F0T1EST AND STREAM 
197 
Animals Recriykd at Cento al Park Mbnaobrik for Week End- J 
*no April 13, 1878.— One purple Galllnule, gallinuta martinlca, from 
Brazil, presented by Mr. J. L. G. CanDon, Westport, Conn ; onehy- ' 
brld fowl, presented by Mr. Edmund OrgUl, Brooklyn; one larger lull 
mynah, Gracula intermedia, presented by Mr. Chas. S. Wright, N. Y. 
City; one red-wing blackbird, Agelaius phrrniceus presented by Mr, J. 
B. Ambrose, N. Y". City; one prairie wolf, CanU latrans, presented by 
Dr. A. Liontard, N. Y. City ; one black-eared marmoset, Ilapale jxnf- 
■eellata, presented by Mr. W. R. Tice, Brooklyn; one inegnpodo, 
Mt'jajtoduA pritchardii. W. A. Conklin, Director. 
Arrivals at tiib Philadelphia Zoological Garden, Fairmodnt 
Park, ArRii,9, 187S.— Two white rabbits, Lepus cuniculu », presented; 
eight garter snakes, Eutania sirtali*, presented ; two water snakes, 
Tropidonotus sipedon, presented ; two alligators, A. mfantsippieruis, 
presented; one common bittern, Dotaurua minor, presented; one red 
fox, Vulpea fulous, presented; one kangaroo rat, Ilypsiprymnu* rufen- 
e*ni, born In garden. Arthur E. Brown, Gen'! Supt. 
^aadlnnd, mid garden. 
THIB DEPARTMENT 18 EDITED BY W. J. DAVIDSON, SKO. N. Y. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
WILD FLOWERS. 
O WING to the earliness of the season, the wild flowers ap- 
pear in wood and glen — by the brook and on the moun- 
tain side, and the lovers of nature are already haunting her 
secret recesses, exploring dingle and bosky dell, and making 
friends with each wildwood blossom that is awakened by the 
kies of the advancing spring. Wc give a partial list of plant3 
that may be looked for this month, in the hope that it may 
be of service to those who are disposed to treat themselves to 
the pure and deep delight of studying wild flowers the com- 
ing summer, hoping that, even if they do not form a herba- 
rium, they will faithfully register these long names of their 
woodland friends. This is essential to the true enjoyment 
and understanding of this delightful pursuit. In April, about 
thirty species should be found : 
Anemone nemorosa, Wind-flower ; Hepatica triloba, Liver- 
wort ; Ranunculus fascicularis, Early Crow-foot ; Ranunculus 
micranthus, Small-flowered Crow-foot; Thalictruin ancme- 
noides, Rue Anemone ; Thalictrum dioicum, Meadow Rue ; 
Caltha palustris, Marsh Marigold; Heleborus viridis, Greeu 
Helebore ; Aquilegia canadensis, Wild Columbine ; Sanquina- 
ria canadensis, Blood-root; Viola pedata, Bird’s-foot Violet ; 
Viola rostrata, Long-spurred Violet ; Geranium maculatum, 
Wild Geranium ; Anemone nuttalliaua, Easter-flower ; Tia- 
rella cordifolia, mitre-wort ; Amelancliier canadensis. Shad- 
flower; Fragaria virginiana, Wild Strawberry; Saxifraga 
virginieneis, Early Saxifrage ; Chrysosplenium americana, 
Golden Saxifrage; Asarum canadcnse, Wild Ginger; Dicen- 
tra cucullaria, Squirrel Corn ; Claytonm virginica, Spring 
Beauty ; Epigaea repens, Trailing Arbutus ; Pyxidanthcra 
barbulata, Flowering Moss ; Arisfema triphyllum, Jack in the 
Pulpit; Potentilln canadensis, Cinquefoil; Myrica gale, Sweet 
Gale; Comptonia asplenifolia, Sweet Fern; Prunus mariti- 
mus, Beach Plum ; Zanthoxylum americanum, Prickly Ash ; 
Acer rubrum, Red Maple ; Erythronium americana, Dog’s- 
tooth Violet ; Taraxicum dens-leonis, dandelion. 
American Wild Rice in England. — We have the sub- 
joined letter from Mr. Jackson Gillbanks, a well known au- 
thority in England on natural history subjects, which will 
much interest many of our readers, especially those sports- 
men who are endeavoring to cultivate wild rice with a view 
to attracting wild fowl lo localities which they do not fre- 
quent. Mr. Gillbanks is correct in his views that fresh seed is 
necessary for propagation. We have always pressed this 
point upon our readers’ attention. Time seems to dry the 
7itality out of it. It should be gathered before the milk has 
quite disappeared from it, and sown as soon thereafter as 
practicable. While wild rice may be easily procured in a 
thousand localities, tho3e localities are generally so remote 
;rom lines of transportation that the price is greatly enhanced 
oy the time it reaches its destination. One must be on hand, 
too, to gather it just at the proper time. Rice Lake, in 
Canada, is the most accessible point we know of, having 
direct communication by rail. Manitoba is less accessible. — 
Ed.: 
W niTEFiELD, Carlis Co., England, March 23, 1678. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Any one would suppose, Judging by onalogy, that all the vege- 
table products of Canada and Its southern boundary would prosper 
and Increase when biougbt ftorn an Inclement climate and placed in a 
better one— the similarity of boII and habits belug duly observed. 
Thus we have had Canadian oats, potatoes, and many of onr best 
shrubs, which have beena great boon to ns. Bnt this does not seem 
to be the case with the wild ilce of that part of the world. Several 
notices have appeared in American papers that good and fresh gathered 
seed can be obtained of so and so. By this one would Infer that there 
was no difficulty in Us propagation— but there is. 1 hav lng had much 
experience In tho matter I find It my duty to say a few words thereon. 
Some years back the British Government had a large 6tsff of the 
Ordnance Survey (.'ormerly we called them sappers and mlacrs) setting 
out the line of demarkation between onr territory and the United 
States ; some of them on furlough reported that when they arrived at a 
district about the Red River settlement, the wild wator fowl of all sorts 
ewarmed to such a prodigious extent as to dani:go and Interfere with 
their levellug operation-', and they evidently came to feed on a pe- 
culiar and luxuriant wild corn of some sott, which abounded In the 
swamps and marahea. This circumstance was bi ought before a meet- 
ing of some learned society in London, and some of the seeds produced 
which many there thought the discovery of au entirely new grain. I 
was at home at the time, and had heard nothing about It, but it was 
agreediliat the matter BhonUl be put Into iny hands, as I lived among 
onr Lake?, If I would bother with it, and the seed was sent me, O. II. 
M. 8., for expenment and distribution. I had applications for and 
sent parcels toill parttof Europe ata great erpenae— not a single appli- 
cant Inclosed stamps. I then consulted Moore (Moore A Bro., Ferns,) 
who seemed to suspect what It was, and was flrst app leant. Dr. 
Hogg, of Journal of Horticulture (who delected It Immediately), and 
oiltcrs, who gavo me all the assistance In the r power. About the same 
time I had to go up to Cambridge to assist at a great eutertalnmont wo 
gave to the Prince and Princess of Wale*. Daring that time I wen! 
fully Into the subject with Professor Bablngton, who Is a member of 
my own college, and nn old friend. As he Is Professor of Botany for the 
University, lie had all thereto da of this plant, ar.d dried specimens. 
The botanical name la Zizania aquatint — “ Wild rice of Canada;" but 
I hold strongly that It Is not a rice at all (the botanical name of that 
family being Oryza) bnt nn aquatic wild oat- It seems from our books 
that it was tlrst noticed by Sir Joseph Banks, th* great botanist 
sent out with Captain Cook. None of the seeds I planted ever vege- 
tated. though tried In every mods, nor was any one else succes-ful. 
Wc found that Sir Joseph failed three seasons running In preserving 
the vitality of the seed t II It reached England, and did not succeed 
till the King put a small Government vessel at his disposal, after which 
he brought over a lot of It In barrels of inud and water. After that ho 
had a lot of It which did well at his realdenco near London, but was 
lost after his death. Trot. Bablngton also told me that they had a nice 
plot of It In the Old Cambridge Botanic Gardens. These had to bo re- 
moved on account of tho railway. A new poud was formed, which 
broke loose at the bottom, ran dry, and they lost It and all tho rest of 
their rare aquatics. We fouud mention ot It In several other places, 
but on Inquiry it had all disappeared. We all came to the following 
conclusions: That, belug an annual and a complete aquatlo, It would 
not stand being dry for a moment— no longer than a flsli out of water 
Some very good authority wrote lately— I forget who and where— that 
simply bringing the grain In water alone did not answer, as tho gralu 
rotted aud turned to a masa of convtrva and fungus. 
This Is tho result of my own experience with the seeds of other water 
plants. It sheds Its own seed when ready, which seems to germinate 
Immediately, but must have soiua soil for the rootlets to strike Into 
there aud then, or the Ubres will all rot ofT and perish. 
Another point worth uotlce is, that though the wlntor of tho Northern 
parts of America are much colder than ours, the summers are much 
hotter, aud gralu and every sort of vegetation ripens and comes lo 
maturity In an Incredibly short lime. Tills muy huve a good deul to do 
with the difficulty of establishing tills cereal In England. Still It Is 
well worth another trial. Surely, If Sir Joseph Bunks could do It In tho 
reign of George 111., English aud American botanists, with their ad- 
vanced opportunities and skill and appliances, should do It enslly now. 
What wc all insist on os a sine qua non Is that It should never receive 
a check. Collectors can bring tho rarest and most gorgeous plants 
from tho tropics, but not one of them tho common wild oat gras* from 
Canada. Shame on us all 1 I Ihtuk open Jars or tubs, with Its notur«| 
soil at the bottom, and floated sufficiently with soft wot< r, woold tic tho 
best mode. I am also much surprised that, as all agree any quantity 
of It can bo gathered for nothing, It la not scut to England as un 
article of trade, as poultry and game food. What I had sent mo was 
far better and offered more meal than many a stack of oatB after a bad 
harvest. There must he something prohibitory In the carriage from 
the swamps It grows In. 
ADyonewho succeeded In establishing this grain about his lakes 
and marsh land would have all the wild ducks In the district, bisUlo 
cheap food for game and poultry. Jackson Gillbanks. 
< 
Quitch-grass.— Several correspondents have made in- 
quiries about quitch-grass as a corrective for young dogs, 
wishing seed, methods of planting and so forth. We will en- 
lighten them. 
We don’t know of any one familiar with the plant who 
wishes to propagate quitch-grass. On tho contrary, they 
would prefer to root it out, except for pasturage. Properly 
named, it should he quick-grass, and is so called from its 
vigorous growth, or possibly from the difficulty of eradicating 
it. In the east it is known as knot-grass or joint-grass, but 
it is not the blue-joint of the West. It is very wiry, although 
succulent, and spreads by sending roots out of the knots into 
the ground . Botamcally, it is known as dog-grass or couch- 
grass. Its leaves and stems are broad and green in spriog ; 
in the summer they turn reddish-brown and purple. It can 
be readily detected as it is composed of bunches growmg out 
of the knots. It is the best corrective for dogs, cats and fowl 
which we know of, and it would be well worth while to cul- 
tivate a small patch of it, if it be not allowed to spread. The 
seeds can possibly be obtained at a botanic drug store. 
• 
Farming in Minnesota.— The very carefully prepared esti- 
mates of the cost and profit of starling and operating a 10,000 
acre farm in Minnesota are attracting earnest und widespread 
attention. Such honest estimates, bearing on their face the evi- 
dence of experience and truth, and covering so fully the entire 
question, have never before been printed. Wc have been 
honored by applications for copies by the Governor, the Secre- 
tary of State, the State Statistician, and several other promi- 
nent parties in Minnesota. The gentlemen who prepared that 
estimate invite the co-operation of capitalists upon the basis 
given, and beg to refer to tho advertisement printed in our 
paper under the title $30,000. 
— » 
A Black Lily. — The Bermuda R<ryal Gazette ha3 this an- 
nouncement of a rare flower, a black lily : 
“ The spadix, some 6 inches long, is perfectly black, with a 
spathe of a rich black tinge, afterward becoming moroon in 
color. This Lily lias a much richer spathe than the one that 
opened a fortniubt ago. These two plants, which flapered 
about the same time last year, were raised from bulbs, which 
Thos. S. Reid, Esq., procured in Jerusalem, in the spriDg of 
1876, and sent to Bermuda the Eame autumn. The Lily, 
which resembles in a certain measure the Lords and Ladies 
found in the English hedges in the spring, Mr. Reid discov- 
ered growiog wild in the waste paths between Hebron and 
Bethlehem.” 
A Good Place to Settle In. — O ur Nashville, Tenn., cor- 
respondent writes that n lady by the name of Hopkins, living 
in Greene County, Tenn., lias arrived at the great age of 117 
years. She 1ms three sous living who arc aged respectively 
i)8, 05 and 00 years. 
— William^Calcraft, the veteran English executioner, is 
very fond of flowers, and has a great many raobit pets. 
iST Forest and (Stream will be sent fey fractions of a year 
os follows: Six months, $2 ; three mouths, $1. To clubs of 
two or more, $8 per annum. 
Eht iienncl. 
To Correspondents. — T hoso desiring ns to present)® for their dogs 
will please iak« note of and describe tho following points In each ani- 
mal: 
1. Ago. «. Food and medicine given. 3. Appoaranoo of tho oyc ; 
of tho coat ; of tho tongue and lips. 4. Any changes In tho appearance 
of tho body, a* bloating, drawing In of tho flank*, etc. 8. Brcathlug, 
the number of respirations per minute, and whothor labored or not. 
6. Condition of the bowels and secretions of the kidneys, color, etc. 7. 
Appetite ; regular, variable, oto. 8. Tcmporaturo of tho body as lndi 
ealed by the bulb of the thermometer when placed between tho body 
and tho forolcg. 9. Give position ot kennel and surroundings, outlook, 
contiguity to other buildlugs, aud tho uses of tho latter. Also glvo Hny 
peculiarities of totnporamont, movomouU, etc., that may be noticed, 
gns of suffering, oto. 
FIXTURES FOR 1878— BENCH SHOWS. 
Baltimore Kennel Club's 8how, Baltlmoro, M(L, April 23, 24,25 
and 20. L K. Caasard, Secretary. 
Tho Westminster Kennel Club (Now York) Uenoh Show. GU. 
moron Garden, May 14, 15, IG and 17. Dr, W. Howard Webb 
Sooretary. 
- e 
RAILROADS AND DOGS. 
Denr Editor : Wo all know how constantly sportsmen are 
traveling over the various railroads accompanied by their dogs. 
Of some few of these railroads wo do not complain, as the 
managers have been far-sighted enough to allow the dog n 
free ride with his master, and to give the proper orders to 
baggage masters that they shall not extort a fee to suit his 
own idea at Ills demand, or throw the dog off the tmlu. In 
your vuhmblo journal, heretofore, you have used your influ- 
ence to correct this gross abuse of the dog and sportsmen by 
the railroad companies ; and through that influence the fe.w 
roads hnve made the belter rules, and suclfroads are fully ap- 
preciated and patronized by brother sportsmen. But certain 
roads, which we could name, still allow the baggage masters 
to ruu the dog department of tho road, and to do just as they 
please. Such rouds are tloiug u great injustice to a good class 
of putrons. Wo are willing lo pay a fair established rate, and 
only want to bo informed what that rate is. We are not will- 
ing to be subjected to the whims of n baggage man, who ean 
demaud a dollar for u leu or twenty-miles' ride for a dog. I 
hope you will continue your kind efforts to bring about sumo 
better regulations, especially in regard to roads inutho vicinity 
of New York. SPORT. 
[This question of dog transportation is still a vexatious one, 
ns our correspondent justly states. On a great many roads a 
dog is quite at the mercy of the employees. Quite fortunately, 
many baggage masters arc something of sportsmen themselves, 
and take the best care of dogs, but wc huve more thuu ouco had 
reported to us cases of culpable ncgligenco and evou cruelty. 
There should be a charge mado for dog transportation, so 
much a mile, and a proper place made for their curriago. To 
leave the sportsman to pay a fee at his option ought to bo 
considered as humiliating to any railroad employee. It is not 
of course os much a case of revenue with a railroad company 
in regard to the dogs as a fixed price known before hand, and 
a good place for the dog, induces sportsmen to tmvol on the 
rouds. We are acquainted with a certain good range of coun- 
try in Virginia where there was a comfortable house kept by 
an obliging landlord, which has been shunned for the last two 
years on account of the exactions of a baggage master on a 
branch road. Sportsmen's clubs might agitate this question 
of transportation of dogs, and wo should gladly give them all 
tho aid in our power in order to set matters right. Wo uro 
certain that it never will do to consider the charge of trans- 
porting a dog as one of tho perquisites of a railroad employee. 
-Ed.] 
— «♦»— 
Westminster Kennel Clud— Second Annual N. Y. 
Bench Snow.— The special prize lists will bo ready for dis- 
tribution this week. Many of them will be given to “ Native 
Setters” only, and will be of the same value as those given 
in the regulur classes. All the express companies have agreed 
to carry dogs at their usual rates to the show and return them 
free. The rates must in all cuscs be prepaid. The railroads 
are responding nobly to the solicitations of the committee, to 
carry dogs free wheu accompanied by a passenger. A full 
list of them will be sent you us soon as completed. The en- 
tries already received arc sufficient to make up a good show. 
It is anticipated that long before the 80th tho numbers will 
have reached the limit— viz., 940. The judges will he bb fol- 
lows: For English setters, pointers, mastiffs, 8t. Bernard's, 
Newfoundlands, bloodhounds, greyhounds, deerhounds, 
fox terriers, bull dogs, bull terriers, 8kyo terrierH, Pugs, 
Scotch terriers, black fmd tan terriers, Dandio Dinmont terri- 
ers, Yorkshire terriers and toy terriers— Win. Lart, Esq., of 
England. 
Black and tan setters, red or red and white setters, Irish 
water spaniels, retrieving spaniels, clumber spaniels, cocker 
spaniels, field spaniels and collies— John Davidson, Esq., Mon- 
roe, Mich. 
For Sibcrion or Ulm dogs, Chesapeake Bay dogs, fox 
hounds, barriers, beagles, dachshunds, coach dogs, Blenheim 
spaniels, King Charles spaniels, Jupanese spaniels and Italian 
greyhounds— Dr. L. II. Twaddcll, West Philadelphia, Pa. 
Chas. Lincoln, Sup't. 
Doo Traits — Muirfdrk, April 5.— Reading Mr. Eyrich's 
article in this week's Forest and Stream calls to my mind 
several limes when my dogs have hacked out from a covey of 
birds and returned to inform me of tbe fact. The flrst time 
was iji Nov . 1874. I was hunting with my black pointer 
bitch Meg, about eight years old, and liver pointer dog Ponto, 
15 months old. The dogs hod gone over a fence tu advance 
of me, und on my entering the field after a slight delay, they 
were out of sight. Thinking I could easily find them. I 
looked all over the open fields, but no dogs. 1 tht-u whistled 
for them, ns if they were pointing game, I knew they 
would not return. The dogs did not come back, so I pro- 
ceeded to search for them in a thicket of pines. I must have 
searched fully twcoty minutes for them, every few minutes 
whistling ami calling for them. I had about given up the 
job, when Meg came toward me, and when I u*ked her where 
she had been, started forward, but turoe.1 to see if I was 
