72 
FOREST AND STREAM 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 
Dbvotbd to Fikt.d and Aqoatio SronTS, Ppaotioal Natuiiai. n istort, 
Fisn CULTURE, THE PROTECTION or GAME, PRESERVATION OP FORESTS, 
AND THE INCULCATION IN MEN AND WOMEN OP A UKALTUT INTEREST 
in Odt-door Recreation and Study : 
PUBLISHED BY 
forest and §ireanj fflublishhtj] fflompatiff, 
17 CHATHAM STREET, (CITY HALL SQUARE) NEW YORK, 
[Post Orricr. Box 2884,1 
Terms, Five Dollars a Year, Strictly Id Advance. 
A discount of twenty percent, allowed for five copies and iip wards. 
Advertising Kates. 
In rognlar advertising columns, nonpareil type, 18 llnceto the Inch, 2£ 
eonts per lino. Advertisements on outside page. 40ccntsnorllno. Reading 
notices, BO cents per line. Advertisements In double column 25 per cent, 
extra. Where advertisements are inserted over 1 month, a discount of 
10 per cent, will be made; over three months, 20 per cent; over six 
months, 80 per cent. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1875. 
To Correspondents. 
All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 
correspondence, must bo addressed to Tub FonssT and Stream Pub- 
LISDino Company. Personal or private letters of course excepted. 
All communications Intended for publication mast be accompanied with 
eal numo, os a guaranty of good faith. Names will not be published If 
objoctlon be made. No anonymous contributions will bo regarded. 
Articles relating to any topic within the scope of this paper are solicited. 
Wo cannot promise to rotnm rejected manuscripts. 
. Secretaries of Clubs and Associations ure urged to favor us with brief 
notes of their movements and transactions, ns It Is tho aim of this paper 
to bocome a medium of useful and rellnblo Information between gentle- 
men sportsmen from one end of the country to the other ; and they will 
find our columns a dosirable medium for advertising announcements. 
Tho Publishers of Forest and Strbam aim to merit mid secure the 
patronage and countenance of that portion of the community whoso re- 
fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 
Is beautiful In Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 
the legitimate sports of lnnd and water to those base nses which always 
tend to make them unpopular with the virtuous and good. No advertise- 
ment or business notice of an Immoral character will bo received on any 
arms ; and nothing will he admitted to any department of the paper that 
may not be read with propriety in the home circle. 
Wo cannot bo responsible for tho dereliction of tho mall Bervice, If 
money remitted to ns is lost. 
Advertisements should be sent in by Saturday of each week, If possible. 
CHARLES I1ALLOCK, Editor. 
WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Manager. 
THE CULTURE OF SEMI-TROPICAL 
FRUITS. 
W ITH the increased attention given to this subjoct, 
and the rapid settlement of Florida and the Southern 
counties of California, it seems not improbnblc that before 
muny years are past we may be drawing our supplies of 
fruit from within tho limits of our own boundaries. With 
this in view the ratification of the proposed treaty of re- 
ciprocity with the Hawaiian Kingdom threatens an in jus 
tice to our fruit growers. Already the culturists of Los 
Angeles county have petitioned their representatives in 
Congress, protesting against the admission of tho fruits of 
Hawaiia free of duty, and it seems but reasonable that tho 
protection afforded by tariff to the iron merchant, the 
woolgrower and the shipbuilder, should he extended like- 
wise to the horticulturist and the farmer. 
Whatever tho result however, the occupation of fruit 
growing, particularly when applied to the more uncom- 
mon and semi-tropical varieties, is of such a fascinating 
character, that duty or no duty, protection or free trade, 
will alike be ineffectual iu checking or preventing the in- 
creasing interest in this pursuit. 
It is not everyone, however, who has the patience to wait 
for the bearing of those trees which require from ten to 
fifteen years to mature; but if we may judge from the 
assertions of those who have reached this happy period, 
the truthfulness of which we have no reason to doubt, the 
profit is far in excess of anything which can be realized 
from any similar occupation. There must be, however, to 
this, as well as every other picture, two sides, and the be. 
ginner cannot expect success without first meeting dis. 
couragement and partial failure. In Southern California 
the culture of oranges, lemons, limes, etc., is carried on 
only in certaiu localities, and such as can depend with 
certainty upon the means of artificial irrigation. In fact, 
the whole mode of culture, the country itself, and the 
people who follow it, nre so different in character as to de- 
serve if not actually require a separate description, and it 
is possible that the hints from actual experience gained in 
one locality may not be without value to some of thoso who 
are following tho business in another. 
In California, Los Angeles county and its county town 
of the same name, together with the neighboring valley of 
San Gabriel, is the home of tho orange in that State. The 
proprietors of orchards, however, do not confine them- 
selves to this fruit alone, and while in Florida we hear also 
Of the guava the paw-paw and the banana, Ip California we 
have the lemon, the lime, the fig and the English walnut 
growing side by side with the apricot, the peach, the apple 
and the pear. The finest oranges arc grown at San Gabriel 
on a Boil of decomposed granite, where the Sierra Madre 
range gives protection from the north winds. We assert, 
and we say it boldly, that they arc unsurpassed, even if 
equalled, in the world for size, and when allowed to remain 
sufficiently long on the tree, for sweetness and flavor. In 
the mission garden at this place there are trees planted by 
the padres from seed brought from Mexico, which now, at 
seventy years old, are in full bearing, and producing on an 
average of 2,000 oranges cacli year. Whether it is from a 
difference in the quality of seed however, or from the extra 
care given to the cultivation, the fruit from the trees planted 
at a later period, far surpass them in size and quality. Most 
of the orange trees in Los Angeles county have been grown 
from seed procured from Tahiti or the Sandwich Islands. 
As a rule the fruit comes true to the seed, with such modi- 
fications as may he caused by locality and care. It is some- 
what common, however, to bud the orange on to a species 
of almost worthless fruit known as the “China lemon,” by 
which three years of growth are saved, but at an expense 
of longevity if not of quality. The Sicily lemon, how- 
ever, when thus propagated, is much easier to raise, as with 
the lime, it is, when in the earlier stages of growth, much 
more susceptible to the influence of frost than the orange 
and less likely to recuperute after being cut down. The 
lime, the most difficult of all to bring to maturity, is also 
tho most profitable. Unlike the other trees, they seem to 
be continually bearing, and we have heard of three trees in 
one garden producing each year the enormous sum of one 
hundred dollars each. There are nurseries in Los Angeles, 
where immense quantities of semi-tropical fruit trees are 
grown, to an extent, in fact, that were it not for the num- 
bers destroyed after transplanting by carelessness and in- 
experience, the business would soon be overdone. These 
trees can be bought of all ages, from one to four years, at 
prices varying from ten cents to two dollars and a half each. 
The greatest error and the most common is in planting 
both seed and young trees too deep, in the first instance 
preventing the young germ from breaking through the 
earth, and in the other depriving the roots of the air which 
seems necessary to their existence. After the danger of 
frost, which is not past until the trees have assumed their 
hard bark, the attacks of the gopher are the most to be 
dreaded. This destructive little pest, which is sometimes 
confounded with the ground squirrel, which he in no way 
resembles, is something between the mole and the rat, 
boring in tho ground and gnawing at the roots of the 
trees, sometimes without giving evidence of his presence 
until the mischief i9 irreparable. He has been known to 
eat through a six year old tree in a single night, so that the 
tree toppled over on being touched. His habits are so 
certain, however, that when his hole is found, by using a 
trap, his capture is almost sure. He is a most pugnacious 
little fellow, and the Mexican boy9 have a very ingenious 
way of catching him. A noose is placed over a hole, and 
when Mr. Gopher shows himself at noon, as he invariably 
does, tho concealed boy pulls the string and makes him 
prisoner. The string is then fastened to his tail and he is 
lowered into another hole. A fierce battle ensues, and both 
gophers, griping each other like bull dogs, are brought to 
the surface. For six months, or more frequently eight, 
not a drop of rain falls; the country becomes parched and 
burnt and the trees can only be kept alive by artificial irri- 
gation. The scarcity of water will always keep the cultiva- 
tion within certain limits, as iu low wet lands which would 
not requiro irrigation, the orange will not grow. At this 
season the squirrels, who honeycomb tho ground in every 
direction, become almost desperate for food, as do also 
the rabbits and hares. Young vineyards and orchards, if 
not carefully watched, are completely destroyed. Away 
from these the excrement of horses or cattle is eagerly de- 
voured, and we have known them to eat the bark from a 
tree fifteen years old, as high as they could reach. The 
vitality of the orange tree, however, in congenial soil, is 
wonderful-; by carefully covering the places where the 
bark has been removed, the trees seem to experience no 
harm. They can be transplanted after coming into full 
bearing by careful pruning and trimming off the bruised 
roots, and actually improve their fruit by removal from 
cold and damp soil to a richer and warmer one. Ten years 
is allowed a tree to bear from the seed, but from this time 
both yield and profit increase in rapid ratio. It is the dis- 
inclination to wait which has prevented many of the resi- 
dents of Los Angeles from reaping fortunes similar to those 
acquired by their more far sighted neighbors; but the in- 
troduction of a different class, the patient, slow-plodding 
agriculturist of the East is awakening tlum, and the busi- 
ness of semi-tropical fruit growing promises to assume an 
interest and importance second only to the production of 
wheat and wine. 
Cuas. W. Hutchinson. — There are so many Governors 
of States, General officers, and other important function- 
aries, who arc first class sportsmen that it may seem super- 
erogatory to individualize, nevertheless, we cannot but 
join in the very general expression of satisfaction that the 
well known and honorable sportsman, Chas. W. Hutchin- 
son, Esq., has recently been elected Major of Utica. The 
reception accorded to him last week in Utica evinced a cer- 
tain wholesomeness of good fellowship which is redund- 
ant among sportsmen everywhere, although we would by 
no meaus be understood to imply that none but sportsmen 
participated. The welcome was enviable, and the ententie 
cordial (and other cordials) everywhere prevailed. 
OPENING INLAND WATERS. 
A LETTER in another column from a correspondent 
at Good Ground, describes the cutting through the 
narrow bar of sand which separates Shinnecock Bay from 
the oceaD, and the openiug of a channel, which promises 
to be permanent, of 160 feet in width and from 20 to 30 
feet in depth. The inlet to the bay having been closed for 
many months, the water therein had accumulated until it 
had attained a mean level eight feet above that in the ad- 
jacent ocean. A channel such as described would afford a 
passage for vessels of considerable size, and through its 
moans the bay may yet prove a harbor of refuge for somo 
unfortunate craft forced, by stress of weather, to seek its 
shelter. It is, unfortunately however, hut too frequently 
the case that the opening or re-opening of similar places 
to (he influence of tide-water is followed by the formation 
of sand-bars at their entrance, which materially affects 
their utility. Still, it is not improbable that proper ob- 
servation might lead to the discovery of numerous places 
ou our coast where, by taking advantage of like circum- 
stances, harbors of refuge might be formed or old inlets 
re-opened, the value of which would more than repay the 
slight cost of the undertaking. 
The immense power possessed by a body of accumulated 
water was but too unfortunately displayed last year in 
Massachusetts; but there arc other instances where this 
ulmost irresistible force has been turned to good account 
in the interest of science and discovery. It entered largely 
into the construction of the Suez Caual, and Sir Samuel 
Baker, in his last journey to Equatorial Africa, was obliged 
to cut his way through the dense sudd, which had entirely 
obstructed the Bahr cl Giraffe and prevented his entering 
the White Nile. For a portion of two years his army 
worked at the immense masses of paphyrus and floating 
vegetation which filled the river, whose presence was only 
known by the strong current ruuning beneath; and it was 
only when the expedient of damming had been resorted to 
that a passage could he effected. Moreover, the waters, 
when again set free, so extended the channels he had cut 
as to carry off large masses of the sudd and render naviga- 
tion once more practicable. 
Sportsmen may congratulate themselves that the good 
people of Shinnecock Bay have succeeded in freeing the 
bay of the surplus water which has interfered so sadly 
with the shooting during the past season. 
PROTECTION OF GAME. 
The regular monthly meeting of the New Y'ork Associa- 
tion for the Protection of Game was held last evening at 
the residence of Mr. David H. Haight, No. 284 Madison 
avenue, Mr. Royal Phelps in the chair. After disposing of 
the preliminary business, Mr. Hallock submitted the fol- 
lowing petition 
We, the undersigned baymeu and sportsmen, residents 
and visitors of South Oyster Bay, Seaforth and vicinity, do 
most respectfully solicit the co-operation of the New York 
Association for the Proteclion of Game in altering the 
laws in relation tj duck shooting to correspond with the 
old enactment— that the close season for ducks should ex- 
tend from May 1 to October 20. Further, we protest against 
any laws being passed prohibiting Spring snipe shooting. 
So few in number are killed that we do not consider the 
subject worthy of legislation. 
The petition, signed by twenty-seven gentlemen, was re- 
ferred for consideration to the Committtee on Game Laws. 
Mr. Hallock also presented the following communica- 
tion from Mr. F. J. Boswirth, of Brighton, England : — 
In the name of justice and in the interest of every sports- 
man in America, I appeal to you to use your efforts to stop 
the terrific slaughter and wholesale exportation of the pin- 
nated grouse (prairie hen) from Iowa and other Western 
States, to the ports of Great Britain. The game dealers as- 
sure me that they are now arriving in tons, and I know 
whereof I speak when I assure you that they seem to be 
here, in countless thousands, all victims of the trap — not a 
shot hole in one of them. Through the local, State, and 
national organizations the system of trapping, I believe, can 
be stopped. The game dealer has displays here of hun- 
dreds of birds in the morning, to be soon exhausted by 
anxious buyers, when fresh barrels are rolled out and other 
hundreds take the places of the first, repeating itself from 
day to day, and are sold at one half the price of the Eng- 
lish, Scotch and Norway game. If this destruction con- 
tinue, how long will it require to sweep this beautiful game 
bird from our prairies ? 
In conclusion Mr. Phelps avowed that his attention had 
been called to the same subject. He had been notified that 
at pier No. 38 North River, there were 178 barrels of prai- 
raie chickens awaiting shipment to England, and that, as 
this was the close season for birds, he desired to act in the 
premises as the law allowed. He had taken the advice of 
the counsel to the association, however, and found that he 
could not seize the birds while in transitu, but had ascer- 
tained that they had been shipped to this city by one P. B. 
Wearr, of Chicago. The matter rested with the associa- 
tion ordeiing that the game societies of Chicago be noti- 
fied of the action taken by the New Y'ork organization, 
with a view to a partial or total suppression of the traffic. 
The petitions and affidavits of several small game-dealers 
against whom suits had been commenced for selling veni- 
son out of season, requesting the leniency of the associa- 
tion in view of the circumstances of their cases, were re- 
ferred to the Executive Committee, to take such action as 
they may deem proper. 
On motion it was resolved to remit the annual dues of 
Mr. Hayes, the late efficient Secretary, who is prevented by 
illness from attending the meetings of the association. 
Mr. C. J5. Whitehead, counsel of the association, ap- 
