ELEVEN IMPORTANT WILD-DUCK FOODS. 19 
explains its scattering distribution in the interior of the country 
(fig. \7). Along the coasts wigeon-grass occurs from the base of 
the Alaska Peninsula and the Gulf of St. Lawrence south to Central 
America. 1 
PROPAGATION. 
Wigeon-grass may bo propagated from the seeds, which ripen in 
late summer and early autumn. These should be gathered with 
about 6 inches of the upper part of the plant, as the foliage tends to 
keep them from drying, This material should not be packed in large 
masses, but free circulation of air should be provided to prevent 
fermentation. As 
little time as pos- 
sible* should inter- 
vene between 
g a t h e r i n g a n d 
planting. If it is 
desired to keep the 
seeds for some time 
they may be placed 
in wet cold storage. 
After soaking the 
seed until it will 
sink, sow broadcast, 
in quiet but not 
stagnant water over 
mud bottom. Wi- 
geon-grass grows 
Fig. 16.— Fruits of wigeon-grass. 
m water varying in. 
depth from a few inches to 10 feet. It should be sown where the 
water is permanently 1 to 2 feet deep. 
THREE PLANTS FOR DUCK FARMS. 
The plants considered under this head are distinguished by rank- 
ness of vegetative growth, comparative unimportance of their seeds 
as duck food, and lack of fleshy rootstocks and tubers. These quali- 
ties render the plants generally undesirable for propagation as mid- 
duck foods, but they are the very things which make them valuable 
for duck farms. As a rule abundant green food is available to wild 
ducks, but the birds usually have to search for seeds, fruits, tubers, 
and like forms of concentrated nutriment. The conditions on a game 
farm are just the reverse. The birds are supplied grain food con- 
stantly, but need roughage, particularly of naturally suitable kinds. 
Plants of rapid, luxuriant growth are necessary and all requirements 
are fulfilled by water-cress, water-weed, and coontail. 
1 Authorities hold a variety of views regarding the number of species of Ruppia which occur in this area. 
The purposes of this publication, however, are best served by grouping all the forms under one name. 
