UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 465 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey 
E. W. NELSON, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
February 23, 1917 
PROPAGATION OF WILD-DUCK FOODS. 
By W. L. McAtee, Assistant Biologist. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
"Wild rice 4 
Wild celery 9 
Pondweeds 13 
Enemies of wild rice, wild celery, and pond- 
weeds 20 
The arrowheads 21 
Page. 
Delta potato 21 
Wapato 24 
Chufa 28 
Wild millet... 32 
The waterlily group 35 
Banana waterlily '. 36' 
INTRODUCTION. 
Information concerning the propagation of valuable wild-duck 
foods is constantly requested by State game commissions, game pro- 
tective associations, and sportsmen's clubs, and by individuals inter- 
ested in the protection, preservation, and propagation of waterfowl. 
The Biological Survey has endeavored to meet the demand by issu- 
ing three publications 1 on the more important food plants of wild 
ducks, by correspondence relating to local problems, and in certain 
cases by special examination and report. The bulletins thus far 
published have contained accounts of the value, nature, range, and 
methods of propagation of 19 groups of plants comprising more 
than 60 species. 
The present bulletin is a revision of the first two of these publica- 
tions and discusses the following plants suitable for wild-duck food : 
Wild rice, wild celery, pondweeds, arrowheads (especially delta 
!Biol. Surv. Circ. No. 81, Sept. 9, 1911; and U. S. Dept. Agr. Bulls. No. 58, Feb. 7, 
1914, and No. 205, May 20, 1915. 
Note. — This bulletin is for general distribution among persons and organizations in- 
terested in the protection, preservation, and propagation of waterfowl. It supersedes 
Biological Survey Circular No. 81, dealing with wild rice, wild celery, and pondweeds ; 
and Department Bulletin No. 58, dealing with delta potato, wapato, chufa, wild millet, 
and banana waterlily. 
