354 



The Museum Gazette 



"That planting of fruit should be encouraged, and that such trees 

 should take the place of large trees, such as oak and beech, whose 

 far-reaching roots and great shade are injurious to the adjoining land." 



The French have paid much attention to the subject, and in 

 1901 it was stated that there were half a million fruit trees 

 planted along French roads. The cider apple is the most 

 commonly employed. Perhaps good edible varieties would 

 prove too great a temptation to adults as well as juveniles ! 

 The practice also obtains in Germany. We read that in 

 1901, in Hanover, 189,586 trees were planted on the roadside 

 by the provincial Government, and although a large propor- 

 tion of them were not in full bearing, the authorities netted a 

 revenue of £8,386. 



In Switzerland the Virginian creeper ripens its berries. 

 In the Bernershof Hotel at Bern there is a window of the 

 Salle a manger which is embowered in festoons of that plant. 

 On October 14 last, the writer sat at lunch in that window. 

 Outside the window the birds were lunching also. First came 

 eight or ten starlings, and, having feasted, flew away together. 

 Then one by one blackbirds arrived until there were near a 

 dozen. They ate rapidly, as if half conscious of being thieves, 

 but not the less freely on that account. One of them was 

 counted to swallow ten berries without changing his place and 

 as fast as he could open and shut his bill. Another took twelve 

 and a third managed fourteen. The berries were as large as 

 big peas. Meanwhile, a fine cock-sparrow came, evidently 

 thinking that where grub was going he ought not to be absent. 

 After watching, with an occasional chirp, for some minutes, he 

 decamped with an almost audible ejaculation, " 1 can't eat 

 those things, and I wonder that you can." 



The railway which climbs up from Mombassa to the 

 inland plateau is one of great interest to the tourist. The 

 wild animals have got accustomed to the trains and even seem 

 curious to observe them. You may see herds of zebras, a 

 hundred or even a thousand strong, galloping alongside past 



