PARK AND CEMETERY. 
300 
well to estimate the number of sparrowstion, and heat till the starch thickens. 
frequenting a feeding place and to allow 
about 20 kernels for each sparrow. Al- 
though 2 kernels of wheat coated with 
the solution described below have been 
known to kill a sparrow, 6 or 7 kernels 
are required to insure fatal results. 
Only as much poison should be put out 
as is likely to be eaten in one day, as ex- 
posure to moisture reduces its virulence. 
Furthermore, sparrows that take less 
than a fatal quantity, or that become 
frightened b}' the death of comrades, will 
forsake a feeding place if poison is kept 
there constantly. It is better, therefore, 
to supply unpoisoned wheat after each 
poisoning until the birds have recovered 
confidence. An important advantage in 
having several feeding grounds is that 
they may be used in rotation, the spar- 
rows forgetting their fear of one while 
the others in turn are receiving poison. 
A poison mixture that has proved very 
effective is prepared as follows: Put 
one-eighth ounce of strychnia sulphate 
into three-fourths of a gill of hot water 
and boil until dissolved. Moison VA 
teaspoonfuls of starch with a few drops 
of cold water, add it to the poison solu- 
Pour the hot poisoned starch solution 
over 1 quart of wheat and stir until 
every kernel is coated. Small-kerneled 
wheat sold as poultry food, if reason- 
ably clean, is preferable to first quality 
grain, being cheaper and more easily 
eaten by the sparrows. 2-quart glass 
fruit jar is a good vessel to mix in, as 
it is easily shaken and allows the condi- 
tion of the contents to be seen. If the 
coated wheat be spread thinly on a hard, 
flat surface, it will be dry enough for 
use in a short time. It should be dried 
thoroughly if it is to be put into jars 
and kept for future use. Dishes em- 
ployed in preparing poison may be safely 
cleansed by washing. 
The poison should be well scattered, 
so that many birds may be able to par- 
take at the same time, since after a few 
are affected their actions excite the sus- 
picion of their comrades. 
Sparrows can be reduced locally to 
almost any desired extent by the meth- 
ods outlined in this bulletin, but it should 
not be forgotten that such reduction can 
be made permanent only by systematic 
and continued efforts. 
PARK NEWS. 
attached a long cord, and between the 
top of it and the edge of the trap is 
placed a chip. By setting the trap 
over, bait and pulling the cord from 
a sheltered point of observation when 
a flock of sparrows is beneath it, num- 
bers of them may be caught. Instead 
of the box described above, by which 
the birds are taken alive, an old door 
or similar device may be employed as 
a deadfall. In either case the trap 
should be kept set and baited until 
the sparrows are not afraid to go un- 
der it. The best time for trapping is 
just after a snowstorm, when the 
birds have been fasting. Then, if the 
ground be cleared and chaff and grain 
be put under the trap, the birds will 
crowd in and enable the trapper to 
secure nearly all of the local flock. If 
any escape they will spread the fear 
of traps, and before long very few of 
the birds can be induced to go into 
one. 
Sparrows are accustomed to feed in 
close flocks, and when thus assembled 
a large number can be killed by a 
charge of No. 10 shot. The best way 
is to scatter grain over long, narrow 
areas and shoot the sparrows at these 
baiting places. Where sparrows infest 
poultry yards, the bait may be placed 
on a horizontal board, supported at 
such an elevation that the birds can 
be shot without danger to the poul- 
try. 
Since English sparrows are a pest and 
a reduction of their numbers is impor- 
tant ' on economic grounds, there 
would seem to be no reason why the 
birds, when trapped or shot, should 
not be utilized for food in this coun- 
try, as they have been in the Old 
World for centuries. Their flesh is 
palatable and nutritious, and in city 
restaurants they are often served un- 
der the name of reed birds. 
Where the use of poison is not pro- 
hibited by law, it may be effectively 
used to reduce the number of spar- 
rows. Of the different poisons tested, 
the most satisfactory is strychnia 
sulphate. It is easily prepared and 
acts quickly. Wheat has proved to be 
a good bait, as well as an excellent ve- 
hicle for administering the poison. The 
grain should be regularly supplied at 
the baiting stations until the birds have 
become accustomed to resort to the 
place. A good time to put it out is 
early morning, as the birds are sure to 
be hungry for breakfast. The capacity 
of the sparrow’s crop and stomach is 
about 30 kernels of wheat, varying more 
or less according to the size of the ker- 
nels. In deciding the amount of poison- 
ed wheat to put out at one time, it is 
Mr. J. Belknap Guppey, a leading cit- 
izen of Dover, N. H., has presented that 
cit\- with nearly an acre of ground for 
the purpose of a small city park. Mr. 
Guppey had previously given the free 
use of a large grove of fine pines to the 
city, and this may eventually be donat- 
ed outright. It is such work of public 
spirited citizens that tends to promote 
better feeling and understanding among 
their fellow citizens. 
Marblehead, Mass., will create a city 
park on the triangle formed by the junc- 
tion of Essex and Pleasant streets. It 
has been an eyesore for many years. 
The new tree ordinance of Grand 
Rapids, Mich., places in the hands of 
the board of park and cemetery com- 
missioners the absolute control of all 
trees and shrubs planted in the city’s 
streets, together with authority to em- 
ploy an expert forester to supervise the 
planting and tree arrangement. The 
board is also empowered to enter on 
abutting properties and condemn dis- 
eased trees ; property owners must also 
trim and take care of the trees within 
their lots. Penalties are attached to the 
ordinances for neglect and disobedience 
of the board’s requirements. 
Andersonville Prison Park, the tract 
of land embracing the site of the prison, 
and which was presented by the Grand 
Army of Georgia to the Woman’s Relief 
Corps on condition of a pledge to care 
for it, has been presented to the U. S. 
government. There are about 88 acres 
in the park and great improvements 
have been made upon it, including a 
large house for the caretaker. Congress 
has accepted the gift. There are a num- 
ber of state monuments already erected 
upon the grounds. 
Plans are being carried out for the 
proposed arboretum and botanical gar- 
dens for Institute Park, Brooklyn, N. 
Y., to be maintained under the auspices 
of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and 
Sciences. On July 1, Professor C. Stu- 
art Gager, now director of the depart- 
ment of botany at the University of 
Missouri, will take up his duties as di- 
rector of the new enterprise. Frederick 
Law Olmsted, Boston, will lay out the 
grounds and plan an approach, and it is 
expected that the actual work of plant- 
ing the gardens will begin in the spring 
of 1911. 
The Union Pacific R. R. is doing 
some parking work along its right of 
