430 



FOREST AJMU S1MAM. 



are prepared to attack tiic most savage hawk that ever clawed a dog's 

 nose. Before you Jiavo driven a mile you notice a large, dark object 

 perched upon the dead limb of an oak tree at the very edge of the road, 

 about 2(io yards ahead. There lie is, sure enough. Pop in your cart- 

 ridge ; click— you are loaded. How, look out. Nearer and nearer ; only 

 fifty yards. He doesn't stir— feels lazy after his breakfast of quail, no 

 doubt. Bring your horse to a walk. Don't shoot yet ; take It easy— he 

 won't fly. Thirty yards— twenty-flve. " Whoa, Dolly." Now— bang! 

 Down he comes, stone dead. Dolly behaved well. Started a little, 

 snorted a good deal, pawed the ground, but didn't budge from her tracks. 

 Get out ami pat her on the neck. " Good girl." Now pick up your hawk. 

 Isn't he rouser ! Four feet at least from tip to tip. What a bill he has, 

 and such claws ! Good bye to the quail he goes for. W T ell, throw him 

 Into the buggy and get in yourself . Oil' you go. HSrSJ What is that? 

 A scries of shrill protracted sounds, something between a whistle and 

 a scream, comes from somewhere not far off. Can that be another 

 hawk ? Yes, there he sits on that leafless persimmon tree in the centre 

 of a neighboring field. There was a covey of birds in that field last 

 month, and some of them are probably about yet. Pine ones they are, 

 too. That hawk knows it as well as you do, for he has made a square 

 meal of one that very morning. But he is beginning tq feel the want of 

 a little exercise,or a trifle peckish again, and the scream you iust heard 

 was as much as to say that he is going on the warpath. His yellow 

 breast shines in the sunlight, and with all his feathers ruffed up to ab- 

 sorb the warmth, he looks as big as an eagle. Doubtless he thinks him- 

 self secure in so commanding a posion— but what is this ? A horse and 

 buggy have entered the held where the bars are down, and are coming 

 directly toward him . He recognizes them at once. They passed him 

 the other day when he was admiring the landscape from the top of a 

 cedar tree at the roadside. The man in the buggy is the same who said 

 "By jingo " as he went by— he remembers it perfectly— and is, no doubt, 

 coming to gather persimmons. " Well, he's welcome to them, I'm 

 sure," says he to himself, "I can't abide 'em. But I won't play dog in 

 the manger, so I'll be off." And with a preparatory shake, to settle his 

 plumage, he spreads his wings, glides off into the air,,and— bang!— to 

 his astonishment, he comes to the ground the most badly demoralized 

 specimen of ornithology tin's side of Plevna. A-ha ! that was a good 

 shot— forty yards if an inch. Get out— Dolly will stand— and go up to 

 him. As you upproaeh he raises himself on his legs and tail outspread, 

 and with open beak and crest erected, is ready to give battle on the 

 spot. "What a ^wJ-lendid eye!" he has (as J. Steele Mackaye onoe 

 said of an owl 1 had shot), and yet how wicked and defiant as thus he 

 stands upon the defensive. In spite of a broken wing there is plenty of 

 fight in liim yet. Involuntarily, you feel a sort of pity for him— a pity 

 born of the pluck he shows^and you half wish that you had either killed 

 liim outright or missed him altogether. But, as you advance your foot 

 to turn him over on his breast, he wheels savagely, and, as quick as 

 lightning, strikes his needle -pointed talons through your boot. Away 

 goes your sympathy; and Btepping back a few yards— or, rather, limp- 

 ing back— you convert that hawk into a first-class lead mine with the 

 utmost promptness and satisfaction. K. 



the spawning season. Having observed a singular phenomenon or. 

 the whitefisli taken from the large lakes in this Northwest country, it 

 may be interesting to you to learn that here also in the fall, during the 

 spawning season only, is that remarkable rising of the centre of each 

 scale observable. I do not remember now whether both sexes are 

 affected in a like manner. I cannot be mistaken, as I am familiar both 

 with the appearance and flavor of this delicious fish, having netted num- 

 bers of whitefish the whole year round. Here the whitefisli is an im- 

 portant item of food to the hunter and trader, and many of our native 

 settlers can be seen encamped on the lake shores ab out the time of the 

 full moon in October catching this fish, and it is no rare feat for one 

 family, working five or six gill nets, to " speet " (£. c, to hang from the 

 tall on a stage) two thousand fine whitefish. 

 In haste, yours truly, Clement] Smith. 



THE TRUE BRANT IN KANSAS. 



Nkosho Falls, Kansas, Deo. 5, 1877. 

 Editor Forest and Stkram: 



Referring to Mr. Greene Smith's article in your paper of the 15th 

 nit., under the heading "Brant," and to your request thereunder, I 

 take pleasure In informing Mr. Smith that he will find the true brant, 

 Branta bernicla, in the collection ot tiff State Board of Agriculture at 

 the eapitol, Topeka, Kansas, in charge of Us secretary, Hon. Alfred C. 

 Gray. The bird was skinned and mounted by O. S. George, Esq., who, 

 laet month wrote me (from San Jose, Cal., where he now resides) 

 taat. the brant was killed in February, 1873, at Topeka, by C. Arm- 

 strong, on the Kansas River, just below the A. T. and S. F. R. R. 

 bridge. 



I also take the liberty to copy from letter of January 26 last, from 

 Prof. F. 11. Snow, State University, Lawrence, Kansas, viz. : " * * In 

 regard to the brant goose : While duck shooting in the late fall of 186T, 

 about four miles south of Lawrence, my companion (a friend from the 

 East) amused me by raising his gun and firing at a large flock of 

 geese flying at a great height. I should not have thought of shooting 

 at such long-range, but I was astonished to see one of the birds drop 

 (lead at his feet. This I identified as the brant goose, Branta bernicla. 

 Its occurrence may of eourse have been exceptional, and I should be 

 glad to see other captures made." I feel confident from their peculiar 

 flight (that is, occasionally bunching up) that I have seen a few flocks, 

 but were flying so high I am not positive. I have aho been told by 

 several sportsmen, "old bay Bhooters," that they have seen and shot 

 them here, which I am inclined to believe. Still, as (he Snow 

 Ilutehius and white- fronted geese are all known as brant, I would not 

 give or take such evidence as conclusive. If the statements of Dr. 

 Cones and Prof. Snow fail to convince Mr. Smith that the Branta ber- 

 nicla do occasionally come inland, I would respectfully suggest that 

 he write Mr. Gray, who will, I think, take pleasure in sending him the 

 b ""d. i> t N. S. Gobs. 



Rtjffed Gbouse's Dbumming. — A correspondent writes from 

 Nottingham, N. II., concerning the drumming of the ruffed 

 grouse : " I have killed a great many while in the act of 

 drumming. They seem to stretch themselves up as high as 

 possible, bringing their wings full forward and not apparently 

 against their side. I do not think it is a love note, for thev 

 drum after they have paired off, and while the mate is laying 

 and hatching. I have frequently seen the king partridge 

 spoken of by your correspondent. I have frequently seen 

 them strutting iu the same way and thought no more of it 

 han to see a cock turkey do the same." 



. !-»»—. 



The Sexes of Whitefish.— A point to which Fred 

 Mather, Esq., recently called our attention respecting certain 

 characteristic marks on whitefish, last week evolved from 

 Prof. Milner, of the Smithsonian Institution, some positive 

 and desired information. The pursuit of the subject has now 

 brought to light a fact, undoubtedly not generally knowD, 

 that these self-same characteristics, or the lack of them, indi- 

 cate the sexes in the fish. We quote the following letters as 

 authority on this point : 



V Kkllkt's I8I,and, Ohio, Dec SI, 1S77 



Mr. EoiTOK-ln your issue of the 13th, Mr. F. Mather asks if an ele- 

 vation of the centre of each scale, making a ridge on the lateral line of 

 the scales, of the males of the whitefish (C. alba) has been observed in 

 thWoouMiy. Ithas, and for years, and here (the centre of the white- 

 fish trade) it is the st^n by which the he ash have been selected by 

 buyers. Females have slight ridges, males much greater. It is more 

 noticeable by feeling than by sight, Yours, chas. Carpenter. 



Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dec. 25, 1S77. 

 Ejht. .ti Forest and Stream ; 



erved a note from Mr. Mather, in your issue of the 13th Inst 

 ■■"fig a peculiarity in the scales of the Prussian whitefish during 



To "Elk." — Our attention has been called by a cor- 

 espondent to an article which recently appeared in these 

 columns entitled "Moose Hunting in Nova Scotia," in which 

 the writer speaks of having killed a moose which was "a 

 nearly pure-bred elk." No little confusion has arisen, both 

 in the books and among sportsmen, from the fact that the 

 elk of Europe, Akes malcJiii, is the moose of America, while 

 the elk of this country, Cervus canadensis, is a totally differ- 

 ent animal, closely related to the red deer of Europe. It is 

 therefore often difficult to know of what species writers are 

 speaking when they give only the English names of their 

 game. In this case, however, our correspondent has spoken 

 of moose, and then almost immediately speaks of a " nearly 

 pure-bred elk." 



The American elk or wapiti is not found in Nova Scotia, 

 and if it were we should never see a hybrid between it and the 

 moose. Such a melange is quite unheard of, although in the 

 mountains of the Northwest elk and moose are often found 

 occupying the same range. 



Will "Elk" help us on this question by explaining what 

 he means by "a nearly pure-bred elk." 



previously mentioned, cleanliness is of the first importance. 

 Sponging with lukewarm water, or showering the whole 

 plant copiously, will do much to keep the plants in good con- 

 dition, the frequency of which will, of course, depend upon 

 the necessities of the case or the nature of the plant. In- 

 sect enemies are numerous, though easily kept in subjection 

 by constant watchfulness. The aphis, or green fly, and the 

 brown and black thrip can be destroyed by tobacco smoke ; 

 but the best aud most Bimple method of keeping house plants 

 clear of all manner of insect life— red spider and mealy bug 

 included— is to dip them occasionally in water at a tempera- 

 ture of 130 deg. to 140 deg. P. This not only cleans the 

 whole plant thoroughly from dust, but, without hurting it in 

 the least, kills all insect life— eggs and all— on it. Next 

 week wc will enumerate a few of the plants we have found 

 most suited for house culture. 



For Forest and Stream and Bod and, Gim. 

 ORIGIN OF THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF 

 STRAWBERRIES. 

 [Concluded.] 



^aadhttd, ^mm and (^m&m. 



THIS DEPARTMENT IS EDITED BY W. J. DAVIDSON, SEO. N. Y. 

 HOETIOTJLTORAL SOCIETY. 



HOUSE PLANTS. 



IN the houses of the poor as well as in the parlors of the 

 rich do we see the love of these bright gifts of nature 

 manifest itself— often in the former case the only indication 

 of any appreciation of the beautiful. There are few indeed 

 who do not love plants in their homes, and many more would 

 have them were they not deterred from doing so, either by 

 their fear of being unsuccessful or by their lack of success in 

 the past. Many writers also on this subject begin by inform- 

 ing their readers that no person need attempt a window gar- 

 den, except it be ivy and ferns, unless they can have them in 

 the full sunshine, and likewise that the heated air from a fur- 

 nace, and more especially the burning of gas in the room, is 

 death to the plants. Doubtless they require as pure an air as 

 possible, and while admitting that foul air, etc., is injurious, 

 probably the most fruitful cause of ill health in house plants 

 is dust. A plant breathes through myriads of pores existing 

 more or less numerously in the foliage, according to the spe- 

 cies. The fine dust always floating in the air of living rooms 

 settles upon the plants, and just so much as the pores become 

 clogged, so much is the health of the plant affected bv tba 

 stoppage of one of its vital functions. Sponging with luke- 

 warm water, or removing the plant to a sink or bath tub and 

 showering the whole plant liberally with a sprinkler, is an 

 easy remedy, and the increased healthiness of the plant will 

 soon show its appreciation of the generous treatment. An- 

 other fruitful cause of disappointment is the vitiated air of 

 our living rooms, more especially where the life of the air is 

 dried out of it by the red hot iron of our furnaces or stoves. 

 From such modes of heating houses gases escape more or less 

 contaminating the air. Where gas also is used a large per- 

 centage escapes unconsumed into the air of the room. Evapo- 

 ration of water in stoves and furnaces is of great benefit and 

 should be universally adopted, and the temperature of the 

 room allowed to fall at night to from 40 to 45 deg. P. if pos- 

 sible. For the generality of plants plenty of light is neces- 

 sary—sun-light if possible— and the more direct the light the 

 better ; still numbers of plants, such as Palms, Ferns, etc. 

 can be grown in a northern exposure, and do better than if 

 in a sunny window, care being taken to place them as close 

 to the glass as possible, and to turn them frequently so that 

 all sides may have equal exposure. As for soil, for most 

 plants a rich, light soil is suitable which can be made up of 

 the top spot from an old pasture; or, still better, the sods from 

 the road-side with a liberal admixture of wood-mold, rotted 

 manure and good sharp sand placed in a heap, thoroughly 

 rotted and incorporated by being turned over and mixed up a 

 few times. Any good, sweet earth— not sodden or sour— will 

 grow common plants well, but it is better to have some really 

 good soil on hand, or it can be had from any florist when re- 

 quired. If any plant requires extra feeding— and many to- 

 ward spring will be found to do so— weak liquid manure 

 made of guano, salts of ammonia or cow manure and soot, 

 may be given once or twice a week, to the great benefit of the 

 plants. Provision should also be made by ample drainage for 

 the escape of all superfluous water, and where i 

 used all water which drains off should be emptied. fl 

 should always be thorough. More plants get unhealthy by 

 being watered in little driblets than by any other way. Give 

 a good soaking, thoroughly wetting all the soil until the water 

 runs off, and then do not water until the plant is dry. As 



FRAG APIA GRANDIFLORA.— This is indigenous in Su- 

 rinam and, consequently, on the Atlantic tropical side of 

 S. America. It has often been confounded with the preceding 

 species Chiloensis, but the distinctive characteristics of smaller, 

 narrower, more elongated and delicate leaves, upright habit 

 of growth, tender constitution, and the richly concentrated 

 pine-apple flavor of the fruit, which is conical, and has a de- 

 cided neck above the calyx, are sufficient to distinguish it as a 

 different species. From its sensitiveness to our extreme frosts in 

 winter and droughts in the heat of midsummer the varieties are 

 difficult of cultivation with us, but are successfully grown in the 

 mild and damp climate of Britain. Even there, however, a 

 moist and protected situation has to be chosen to accomplish 

 real success. This species has furnished the varieties known 

 as the Pine Apple Class, which are quite distinct from what 

 are called Pines by some British authors. It has not entered 

 largely in the mixture with the other classes, the object being 

 the obtaining of fine large fruit with hardy and vigorous 

 growth and free bearing habits, and, as the Chiloensis has 

 these good properties it has been accepted and formed more 

 of the base in the march, of improvement. It is probable, 

 however, that a class of strawberries of very exquisite flavor, 

 and comparatively hardy withal, might be obtained in a few 

 generations by impregnating some of our most robust and ' 

 hardy varieties with one of the best of this class. Iu con- 

 nection with this, and in proof of the supposition, allow me 

 to relate an example which came under my own practice some 

 twenty-eight years ago. I had at that time what was known 

 as Burr's New Pine and the Iowa Seedling planted along side 

 each other. Let it be understood that the Pine is a delicate 

 grower and the Iowa vigorous and hardy. Knowing from 

 former experience that, if a robust constitution is required in 

 the offspring, when artificial fertilization is practiced, the good 

 grower ought to be the mother plant, and that the flowers and 

 fruit are more likely to resemble the father, I dusted, from 

 time to time, the pollen of the Pine over the flowers of the 

 Iowa. The after result was, a number of the seedlings bore 

 evident proof of the success of the operation, but only one w a;-; 

 of superior merit, and this variety is hi heing at the present 

 day as healthy and vigorous as ever. The plant is very hardy 

 and a most constant and abundant bearer; fruit large, globular, 

 with a decided neck above the calyx, which is one of the dis- 

 tinguishing features of the Pine ; peduncles long and stout 

 supporting the fruit well above the foliage. The flavor par- 

 takes of the Pine sufficiently to make it spicy and sprightly 

 in connection with the sub-acid of the Iowa, and the aroma is 

 strong enough to scent a room when a dish of the berries is 

 introduced. It is, however, too soft ami light colored as a 

 market berry and only good for private cultivation. 



Fkagakia Elatiok.— Exclusively a native of Northern 

 Europe, and the species that has furnished the class known as 

 Haul/Mia, of which there are some half dozen kinds, each 

 having, perhaps, as many synonyms. The distinguishing 

 characters of this class, and the only ones which recommend 

 it for cultivation, are hardiness and the peculiar musky, sweat 

 flavor which more or less pervades all the varieties. Time 

 gone by the Uaulbok were very much grown, but they are 

 now superseded by the large and fine kinds. There is a ten- 

 dency in the flowers of this class to become dioecious— that is, 

 to bear male flowers on one plant and female on another, con- 

 sequently it is necessary, to be sure of a perfect crop, to have 

 a few of the male phmts distributed among the fertile oues ; 

 but care must be taken that the former do not gain the as- 

 cendancy, as they are more luxuriant and produce runners in 

 greater abundance than the latter. By paying attention to 

 these points the JJautbois are abundant bearers and will give 

 satisfaction to those who may relish a flavor akin to sugar in 

 combination with music. 



If there was formerly any mixture of this with the other 

 classes of by-gone times it is pretty much obliterated in the 

 present, although, very likely, there may be a slight taint in ' 

 solitary cases, as the JIautbois used to be more generally culti- 

 vated. The Hovey's Seedling, a decided female of American 

 origin, and CuthiU's Black Prince, an English kind, for in- 

 stance, may have been so constituted, for they have, to some 

 extent, the appearance in growth and fruit to this class ; and 

 it is probable that this intermixture was the cause of said 

 kind showing a tendency toward the uneven balance between 

 stamens and pistils, more particularly so as the Hautbois, be- 

 ing move generally grown, the admixture may have happened 

 without human aid or the knowledge of the cultivator, simply 

 by the aid of insects and the readiness with which cross fer- 

 tilization takes place. Some persons will remember the dis- 

 putes which used to occur respecting male and female straw- 

 berries, and what prejudiced and angry discussions were in- 

 dulged in without the combatants on either side going down 

 to bottom facts and taking all the circumstances into conside- 

 ration. We all know that hereditary taint may lie dormant 

 through many generations, may never develop its entirety 

 under the conditions which existed from its embryo stage, 

 but if said circumstances be changed said taint may display 

 itself, and without a proper allowance being given and the 

 physiological bearing being understood, the most erroneous 

 conclusions may be arrived at. In our present instance we 

 ae proof of this argument in the case of CuthiU's 

 Black Prince mentioned above. This variety bears unmistak- 

 able resemblance tendinc: toward the Bautbois, and although 

 the color is considerably darker than the latter the 

 former has partially the flavor of Hautbois, and hence 

 the peculiarity which recommended it in its day. Another 



