86 
FOREST AND STREAM 
foodhnd, Watvtt and (Barden. 
latmal !§intor%. 
THE GARDEN IN MARCH. 
N EAR the latter part of the month of March, if the 
ground is in fit condition, which will he the case in 
some of the States, preparations may he made for consider¬ 
able garden work. In order to be ready to take advantage 
of the earliest time for planting the seeds of either flowers, 
shrubs, or garden vegetables, you are to look well to the 
preparation of the soils. Do not put either plough or spade 
into wet ground. Do not work the soil when wet; as soon 
as it will crumble, or is in what is termed a “friable state,” 
it may be worked to good advantage. Unless you desire to 
do your garden work over twice, and lose valuable seed in 
the bargain, be the seeds sown flower or kitchen garden 
seeds, do not plant them in the mud, or in a cold wet soil. 
As soon as your ground will crumble plough or fork it up 
with a deep trench, using for this purpose a trenching fork, 
and also work in plenty of well rotted compost and ma¬ 
nures. Upon grounds thus prepared you may set currants, 
gooseberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Other rooted 
plants can with safety also be set out. Plant out your 
blackberries where they can remain undisturbed for years, 
as this plant, if properly cared for and properly cultivated, 
will, need but little cultivation after it is once planted. 
Give your blackberry plants a good out of the way situa¬ 
tion at one corner or end of your garden, and set them six 
feet apart each way. After they begin to grow cut the up¬ 
right cones back to six inches of the ground, and mulch 
them well with sea weed or sedge, or what is called “tide 
wreck,” known to every owner of marsh lands, and which 
is a very good article for mulching. It keeps the ground 
moist, and is one of the requisites of the blackberry and 
the raspberry. After the first year’s growth of raspberries 
the bearing shoots will generally be found somewliat ten¬ 
der, and care should be taken not to uncover them too soon. 
When you uncover and fork up the beds you can take the 
superabundant plants to make new beds with, and with 
good care you will obtain sometimes a quarter crop the 
same year you set these plants. Remember that good mel¬ 
low ground, fairly fertilized, and well mulched, is a sine 
qua non for a good crop. I have followed this rule for the 
cultivation of the blackberry and the raspberry for some 
ten years without the failure of a single crop, and can con¬ 
fidently recommend this method as one to be relied on. I 
do not use strong new manures as fertilizers, but prefer the 
well rotted peat compost and old stable manure well mixed 
and finely pulverized always for young and small plants. 
As soon as you can, plough your asparagus beds, and do 
it in a thorough manner if you would insure a reward. 
Some prefer to fork deeply their beds, mixing well with 
good manure. You can do this if your bed is of a right 
shape, and it is a very good way. A good top dressing of 
salt will be found of much benefit to your future crop of 
asparagus; it being originally a plant taken from marine 
locations near the sea shore requires in a greater or less de¬ 
gree what is termed a “saline soil.” As much profit is often 
derived from the skillful culture of this valuable esculent, a 
few words upon the subject may be of benefit to all who 
desire to make a bed of the same. To begin at the begin¬ 
ning, therefore, the time and manner of sowing your as¬ 
paragus seed is of much consequence as governing your 
future crop. Procure the best seed to be obtained in the 
market, and early in the season (we prefer April), or as 
soon as the ground is in good working condition, sow in 
drills about one inch deep, scattering the seed very thinly, 
and covering it evenly with the soil. Sow the seed in drills 
say two feet apart, and when the plants appear, which they 
will soon do, thin them to about four inches apart; here 
they are to stand until the third season, when they are 
ready for sale or to set. If you are ready to plant your bed 
you should -make your rows two feet or two feet six inches 
apart, and fill into the same any good strong manure, giv¬ 
ing a liberal supply. Make your drills one and a half feet 
deep before placing in the manure, which level and cover 
slightly with garden soil. Light soil placed over the roots, 
or even clean sand, say an inch in depth, is a good addi¬ 
tion, and will keep the roots in place until finally covered. 
Asparagus is impatient of water; therefore it should never 
be set too low. I prefer to slightly ridge the rows, raising 
the crown slightly and leaving in low ground a slight trench 
between the rows. 
During the growing season keep the ground entirely free 
from weeds of all kinds, and be sure to keep the hoe going 
and your beds clean and neat. For the first two years after 
setting in the bed the plants should be well watered with 
manure water, especially if the season is very dry. In the 
autumn the tops should be cut and bound upon the ground, 
and in the spring the “haums” should be pulled from the 
crowns, as they will then part from them easily. The third 
season after planting the bed, the asparagus may be cut for 
market or use, but even at this time it were better not to 
cut too late. Manure liberally every autumn, and mix the 
same carefully into the soil over the crown, and you may 
trustingly await a fine crop of asparagus for a dozen years, 
provided you follow carefully the above directions. 
Ollipod Quill. 
—The Machaias (Maine) Union states Mr. J. A. Longfel¬ 
low, of that town, last week, with his Ballard Rifle, fired 
ten shots at a two inch spot, distance 110 yards, with the 
following result: The poorest shot was put four inches 
from the spot, the last six shots cut into each other and cut 
an inch circle. 
Museum of Natural History.— On Tuesday evening 
of last week a meeting of the Trustees of the Museum of 
Natural History was held, on which occasion the donation 
of Miss Wolfe, the daughter of the first President of the 
Association, Mr. John David Wolfe, was formally accepted. 
The gift may' be considered as a Memorial, which must 
always connect the name of the late President with the 
Museum. The trustees have devoted no little attention to 
the interests of the Museum, and have aided with their 
money, having quite lately given from their private means 
$9,000 for the purchase of certain collections. The Museum 
will shortly boast of having some of the finest specimens of 
the extinct Dinornis known. To the ornithologists, our 
Museum of Natural History, thanks to the energy and 
liberality of its trustees, will afford ample opportunity for 
study and research. 
March 11th, 1874. 
Mr. Editor: —Your article on the “Panther Feast” (Prof. 
Baird) reminds me of a similar one we once had in North 
William street on the flesh of the rhinoceros, the flesh of 
which we found to be very coarse grained, but not unpal- 
ateable. We had chops broiled and fried, and we enjoyed 
our feast very much. J. H. Batty. 
X STRANGE ANIMALS OF THE WEST. 
Russell, Kansas, February 18.1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I wrote to you some time ago, asking the name of a rat I had found 
here. At the same time I wrote to a friend in Junction City about it, 
As he and you do not agree, and he also mentions several others, I will 
make some extracts from his letters, and you can publish them if you 
wish. Mr. Green, or “SenacaBill,” as he is known here, has been trap¬ 
per and Indian trader on the plains and mountains for over thirty years, 
and is at present engaged in making a collection of wild animals. He 
says, “the rat you speak of I call the Carrier Rat (from his habit of carry¬ 
ing all sorts of old trash to his nest). The head of the Republican is as 
far north as I ever saw him, and never east of the Missouri. It is also 
found in Texas and New Mexico and in Mexico very plenty: but I have 
never seen it in Colorado. In the mountains there are four more kinds. 
One is somewhat larger than the Carrier Rat; black on the upper parts, 
underneath yellow; no ears visible, and a very short tail. Another is 
blue all over except nose, feet and tail, which are black. The tail of this 
kind is very long; its bite is poisonous. Another is white, and is as 
large as a muskrat. Then the great Kangaroo Rat also inhabits the 
mountains. * * * “I know of five different kinds of squirrels in the 
mountains and none of them as large as the Eastern chipmunk. The 
smallest is about as large as your thumb, very tame, and is the prettiest 
animal I ever saw. There is also a very large kind with wattles under 
the throat.” 
I had been told that the polecats of this country were poisonous, and 
asked him about it. He said, “I knew a man to be bitten on the thumb 
by one and he died on the third day after. This was on the Jacques 
River, in Dakotah, about fifteen years ago. I have also heard of three 
persons poisoned to death in like manner in Kansas. Nothing but an all- 
fired big drunk saves a man, or something to counteract the poison im¬ 
mediately and thoroughly. ” 
I can see no difference between the polecat here and those back East, 
but as I came here late last fall. I have seen but two or three. One thing 
quite noticeable to a new comer here is the absence of bird life in the 
winter. Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs, &c., make the bulk of 
what are seen. Now and then a hawk, or owl, or a shrike, and along the 
streams once in a while, a kingfisher, finish up the sum total. But soon 
the spring birds will be here. A few ducks have made their appearance. 
Antelope also have been seen lately. Buffalo are not expected until 
April. Grouse are very scarce; so our shooting is confined to Jack rab¬ 
bits mostly during the winter. F. S. B. 
THE SUMMER MOULT OF WOODCOCK. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
It is generally believed by sportsmen that our woodcock take to the 
corn-fields in the latter part of,August, thus accounting for their sudden 
disappearance. Woodcock do frequent the corn-fields in the early part 
of August and even in July, if the maize has attained sufficient height to 
give them cover; but they are attracted thither by their usual food—the 
worm—during the wet seasons,* By the latter end of August they have 
all gone to the mountains or high countries to pass undisturbed their 
moulting period, and until they have gained their full plumage, only to 
return to the lower grounds when forced by the freezings of autumn, 
which take place in the higher regions in October. 
I was fishing with a brother sportsman in Luzerne County, Pa., some 
years since, if my memory serves me right, about the 20th of August (a 
little late for trout, by the bye), when we saw woodcock so numerous 
and presenting such a ludicrous appearance with their feathers half gone, 
like a part of a plucked pigeon, as to convince me such latitudes har¬ 
bored the “long-bills” in this stage. I have since noticed.in August 
quantities of woodcock on Wild Creek, Munroe County, Pa. These 
birds in October, before migrating, give good shooting, and their num¬ 
bers are increased by the cock of the more northern States, driven by 
still earlier frosts, and stopping with them until the whole congregation 
are again forced to move farther south. “Homo. ” 
CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 
Department of Public Parks, ) 
New York, March 14, 1874. f 
Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 
March 13, 1874: 
One red shouldered Buteo lineatus. Presented by Mr. J. J. King. 
Two Irish Hares, Lepus hibernicus. Presented by Mr. Thomas Ham¬ 
ilton. . 
One Hybrid fowl; cross between a domestic cock and guinea hen. 
Presented by Gen. C. A. Johnson, Newburyport, Mass. 
Received in exchange: 
Four Ruddy Sheldrakes, tadorna rutUa. Hab. Europe. 
Two Jays, Garrulus glaudarus. Hab. Europe. 
One pileated Jay, Cyancorax pileaim. Hab. La Plata. 
Two California Quail, Lophortyx Calif amicus. 
One Mona Monkey, Cercopithecus mona. Hab. West Africa. 
Three Looty Mangabeys, Cercocebus fuliginosus. Hab. West Africa. 
Three Wood Ducks, Aixspensa. 
Two Golden Pheasants, Thaumalea picta Hab. China. 
Two Golden-crowned Conures, Conurus pertinax. Hab. Brazil. 
Three Bobalinks, JDolichonyx oryzivorus. 
Two Cow birds, Molothrus pecoris. w. A. Conklin. 
Shrewsbury, March 11,1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I am of the opinion that quail have the power of withholding their 
cent. Were it otherwise, the exertion in flight would increase their risk 
of being found by dogs, for the reason that motion tends to increase the 
amount of scent given off. I am strengthened in my opinion by the facts 
that quail, during incubation, either have the power of withholding their 
scent or do not give off any. Several years ago I had my attention 
called to the fact, by one of my men asking me if one of my dogs had 
found a quail sitting near the road I had just come down, along a nar¬ 
row strip of open woods, with my pair of dogs at my heels. Being gnr 
prised they had not noticed and pointed the bird, I inquired the situation 
of the bird and returned, and sure enough, there sat a female quail in 
plain sight, at about 15 feet distance from the road, and the wind blow¬ 
ing from her towards the dogs, both of which again passed without no 
ticing the quail; this was repeated with other dogs with the same result 
Both of the dogs were good on quail, and one the best on single bird'* I 
have ever seen. Check CordT 
he Mennel. 
THE “GILDERSLEEVE SETTERS”—THEIR 
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES. 
W E are pleased to publish the first reliable account of 
the pedigree of the Gildersleeve Setters, formerly 
owned in Maryland. We are indebted to our friend C. S. 
Westcott, Esq., of Philadelphia, who is a thorough sports¬ 
man and a true breeder of high class setters, for the labor 
and trouble it has cost him in this matter; also to Bedmond 
Abbott, Esq., of Philadelphia, who has kept faithfully dur¬ 
ing a long period of years the only record ever made of this 
stock. Mr. Redmond is a wealthy retired merchant, has 
been a gentleman sportsman for half a century, and dis¬ 
tinctly recollects the “flint and pan” age, and has never 
owned any other stock than the Gildersleeve. Mr. West- 
cott says: “many of your contemporaries have written to 
me frequently asking for pedigrees, etc. of the best dogs in 
our city and vicinity, especially of the Gildersleeve breed, 
but as I had promised to give it to you, and have com¬ 
menced to contribute to your journal, I shall continue to 
do so. It has taken me over three months of hard work to 
compile these facts in their proper form.” The latter part 
of the account referring to the proposed breeding of 
“Buster” and “Tip” will be good news to the readers of 
Forest and Stream who wish to secure two or three 
good dogs for the coming summer shooting. The names of 
the gentlemen sportsmen of Pennsylvania and Delaware 
who endorse this statement as to bleed, record, reputation, 
and pedigree are the following:—Uncle John Krider, ol 
Philadelphia; Mr. Graham, Captain Sipples, of Frederica, 
Ind.; Mr. David Brooks, of Philadelphia; Mr. James T. 
Massey, Mr. Redmond Abbott, Mr. C. S. Westcott, and 
many others. 
Philadelphia, March 16, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
There is doubtless no breed of setters in America that 
have given such universal satisfaction as the “Gilder¬ 
sleeve.” The stock is best known to Philadelphia, and has 
long been a favorite one. They are easily broken, have 
superior scenting powers, and great endurance and intelli¬ 
gence. 
I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. Redmond Abbott, of 
Philadelphia, which contains an account of the stock more 
than thirty years ago, and from which I make extracts for 
the benefit of the readers of the Forest and Stream. Mr. 
Abbott says: “I received yours of the 14th inst. through 
our mutual friend, Mr. John Krider, and presume I can 
give you the information you desire better than any one in 
our city or in this country. 
‘ ‘Many years ago, and long before a railroad was thought 
of through Delaware, I visited Canterbury with my old 
friend, Mr. Wm. Montelieus, (now dead and gone,) on a 
shooting trip, and was taken into the field by Mr. Gilder¬ 
sleeve, who had at that time a white and orange bitch pup 
about six months old, which would then find and stand 
game. He called her ‘Tip,’ and she was a remarkable 
puppy in every respect. The following November we 
visited the place again and found ‘the wonder’ had grown 
to be a fine, large, speedy bitch, and would take us to every 
bevy of quail in the neighborhood, and showed unsurpass¬ 
able nose and staunchness. 
“She was bred first to a celebrated lemon and white set¬ 
ter known as the ‘Carter do’g.’ Two pups of the litter I 
procured, and one was given by Mr. Gildersleeve to Mr. 
Peter Bonwell, with the express understanding she should 
be ‘altered;’ but the promise was broken, for which Mr. 
Gildersleeve never again spoke to Mr. Bonwell. This bitch 
was coupled with Captain Sipples’ dog of Frederica, at that 
time the best in Maryland. The result of this union was 
‘Don;’by accident he bred to his dam, and G. A. Benson’s 
‘Bruce’ was pupped, who was the sire of Mr Geo. Twad- 
dell’s ‘Buster,’ Mr. John Twaddell’s ‘Hark’ and Mr. Peter 
Rose’s ‘Nellie,’ out of Dr. Henry Twaddell’s celebrated 
‘Bess.’ 
“Another puppy by Capt. Sipple’s dog was bought by 
Mr. James T. Massey, a bitch, which he called ‘Tip,’ and 
which he put to Mr. Gatsmer’s ‘Jim.’ I also procured 
from this union a bitch, and presented her to Mr. Elmer, 
of Bridgeport, New Jersey, -which he named ‘Nannie,’ and 
bred to Mr. David Brook’s ‘Biz,’ two pups of which I had 
given me, now capital field dogs, ‘Rock’ and ‘Tip.’ 
“Mr. Gildersleeve’s old ‘Tip’ was t wice bred to the ‘Car¬ 
ter dog,’ and several times to Mr. Montelius’ ‘Dash, 
was by ‘Bruce,’ out of Mr. Craig’s bitch. ‘Bruce’ was 
owned by Mr. Virden, and purchased by Mr. Monte¬ 
lieus when six years old for fifty dollars. He lived to be 
eighteen years old, and was very steady at his point and 
fast on his range. The Gildersleeve bitch ‘Tip’ was very 
large, with a remarkably long muzzle, and all her offspring 
invariably turned out well, and were noted for their nose; 
their range was fast and wide, and I do not hesitate to say 
they were the most valuable dogs in the country. Mr. Gu- 
dersleeve was very particular to whom his setters went and 
generally destroyed most of them when pups. I have seen 
a son of the old, bitch called ‘Rock,’ belonging to Mr. Gra¬ 
ham, fall and roll over when he came on a covey, so great 
his speed and so sudden the check he gave himself. 
Old ‘Tip’ and Massey’s ‘Tip’ both lived to be in 
teens, and ‘Fashion’ and three other bitches were all tna 
were ever raised from the Gildersleeve; one named ‘hate, 
belonged to Mr. Graham, a sister to his ‘Dan,’ and the pair 
were difficult to beat. , .. h 
I owned two of ‘Kate’s’ pups, ‘Dash’ and ‘Bruce, whic 
