33 
FOREST AND STREAM 
This Year's Notes. — January— Thresh corn, al90 your eld- 
est sou ; it will do them both good. Oast manure to the field 
and leave it there. Sow peas and darn your stockings. See 
to your diggiug, also to your “diggings.” Neither are infra 
dig. 
February — S ow onions for early crops and give them great 
attention. Ouious should ul wavs be strong. A sage always 
look9 after his ouious. See to cabbage. If you are unable to, 
ask your tailor. 
March— Fiaut potatoes; if not in the ground, “plant” 
them in the saucepan and eat ’em. Leeks should be seen to; 
especially it they ure in your boots. Stick forward peas. 
Peas should know their position and not be forward, there- 
fore stick ’em. 
April -Make up a bed for cucumbers and give them an 
extra blanket ; tuck them in carefull}'. See to spring vetches 
—they "vetches” a good price— but don’t tare them. See to 
your rye. In fact, always keep your weather rye open. 
May — Hoe cauliflowers; in fact, hoe whatever you can and 
don’t pay it. Sow swedes, they're »u>ede things. See to 
maize. May’s a good lime for it. 
June — Make hay whiie the sun shines. He doesn't shine 
very otten. Wash and shear sheep, especially black sheep, 
such a9 “tecs.” Give an eye to your “salary." Get u 
“rise” if you can. 
July— bay just now should be hay 1. Mind your peas ; 
also your q s. Sow collard cabbage. “Collar ” it from your 
next-door neighbor. Hoe freely and defy the County Court. 
August— Cut corn crops ; also bunions. Sow chickweed 
and groundsel for your siuging birds. It’s such a “ lark.” 
September — See to your pigs lest for pork-you-pinc. Take 
up ouions, especially if there drunk and disorderly. But 
doo't eat them ; especially if you're going to see “ her.” She 
mightn’t like it. 
October— See to your cows. Fork over asparagus, but don’t 
fork over your rent if you can help it. 
November— Bring dairy cows to the yard, and get your 
chalks ready. Make cider but don't drink it. Slugs and 
suans are n >w active. Let’s not be sluggish, but let's (sjnail 
them. Train up gunpowder. See to squibs and guard your 
guys. 
December — Wheat may still be sown, so may buttons, but 
leave thut to your wife. Repair your fences aud offenses, be- 
cause it draws near Curistmas. Prepare your pluui9 for the 
pudding, puddling aside all animosity. Sow, that you may 
reap pleasure from the season . — Fun {London). 
A Hint to Farmero. — Here is a French fashion which de- 
serves to be adopted in this country. In the State forests of 
France the subjoined notice is pasted in conspicuous places, 
where the young and old that run may read : 
“ Hedgehog— Feeds on mice, small rodents, slugs and 
grubs ; do not kill a hedgehog. Toad — A farmer's friend ; 
destroys tweuty or thirty insects per hour ; do not kill a toad. 
Mole— Destroys grubs, crickets and insects injurious to agri 
culture ; no trace of vegetable matter is ever found in its 
stomach ; does more good than harm ; do not kill a mole. 
Cockchaler aud his grno— Each insect lays 70 to 100 eggs; 
kill the cockchafers; each department of France loses aunu- 
aby thousands of francs by the injuries of insects. Birds are 
the only enemies capable of contending with them. Children, 
do not rob the birds’ nests.” 
Look Into Your Flower Pots. — We publish the following 
item, with the fond hope that every one of our lady readers 
may be incited to root up all their choicest flowers in an appre- 
hensive search for domesticated reptiles : 
A lady in Black Rock noticed for several days recently that 
the earth in one of her flower pots was disturbed, and at last 
made an examination, wiiich brought to light four live adders 
about a foot long, snugly curled up in the bottom. 
A Pretty Way to Train Fuchsias.— W hen a Blip has 
grown six or eight inches high, nip out the top down to the 
Jast set of leaves ; it will then throw out brunches on each 
side. Let these grow eight or ten inches, tin n nip them out 
as before, the lops of each branch when grown the same height 
as others, nip out igaiu ; then procure a stick the size of your 
finger, eighteen luches in length ; take hoop-skirt wire, 
twiue back and forth alternately through holes made in the 
stick equal distances apart ; place this firmly in the pot back 
of the plant, tie the branches to it, and you will have, when 
in flower, a beautilul and very graceful plant. One trained in 
that way last seusou was the admiration of all who saw it.— 
Small Fruit Recorder. 
— The schedule of premiums offered at the regular meetings, 
as well as the semi-annual exhibitions of the New York Hor- 
ticultural Society, is now published ; and from the liberal 
manner in which it has been compiled and the increased in- 
terest manifested by growers and others in its wellfare, we 
anticipate still finer exhibitions by the society than those of 
previous seasons. Any uninterested can have a copy free of 
charge cn application to the secretary. 
SPLIT BAMBOO RODS. 
r To our customers and the public : — In reply to the damag- 
ing reports which have been circulated respecting the quality of 
our split bamboo rods, by “dealers” who are unable to com- 
pete with us at our reduced prices, we have issued a circular 
which we shall be pleased to mail to any address, proving the 
falsity of their assertions. 
Conboy, Bissett <& Malleson, 
Manufacturers, 06 Fulton Street, N. Y. 
Notice to Bportsmbn.— H aving received so manycommunlcations 
asking ub for information In legard to onr six-section bamboo trout, 
black ba-s, grilse and salmon rods, we have prepared a circular on the 
Bubject, which we shall take pleasure In forwarding to any addresB. 
We keep on hand all grades, the prices of which range from $18 to $ 150 . 
We put our stamp only on the best, in order to protect our customers 
aud our reputation, for we are unwilling to sell a poor rod wltb a false 
enamel (made by burning and staining to Imitate the genuine article) 
without letting our customers know just what they are getting. 
P. O. Box 1,294.— [Adp. Abbey 4 Imbuix, as Maiden-Lane. 
lo Correspondents.— -Those desiring us to prescribe for their dogs 
will please take note of and describe the following points In eaoh ani- 
mal: 
1. Age. 8. Food aud medicine given. 3. Appearance of the eye ; 
of the coat ; of the tongue and lips. 4. Any changes In the appearance 
of the body, as bloating, drawing In of the Hanks, eto. 5. Breathing, 
the number of respirations per minute, and whether labored or not. 
6. Condition of the bowels and Becretlons of the kidneys, color, etc. 7 
Appetite ; regular, variable, eto. 8. Temperature of the body as indl 
cated by the bulb of the thermometer when placed between the body 
and the foreleg. 9. Give position of kennel aud surroundings, outlook, 
contiguity to other buildings, and the uses of the latter. Also give auy 
peculiarities of temperament, movements, etc., that may be noticed, 
gas ot sulferlQg, etc. 
FIXTURES FOR 1878— BENCH SHOWS. 
St. Louis Beuoh Show, St. Louis, Mo., Fob. 19, 20, 21 and 22. 
Boston Kennel Club Show, Bostou, Mass., March 20, 27, 28 and 
29. Dr. E. J. Forster, Secretary. 
Baltimore Kennel Club's Show, Baltimore, Md., April 23, 24, 25 
and 26. L. It. Cassard, Secretary. 
The Westminster Kennel Club (New York) Bench Show. Gil- 
moro's Garden, May 1C, 17, 18 aud 19. Dr. W. Seward Webb, 
Secretary. 
DIFFERENT TASTES AS TO COLORS 
OF DOGS. 
Editor Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun : 
Under above beading you published a very interesting 
article written by Mr. Everett Smith in a late number of your 
valuable paper. 
Although I agree with Mr. Smith on many points, yet I 
think that his love and preference for the “ red dog ” has led 
him to make some statements which are at variance with noted 
authorities and my own experience. I shall give my reason 
why I don’t agree with Mr. Smith, and hope he will accept it 
in as friendly a spirit as it is given. I fully agree with him in 
describing the different colors, and can only say : “ Let every 
body suit himself.” Color is a matter of taste, and I believe 
no good dog is of a bad color. Mr. Smith says that he is well- 
pleased with the red color for general shooting at grouse, part- 
ridges and woodcock, and considers it highly preferable for 
snipe-hunting; but here I beg to differ with him. Everybody 
must admit that it is of first importance— hunting any kind of 
game birds — that the dog is constantly in sight, more or less. 
It is not only to have better control of the dog, hut also the 
hunter is not deprived of the pleasure of seeing his dog make 
game or come to a point, as also to fillhi9 game-bag in a sports- 
manlike manner. Mo9t of our upland shooting is done in fall, 
when the leaves or vegetation are mostly of red brown or yels 
lowish colors. Especially a great deal of grouse, quail, or cock- 
shooting is done in alder, scrub or red ouk covers, where i t is 
almost impossible to keep 9ight of a “red ” dog ; wherea- 
a more or less white one would make a much more striking 
contrast to all surroundings. The latter undoubtedly would 
need no bell to tell his whereabouts. I remember on one oc- 
casion that a red dog, a son of Foulk's “Tom.” wus pointing 
a cock, not thirty yards from us, for over fifteen minutes, 
while we eat our luDch without noticing the same. I could 
mention several such instances, where the “red color" wus the 
only fault. I once would undoubtedly have shot a red pup 
accidentally had not the owner, my companion, just warned 
me in time, who chanced to see the dogiu the proposed line of 
fire. When on a point, the red dog often looks too much like 
a stump, and is in fall cover the worst dog to keep in sight. 
Now, for SDipe shooting. Here, I think, I can talk consider 
ably from my own experience. I have hunted setters of almost 
all colors on snipe, and again think that “ red ” is worse than 
any other color, with the probable exception of light chestnut 
or brown. I am here, of course, talking about ihe color only, 
as I think that the Irish dog, with whom Ihe red color origi- 
nally belongs, is as good for snipe as any breed in existence. 
However, 1 prefer a cross with the English, to have more of 
the white color, besides some of the Irish spirit. A snipe 
dog should be a9 fast as possible, and I prefer one that 
Is not afraid to range off half a mile under certain cir- 
cumstances. But how would you see a dog at such 
a distance on mtadows, full with ycllowi9h-brown reeds, cat- 
tails and bluebend ? It would be very difficult, indeed. A 
white dog, however, you can watch, even if there are only a 
few inches of while visible. Mr. Smith 6ays that he often bad 
shots at plovers, etc., which he would have lost hud his dog 
been of a more striking color. This I do not doubt. How- 
ever, when snipe hunting, the bag is, with me, by no meaus 
of first consideraiion, as Mr. Smith also says; although I always 
try uot to let an opportunity pass to get a crack at ducks or 
plovers I then either let the dog make “down charge " a 
distance off, or call him in “to heel." But just this statement is 
a direct admittance of Mr. Smith, that the “red color” is uot 
as easily seen as any other, even in the meadows. 
When hunting slow, not lar-off-raDging, dogs in the open, it 
matters Dot of what color they are, as one is as easily watched 
aud controlled as the other ; but it is only natural that red is 
the worse color to keep sight of in all fail covers, or at a dis- 
tance in meadow-shootiDg. 
1 like the Irish dog on account of his good field qualities 
and beauty, but have come to tbe conclusion that bis color is 
the most impracticable for both cover and meadow-huntiDg, at 
least for this part of the country. 
Justus von Lrnoerkb. 
Colors in 8ettkrs— /Vm/Wf Centre, Conn., Feb. 14.— In 
the issue of the Forestand Stream of Jan. 31st, Mr. Everett 
Smith gives us a chapter on the color of setters, and tells us 
there is no such color as a blue setter. I believe Idstone is 
considered good authority on setters, and if Mr. Smith will 
turn to the eighty-third page of idstone, second edition, and 
read the bottom paragraph, he will see that the writer acknowl- 
edges that there has been such a color, though he has never 
seen one. And furthermore, if Mr. Smith will call on me I 
will show him a blue, white and tan setter. Not a black roan 
one, but much nearer an indigo blue than either Dr. Jarvis’ 
Elcho, or Plunkett, formerly owned by Dr. Goldsmith, is a 
red color. Some of Mr. Smith’s ideas remind me of what a 
neighbor of mine said about his wife. He remarked that if all 
men were like him they would have all wanted his wife. So 
it is fortunate we are not all alike in tastes. 1 think if Ameri- 
can sportsmen would breed more for Ihe quality they desire 
in the field, instead of trying to get some particular color, the 
setters in this country would soon average better than they 
now do in this respect. The practical sportsman seldom buys 
a dog merely to look at, although good looks ure desirable if 
they can be obtained without detracting from their usefulness. 
I have no objection to breeding to a first-class dog of any 
color, though, like Mr. Smith, I have my own fancy in this 
respect. But my taste does not run to so-called Irish red. 1 
like white— clean, pure white, if I can get it. I go in for solid 
colors. If spotted, let each color be clear and distinct— bluclc 
and white, or orange and while I prefer. This is merely my 
fancy. Good setters can be obtained of nearly nil colors, blue 
not excepted. Ethan Allin. 
Hearing on the Don Question. — At the hearing before the 
Committee on Agriculture, in Boston, on the 12th inst., at 
the State House, Hon. T. J. Gargan took Ihe floor for the pe- 
titioners; Mr. Brown, of the law firm of Brown & Avery, 
repre enled the Kennel Club, and Mr. Lotbrop took the part 
of the Society for the Prevention of t ruelty to Animals. The 
object of the petitioners is to make the owning of dogs a res- 
ponsible matter, by having a law passed that will lie stringent 
enough to compel people that own worthless animals to give a 
bond for any damage their dog9 will inflict, and to make this 
general. To pass a law or license large enough to compel all 
to own pure breeds, and do away with tbe mongrels or curs 
that are now a terror and nuisance to tbe community. It. is be- 
lieved that if such a law was enforced there would ba fewer 
cases of hydrophobia. The petitioners are eager aud hopeful, 
and desire the support of all those who are interested in tins 
matter. If the license is large enough people will prefer to 
keep good breeds, if they must have dogs ; aud if a bond is 
required from every owner there will bo less damages to pay 
and fewer cases of apprehension. 
The Law of Dog Bites in England. — According to the 
curious reading of the English law in regard to dog bites, in 
order to sustain an action it is necessary to allege and prove 
that the dog was a bad dog, and “ accustomed to bite man* 
kind.” Iu other words, a dog must make a first bite before he 
can be judged. In a recent case, a lady in Loudon was bitten 
by a dog known to be vicious, and the jury gave a verdict of 
£22 to the plaintiff. In an effort made to set aside the verdict, 
it was claimed that the bite was only a first bite. The decision 
of the court was sustained. 
■». — 
SUFFERINGS OF A DOG FROM STRAW 
IN THE BOWELS. 
AN INTERESTING P03T MORTEM EXAMINATION. 
Editor Forvst and Stream and Rod and Gun : 
The following case came under my notice lately, and as I took notes 
of It at th: time, and think It would be Interesting to some of yonr 
readers, I give It Jast as it wus dotted down, About two months Bluco 
a friend of mine came to me to ask my advice as to what he should do 
with his pointer dog (a very flue one, over whom I have killed many a 
qnall), as he knew I preocrlbed occasionally for dogs as well ns men. 
He said the dog was suffering very much pain, costlveuesu, and was 
continually straining. Nothing bad passed for several days except 
blood. II s rectum was very much enlarged and swollen. I h.d him 
brought over to my office. I carefully examined him both externally 
and per rectum with my Anger, as I expected to And a mass of foeces 
lodged near ttio auus, which was very much enlarged. I could detect 
nothing In the bowels whatever. I gave him an Injection of soap and 
water— about a quart— but nothing passed except the lojec !<>n and a 
little billons colored matter. The dog strained a good deal afterward, 
and whimpered with pain when he did so. 
I gave him Ave grains of oalomel, and ordered him to have an ounce 
of cistoroll In two hours, lu about four hours he was relieved quue 
natura 1 i, aqaantlty of healthy matter havlug passed. Still the strain- 
ing continued more or i ss. I came to the conclusion that the dog 
must have swallowed a bone or other hard substance, which had 
lodged across the bowels somo place out of reach, which by Its Irrita- 
tion caused him to strain so. I had him dieted on vegetable food with 
very little meat, and for some time he seemed to get a good deal better, 
and was able lo run about quite lively. 
In about three weeks I got an urgent message one morning to say 
that the dog appeared lo be dying, aud would I go over lo «ce him. I 
found h!m lylni In his kcunel moaning most piteously. I had him 
brought oat, and observed a very largo swelling about the size of a 
two-qnart bowl under his tall. His back wa9 very much curved up 
and his eye liquid, as If suffering extreme pain. He was very much 
thinner than he had been, yet ho was in good condition. lili* nose was 
cool and moist; rather too much so I thought. I examined him agalu 
and found tome large Impacted masses within the rectum. Having 
oiled my Anger well I Introduced It carefully, aud after a good deal of 
trouble I managed to dielodge quite a quantity of hard, compact lumps. 
I worked away at blm for a long time, and by pressing with ray left 
hand on the bowels externally, and with the Anger of the right uaud 
internally, by degrees I got away about a pound weight of these hard 
substances, which, very much to my surprise, contained nothing but 
short straw baked hard together. 
I found a good deal of trouble at the Inner sphincter, which was Just 
as high as I could reach. The masses which were above It, when 
forced down by the hand on the outsioe, wore always surrounded by 
the rowels, and It requires a good deal of manipulation lo get the 
masses free from the upper bowel, which was thus forced down 
through the inner sphincter. After taklog as much as I could (I had to 
leave off, as my Anger got so sore working at the straw which waa as 
hard as a brick) I left him, having ordered him to be well steeped with 
warm water to relieve the external swelling. 
Next morning I again went to work and got awuy about quarter of a 
pound of similar matter. I could still feel more Higher up In ihe 
bowel. I loft him another day and again succeeded lu getting away a 
good deal. At the end of this operation the lumps became much 
smaller and contained more feculent matter, but still very hard. Had 
his hindquarters he d up and Injected abont two quarts of warm water, 
which worked out the bowels and returned very quickly. As he seemed 
rather cold, and his tongue cold and glazed, I gave him an ounce of 
brandy and some strong beef tea. lie was to have a small dose of 
G'lstor oil at night, aB I believed all tho Imp icted masses were away. 
The next morning the bowels moved well; not much straw and very 
little blood. He soemed rather better; was inollned to lie in the 
"down charge " position, and lo bo weak. The swelling about the 
anus was very much reduced. He had quite a quantity of beef tea 
and some boiled rice and milk during the day. 
Next morning he was found at 7 a. u. Just giving hla last groan, and 
