FOREST AND STREAM. 



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ENGLISH SPARROWS IN MINNESOTA. 



Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 26th. 

 Editor of Forest and Stream:— 



Since tne English House Sparrow (Passer domesiicus) was 

 introduced into America, it has been gradually spreading 

 over the country, and we have now to report it as in 

 Minnesota. A flock of ten or twelve individuals has taken 

 up its abode in the business portion of tuis city. I first 

 noticed them on October 19th of the present year, and 

 have since seen them frequently. Whether they came 

 here of their own accord, or were imported by some enter- 

 prising citizen, I cannot say. They seem to have a par- 

 ticular fancy for the surroundings of a certain dwelling 

 house, but the man living there says that he did not intro- 

 duce them. I look forward with considerable interest to 

 gee how they will stand the winter in this locality. If the 

 mercury falls to 80 degrees below zero, as it occasionally 

 does here, it will probubly be a new experience in their 



lives. Bob. 

 «»«». . 



ARRIVALS AT THE PHILADELPHIA ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS DEC. 2 >.— 



One alligator (A. musimppiensib). presented, by Samuel F. Keely. Rox- 

 borongh, Pa. ; one horned toad (Phryno.oma cornuta), presented by Wm. 

 Ii Famous, Philadelphia; one black spider monkey (Aides ater), pre- 

 sented by Robert Kevin, Philadelphia;one bald eagle (ITdlicetus leucocepha 

 lut) and one snowy owl (Nycteanivea), purchased; one loon (Colymbaslor- 

 huatus), presented; one common gannet (Lula bassana), presented bv 

 W. B. Zeru, Atlantic City, N. J. Arthur E. Brown, General Super- 

 intendent. 



faodhnd, <$arm and {jfjiardm. 



FERNERIES. 



FERNS are plants which give little trouble to grow, 

 and j^et they are seldom found in the parlor or sit- 

 ting-room. For those who do not possess a large Fernery, 

 there can be no more interesting or pleasing occupation 

 than attending to and watching the growth of these in their 

 miniature house. Wardian cases can be purchased at a 

 reasonable figure, and plain cases are just as suitable as 

 those that are more ornamental and costly. Where there 

 is room a large-sized case is moredesirable, as larger grow- 

 ing ferns can be used, more variety introduced, and a few 

 small suspended baskets used to great advantage, As re- 

 gards cultivation, the first thing to be considered is drain- 

 age, for if this is defective neither flowers nor any other 

 plants can be successfully cultivated. Probably the be i t 

 method is to have a false zinc bottom to the fernery, with 

 a little tap fixed in one co] ner of it, so that the surplus 

 water that drains from the upper perforated zinc bottom 

 may be drawn off without any danger of spoiling the car- 

 pet. For large ferneries free ventilation is also desirable, 

 and the plants will thrive much better if the upper portion 

 of the case is left open, more especially in the middle of 

 the day. A fence of rock work looks well in the center, 

 and- when plauted tastefully, adds much to the charm of 

 such a fernery. For soil, ferns being impatient of manure, 

 a mixture of good turfy loam, peat leaf mould (well de- 

 cayed) and sand is most desirable, always trying to have 

 the soil free and porous, as ferns, of all plants, delight in 

 plenty of water, a free soil and good drainage. If the 

 case is large it migh\t be advisable to have an arch from 

 end to end, on which could be trained, two plants of the 

 Japanese Climbing Fern [Lygodiums scandeus); from the cen- 

 ter of the arch a tiny basket of Maiden Hair Fern, or 

 some neat growing fern, could be suspended. In planting 

 the Ferns care should be taken to plant the dark green va- 

 rieties next the light— in fact to produce light and shade— 

 and not to plant them as they come to hand. The same 

 remarks apply to the smaller round ferneries, care being 

 taken when they are first planted to remove any decaying 

 leaves at once, and to give them all the light possible with- 

 out, of course, placing them in the strong sunlight. For 

 suitable varieties the following can be recommended, and 

 can be had of almost any florist: Pteris serrulata, P. 

 cretica alba lineata, P. hastata, P. tremula and other 

 Brakes, Adiantums or Maiden's Hair Fern, almost any 

 variety; Aspidium earyotideum, and A. falcatum; 

 the various Lycopods and Selagonellas, and in fact 

 anything of the Fern family except the Golden and Silver 

 Gymnogrammas and Nothoclaenas, will thrive admirably. 

 The latter are too impatient of moisture on the ponds to 

 be of any service. W. J. D. 



<*-«MB» . , 



Roman Hyacinths.— We see quite a number of the 

 beautiful Roman Hyacinths in the florist's windows al- 

 ready, and do not remember to have se.n them so soon in 

 market. Its lovely congener, the Lily of the Valley, will 

 soon be had also, and with a few Marie Louise violets and 

 Bon Selene roses, what bunch of flowers could be sweeter 

 or more attractive? 



The Dauk Neapolitan Violet— Maiiie Louise. — This 

 Variety has much larger flowers than the common Neapol- 

 itan violet, and as a boquet violet is much superior to it. 

 It also possesses a rich dark violet color peculiarly its own 

 and is a decided acquisition. 



«#*+. - 



A TJseeul Lesson.— The theory of "winter-killing" of 

 vegetation is imperfectly understood, and even among 

 those who have paid more or less attention to the science 

 of the subject there seems to be diversity of opinion. A 

 close obseivance of facts bearing on the matter will convey 

 many a useful hint in regard to protection, not necessarily 

 from extreme cold, but from the combined influence of a 

 low temperature ana excessive dryness both in the air and 

 spiL We may lay it down as a reasonable hypothesis that 



more trees and plants are fatally injured during the winter 

 by a severe drouth than by extreme cold, and this we are 

 aware is the especial point upon which the doctors differ. 

 Many of our readers have unpleasant recollection of I hat 

 fat A winter a few years since, when all kinds of v geta- 

 tioG suffeied so severely without regard to previous record 

 of hardiness; when such irou -clad trees as the Norway 

 spruce, Scotch pine, and American arbor vilse were either 

 killed outright or irreparably damaged. The mercury did 

 not mark a low average nor did it fall in most localities to 

 an unusually low degree, and yet the damage caused by 

 the combined action of the elements was more severe on 

 vegetation than that of any witter on record. 



The facts of ihe case were these: Little or no rain fell 

 for several weeks, the ground was dry and dusty all winter 

 long, there was no snow to act as a mulch, and then when 

 the "cold snaps'' did appear the moisture contained in the 

 plants was evaporated a d the tissues injured beyond re- 

 demption. In but few instances did the plants show at 

 once how badly they w> re affected, but as the mild days of 

 early spring exerted au intluence upon vegetation, stimula- 

 ting the growth, then on every hand, appeared the con- 

 spicuous evidences of the destructive winter. The cone- 

 bearing evergreens first told the tale of disaster by a grad- 

 ual change from the usual tint of green to a brownish 

 tinge. The deciduous trees and shrubs that had fallen 

 under the bau quickly began to shrivel, the bark in many 

 instances standing in ridges along the younger shoots, and 

 the herbaceous perennials had the appearance of being 

 dried up entirely. Such was the feuriul record, and to 

 guard against the possibility of even a comparatively simi- 

 lar winter we should use such precautions as suggest them- 

 selves to every careful orehafdist and gardener. 



What strikes us as of paramount importance, is to retain 

 the moisture ui the soil and 10 guard against the strong 

 drying winds. There is no mystery in the ease, and noth- 

 ing but w hat may be partially guarded against by adopting 

 the simplest plans known to horticulturists. A thorough 

 mulching over the surface of the soil, aud any slight bar- 

 rier placed around the plant will, in n.ost cases, prove 

 highly beneficial, not unfrequently to the extent ol saving 

 its life. It is time to cease talking about certain species as 

 not hardy because they have suffered from the winter, as 

 the situations and surroundings cast an influence for good 

 or evil upon particular plants whose constitutions ate 

 adapted to our climate when a few precautious are taken 

 to preserve them, (here are many specie-, however, that 

 will not survive, no matter where set or how much care is 

 exercised in their behalf, and these constitute the cla-s 

 whhh enthusiasts are endeavoring to "acclimate. " It 

 would be as well, perhaps?, if we had no such word in our 

 vocabulary, so far as arboriculture is concerned, for a ten 

 der tree or plant cannot be made to change its nature more 

 than the leopard its spots. The whole question will natur- 

 ally resolve it-,elf into this shape: those who dislike trouble 

 will plant on 1 / the few species which are positively known 

 to ee haidy, while a few will continue to test those of 

 doubtlul character. — AT. Y. Tribune, 



A House's Countenance.— In conformity with the un- 

 iform condition of the Creator's works, it will be found 

 that there is a direct relation between Ihe development and 

 shape of the hoise's forehead and his disposition and quali- 

 ties. A head that is narrow between the eyes, and narrow 

 on the side of the jaw, is disagreeable to the eye of every 

 judge. However ornamental it may be to the human face, 

 a Roman nose certainly does not improve tne appearance 

 of the horse. The line of beauty iu the one case is very 

 different from the other. A dish-faced horse is admired 

 on- all hands, but a pug-nosed man, with a projecting,*up- 

 turned chin, will have some difficulty in carrying off the 

 prize for beauty. The face must be very broad between 

 the eyes, but it should taper a little as it approaches the 

 ears. If the breadth is carried all the way upwards, the 

 top of the head will be loo wide, the ear ill set, and the 

 horse probably sulky. 



As in the human being, so in the horse, a great deal of 

 the expression of the countenance depends on the eye. It 

 is a most marvelous index to the working of the mind 

 within. A glance at it will often reveal the benevolent 

 feeling, the sulky disposition, or the vicious propensity 

 that is about to manifest itself. The reason of all this 

 must be obvious, when we remember that, it is in direct 

 communication with the brain — the material instrument 

 through which the mind operates. The eye of the horse 

 should be kiudly, strong, bold, and fiery, yU gentle-look- 

 ing. It should not show much white, as that often indi- 

 cates a vicious disposi ion. Ahorse tkat is looking *ack 

 so far as to expose the white of his eye, is generally on the 

 alert for mischief, and is not to be trusted vvith his heels. 

 The absolute size of the eye is said to be nearly the same 

 in all full-size horses; but its apparent size differs greatly 

 iu different cases. This difference is owing chietly to its 

 forward or backward position in the socket, together with 

 the thinness and openness of the eyelids. The eye gives a 

 strong indication both of the temper and temperament of 

 the animal; and it is easy to judge from it whether activity 

 or sluggishness prevails most. 



«»•«. 



Plant Growing in Glazed Pots.— It is generally be- 

 lieved that plants succeed best in pots which' are most po- 

 rous. Mr. Thompson, gardener at Diumlanrig Castle, 

 Scotland, (the Duke of Buccleugh's) entertains, however, 

 adifferent opinion. More than half th. orchids, stove 

 plants, ferns, and even hard-wooded plants grown there, 

 are in pots which are thickly glazed from top to bottom, 

 and the growth of one and all is wonderfully fine. The 

 five foliage plants are indeed marvels of health aud bright 

 color, and many of the orchids are unequalled in the 

 country. Mr. Thompson informed me hut, as the other 

 plants which are in common clay pots n quire shifting, he 

 intends substituting glazed ones. The latter never be- 

 come green or dirty -looking, and all they require to renew 

 their original gloss, when soiled in any way, is a rub with 

 a sponge or rough cloth. — J. Muir in "The Garden," Lon- 

 don. 



Keeping Apples — It is worth while to try experiments 

 now in keeping apples, as they are easily performed, and 

 the results may prove valuable. We have found by long 

 repeated experiment, that apples stored in an out-house 

 opening north Jill nearly the first of December, will keep 

 several weeks, and sometimes even mouths, longer than 

 if taken at once to the cellar as soon as picked from the 

 trees. They are kept cool through the last half of autumn. 

 Much may be gained as well as learned, by keeping one or 

 more thermometers in the fruit room, and swinging the 



windows open wide enough to bring the temperature nearly 

 down to freezing at all times. At the same time, the ex- 

 clusion of air-currents is an important, assistance. One 

 hundred apples, wrapped merely in tissue paper, kept 

 longer for this reason than a hundred exposed. Hence, 

 also, the great advantage of packing in dry sawdust or in 

 pulverized plaster. The temperature is thus kept more 

 uniform, and the fruit may be placed in a colder room 

 without danger of freezing. Wrapping each specimen in 

 thin paper first would be useful. Where dry sawdust is 

 easily obtained, it is well worth trying, either in open 

 barrels or boxes. It is the exclusion of air that keeps 

 apples better in barrels, and this would be one of the best 

 modes, if the first decaying specimens could be seen and 

 removed before tainting all the rest. 



— -♦♦♦— 



— Speaking of sheep now arriving at New York, the 

 American Agriculturist says: " A marked improvement is 

 noticeable in the quality of sheep which come to the mar- 

 ket. • Whole flocks of sheep, which will average over 100 

 IDs. may now be seen in pens in place of poor animals 

 weighing but 60 to 70 lbs. This is the effect of the rapid 

 introduction of pure bred sheep of the different varieties, 

 but chiefly of Cotswold. In good time the American mut- 

 ton will be equal to that of England; it is nearly so now in 

 weight of carcass, and will be so in quality aud flavor of 

 the meat, if farmers will raise roots upon which to feed 

 their sheep. One acre of turnips or mangels is equal to 

 ten of grass for fodder, and when fed with straw, and 

 helped out with a little bran or oil cakes, roots are cer- 

 tainly the cheapest food that can be produced. 



Chinese Big Tubes.— China has its big trees as well as 

 California. About thirty miles from Nikko, an avenue of 

 sugi, or cedar trees, begins, and, with an occasional break 

 where there is a village, it reaches the whole distance to 

 the shrines of Lycias — he longest avenue of shade in the 

 world. These great trees are from five to seven feet in 

 diameter at the base, and tower without a branch for fifty 

 or eighty feet, and then lilt their heads foity or fifty feet 

 higher. They resemble the giants of the Yosemile. The 

 trunks are faultlessly straight and the bark is deeply 

 veined. There arc about 80,000 trees on this avenue, and 

 all of them were planted after the foundation of the shrine, 

 about 250 yeais ago. 



DANIEL IN SEARCH OF A 



Selected. 

 DOG. 



[Fill the fifteen b'anks with the names of as many varieties of dogs.] 

 There was a man whose name was Daniel. 



1. lie had a very handsome . 



He, thought he'd change it foe a better; 



2. (So he bought, instead, a splendid ; 



Though soon he soJd it for a farrier, 



3. And tried to buy a well-trained ; 



But found the salesman a deceiver, 



4. And took instead a black ; 



And thnn, to make him all the merrier, 



5. He purchased a most lively ; 



Then stepped aside ana bought an eagle, 



6. Yet fancied he should like a , 



Which undesirable he found, 



7. So changed it for a young ; 



Them saw upon a crimson rug 



8. What he declared "a lovely ." 



He wished to own it when his eye 



9. Fell on a little dog lrom ; 



But as he whistled "Yankee Boodle," 



10. Up sprang a very clever ; 



While close beside him there did stand 



11. A huge black coated ; - 



And yet to purchase it was folly; 



12. He'd rather have a faithful ; 



Or, thought to get one might be hard, 



13. He'd like to have a . 



Just then a man like an Albanian 



14. Led by a snowy , 



But how the little creature snarls I 



15. 'Tis snappish as a small . 



So many dogs did quite confuse, 

 And Daniel found it hard to choose, 

 And quite impossible to find 



One that was suited to his mind; 



Some were too large and some too small, 



And so he'd have no dog at all. 



. -**•&- . 



FEEDING PUPPIES. 



FROM one of our correspondents, Mr. T. D. G., of 

 Louisville, Ky., we have the following inquiry: — 

 - "Pleai c give me your opinion as to the feeding of puppies. 

 I have a brace, and my friend says they should have all the 

 meat they can eat; that meat is far better than any other 

 food. I contend that cocu-bread and soup boiled together 

 for small puppies is better. He also states that puppies 

 should be pushed in their growth while small." 



In answer let us say that no animal can be expected to 

 attain his full size and form unless he has a full supply of 

 wholesome food. Only those breeders who have given the 

 matter close attention can realize how much food a healthy, 

 growing puppy will consume, consequently very many 

 puppies are stunted in their growth for want of a sufficient 

 quantity of the proper kind of nourishment. ^ 



Some bitches will supplyample nourishment for nine or ten 

 puppies until they are four or five weeks old. Others have 

 very little milk, and cannot sustain more than four or five 

 for but a short time. Our course has been to watch closely 

 what the bitch is doing for her progeny, and to supply the 

 deficiency if it is required. Even when the bitch appears 

 to have an ample supply of milk to Keep the pups in good 

 condition it is decidedly better to commence feeding the 

 litter with other food when they are, say about four weeks 

 old, in order to avoii the sudden change of food when 

 they are taken from the mother; and about the best food 

 to give them is sweet cow's milk with the addition of a 

 little scalding hot water; and then, after a few days, add 

 to this some well-cooked porn meal or oat meal, and then, 

 when the puppies get to be seven or eight weeks old ? give 



