in the morning than during the dav; he has a good appetite and 

 hunts well. Ans. Your setter may have defective teeth. Examine his 

 mouth carefully; give him the condition powders sent to you by mail. 



A. M. W., Catskill, N. Y.— Can you recommend me to some pleasant 

 place in North Carolina to pass the winter where I can have good water 

 fowl and some land shooting. It would also be requisite that the town be a 

 desirable one for ladies, as I shall take my family with me. Ans. We 

 would recommend Newberne, which is highly spoken of by Hon. G. 

 1. Wset, a northern gentlemen who has settled there, as aSer&ing cs 

 se&e&f Peseta and upland shooting, 



N. M. H., New York City.— Can you give me any iniormation in re- 

 gard to the duck and snipe shooting near Wilmington, N. O. ? I under- 

 stand the quail shooting is good near the city, but I particularly desire 

 to find snipe. How early do the snipe reach Wilmington in the autumn? 

 Ans. On the river beiow Wilmington and in the vicinity of Smithville 

 you will find good duck and snipe shooting. The arrival of the snipe 

 varies, generally in October and November they are abundant. 



G. W. F., New Galilee.— Please publish in your next issue what dog 

 in the Irish setter class took first premium at the bench show for dogs at 

 Pittsburgh; also the color and by who and where owned. It has been 

 loft to you to decide on a bet. Ans. We have not a report of the Pitts- 

 burg show at hand, but if you will write to James Johnson, Esq., 

 Secretary Tradesman's Industrial Institute, Pittsburg, Pa., you ..will get 

 the information. 



S., New York.— 1. What is your opinion of rebounding locks? I am 

 told they are liable to get out of order, and that they soon wear out. 

 Would you have them? 2. Would you trust a single bolt, or would it be 

 wisest in the end to take a gun with double bolts. 3. Would you advise 

 having one barrel choke-bored? 4. Is Clabrough a first-class gun 

 maker? Ans. 1. When on a gun by a first class maker we prefer re- 

 bounding locks. 2. Take the double bolt by all means. 3. No, unless 

 you are an expert or wish to use your gun in pigeon matches. 4. Yes. 



W. H., Jr., New Orleans.— Having purchased a cocker spaniel pup 

 of S. J. Bestor, Hartford, Conn., I am anxious to put her in good care 

 and in training very soon, and write to you to ask where such a man can 

 be found? My slut is three months old at date, and in a month will be 

 capable of learning to some degree. My wish is to have her broken on 

 woodcock? Ans. Cocker spaniels are seldom used in this section of the 

 country and we do not know of any one who wouid properly break yours- 

 Perhaps Mr. Bestor can recommend a breaker.' 



H. S., Golden's Bridge, N. Y.— Is there any duck shooting within 

 about two hours' ride by railroad from New York? Ans. Some of our 

 best duck shooters went this week to the Great South Bay, Long Island, 

 which is excellent ground and the best we know of within two hours 

 ride of New York. It is justly called, "Good Ground," and the pro- 

 prietors of shooting boxes there have every appliance for the convenience 

 of the sportsman. The oeason is unusually warm, and flights are back- 

 ward; nevertheless we believe there is a good show for the gunner. The 

 fir3t cold northeaster will drive the wild fowl into the bay. 



C. E. B.. Brookline, Mass.— What are the game laws of Maine as re- 

 gards sending birds, etc., out of the State for the market? Is it so that 

 a person could or could not send partridges, etc., to Boston? Ans. The 

 section of the revised game laws of Maine, approved February 18ib, 

 1876, which applies to your query, reaels as follows: "No person shall 

 kill or expose for sale, oi have in possession, except alive, at any time, 

 any woodcock or ruffed grouse with the intention of sending or trans- 

 porting, or of having the same sent or transported beyond the limits of 

 the State, under a penalty of not less than $5 or more that $10," etc., 

 etc. 



T. F. M., New York.— Will you, through the medium of your paper, 

 answer the following questions: A buys $50 worth of pool tickets, and 

 after having them a few days feels confident that the darty he bets on 

 will be defeeted. B thinks otherwise, and offers A $25 for bis tickets, A 

 sells them to B. If it is considered a draw bet, is not B bound by all 

 rules of betting, to return those tickets to A for same price paid for 

 them? Ans. Decidedly not. A in selling his tickets for $25 accepts a 

 loss of a similar amount to be out of the transaction. B therefore is 

 entitled to all chances, even to that of having the bet decided a draw 

 and receiving the money from the pool box. 



R. C. T., Baltimore, Md. — I took my dog to a friend's house for a 

 week's shooting. I chained him with oiher dogs in a stable; he barked 

 the ensuing night and for two nights afterward, though hunted hard both 

 days. I tried him unchained with game effect. He is used to being 

 chained at home and does not bark when there, but invariably barks all 

 night when at a strange place. Can you assign a reason for so doing 

 and suggest a remedy? Anu. The cause of dogs barking when left alone 

 in a strange place, is his anxiety to get to his master or his home. One 

 which continues this bad habit shows a want of proper management, by 

 his owner. We have never owned or seen one we could not silence, ef- 

 fectually with a three-foot raw-hide. 



H. J. T., Morris, 111.— 1. I see your paper is published on Thursday- 

 Could I by subscribing at the office and having it mailed obtain it by 

 Saturday noon, our mail leaving Chicago 10:30 a. m. ? (I don't get it now 

 til Monday noon). 2. In Capt. Bogardus s trip to England, page 140, 

 he says he is about to write another book giving his views and experien- 

 ces. Do you know anything of it; if so, when is it likely to be pub- 

 lished and the price? 3. I would like to obtain some areca nut, with 

 directions, but cannot do so here. Where can I do 60, and the probable 

 cost? Ans. 1. Our papers are mailed on Wednesday evening, which 

 should place it in Chicago on Friday morning and consequently with 

 you on Saturday. 2. We have heard nothing of the book. 3. The 

 areca nut has been sent you. 



A. B. D , New York.— I wish to go to Florida, and will stay proba bly 

 three are four months. Shall take a Bond boat, 14 feet, tent, rifles, shot 

 gun, ammunition, etc., and some provisions from here. Where do you 

 think would be the best place to start in, St. John's liver above St. 

 George's Lake, or at Bronson, where you told "Florida" this week? 

 Ans. There is little difference in the game to be found at both places. 

 Can a person find plenty cf game on St. John's river and tributaries? 

 Ans. Principal game on the St. Johns are raft ducks, limkins, water-tur 

 keys, turtles and alligators. Would it be as hea'tuy a place to camp so 

 long asabout Cedar Keys or Bronson? Ans. Bronson is the healthiest. 

 Could I get good pork, etc., about Enterprise and above, in case I had 

 to get a new supply? Ans. The woods are full of it. Can also buy it 

 at Melonville, near Lake Monroe, opposite Enterprise. Using a small 

 boat only to go from place to place, would I find the river rough enough 

 to interfere with such means of travel? Ans. No, except on the main 

 river and open lakes, where it is squally at times. 



G. S. H., Providence.— I had a setter bitch 18 months old that had one 

 litter of pups five months ago, and has always been in good health up to 

 last Sunday, (November 5th), but did not have the distemper. In the 

 afternoon, of Sunday, she commenced frothing at the mouth, looking up 

 in my face and giving a howling bark. Monday, was much worse, could 

 not eat nor drink, although she tried to, Tuesday growing worse and 

 weaker, mouth half open, tongue dark colored and hanging out of her 

 mouth all the time. Wednesday, worse, eyes surken in head, tongue 

 swollen and^dark colored; jumping, snapping, and biting at everything 

 in her reach. She was so dangerous tkat I nad to kill her. Her nose 

 was moist and cold, feet and body natural heat. As this is not the first 

 dog that died on me with this disease I would like a little information ? 

 Ans. We have known instances of dogs having swallowed indigestable 

 or poisonous substances, and showing such symptoms as you have de- 

 scribed, but in all probability yours was affected with rabies, and iu 

 destroying her you did the best thing under the circumstunces. 



A. H. C Glen's Fal's.— 1. Can Rosevelt's "Game Fish of the North," 

 and "Superior Fishing," be procured, or are they out of print? 2. Al 

 lowing for the "classification being very bad," by what arrangement did 

 Mr. Adams's Duke take prize as best dog pup in Laverack class and best 

 dog in Gordon class at Springfield Show in 1875. Vide "American Kennel 

 and Sporting Field. "Bad classification" will perhaps account for Dora 

 taking first in English, Irith, and Native class, and being credited in 

 "American Kennel and Sporting Field," with first in Gordon class, 

 Springfield, 1875, but the same dog, if he is the same, taking prizes in 

 two classes, in neither of which he belongs, I really do not understand? 

 Ans. 1. The books are out of print but occasionall a stray copy can be 

 picked up; write to Carletou &Co., publishers, under the 5th avenue 

 hotel, this city. 2. Referring to the list of entries we find that Mr, 

 Adams had a dog Duke entered in the Laverack class and a Duke in the 

 Gordon setterclass. The crediting Dora, i» the '-American Kennel-toi 

 Sporting Field" witn being first iJQ M»S Go^S £b2S at Sprtn-gugM f#j m 

 #sl error oa ihe pari ®i tSs ftStasf i 



