358. 


FOREST. AND STREAM. 


eztures was a small fernery and aquarium united together, 
the peculiar features of which, with the whole manner for 
arranging the same, will make the subject matter of an- 
other paper on the fine effects. that can be produced by 
window plant cultivation. 
We introduce the subject of aquaria and fernery united 
in this place to show the exceedingly valuable and indis- 
pensable requisites of water and air for all plants grown 
in ardom, where the air is always more or less dry from 
the use of gas and coal fires:. If you desire to place a small 
aquarium, of the oblong or globular form, in your box now 
under discussion, you can do so provided you do not make 
it too large of itself. Your box being three feet wide, you 
can so arrange your plants as to give ample space for a 
little rock arch of say one foot in height from the top soil 
of your box. Upon these supports (bits of rock cemented 
together with hydraulic cement, I made mine) you then 
place an aquarium fourteen inches long by eight wide, and 
ten inches in height, covering the bo.tom with white and 
colored pebbles and small shells to the depth of one inch, 
and you have a very nice little affair; and the best of all 
is, it does not cost much, and will be found a well-spring 
of pleasure and a source of much instruction for the 
younger branches of the family. Little boys and girls soon 
learn to love plants and flowers, and often little boys will, 
at sight of alittle natural history toy, carry his recollec- 
tions back a whole year, and name the species before him 
and where he last saw one of the same kind. A little boy 
of only two years and eight months of age, upon my pre- 
senting him with a toy turtle, arranged upon a magnetic 
needle, which gave it the appearance and motions of life, 
exclaimed, ‘‘Grandpa, I saw one in the fernery last sum- 
mer.” 
Having your aquarium ready for the water, you will 
plant in the same one or two small roots or sprigs of the 
vallisneria spiralis, which easily roots itself among the 
pebbles at the bottom. The other water growing plants 
you can sparingly introduce if you choose as conferve, to 
run over the rocks in the aquarium. You can with much 
benefit to yourself consult the manufacturers and dealers in 
aquariums as to the kind of plants and fish you need, and 
often half an hour’s talk with an intelligent man is sugges- 
tive and valuable. This digression, however, is incident- 
ally introduced for the benefit of those who would try their 
hand at embellishments at this stage of the window box 
rather than being a part of the box arrangement we pro- 
posed at the outset for our window box, which is only a 
simple box with advanced improvement, our object being 
to lead all who are disposed to be our pupils to think and 
originate for themselves under our suggestions. 
Some box cases I have seen made a specialty for the bulb 
alone, and from the centre of just such a box of eartha 
small granite rock arose, of the size of a peck measure, 
and six or eight inches in height.. The hyacinths were ar- 
ranged in a semi-cirele around the box, the highest plants 
nearest the glass, and the next highest next the outer row, 
and so on, much care being had in the nice adjustment and 
harmony of color in the blooming. At the base of the 
little boulder in the middle were placed on each side a root 
of the English violet and the various kinds of crocus’ in 
all their splendid variety, from the magnificent ‘ cloth of 
gold,” the “‘royal purple,” the ‘‘Persian,” and ‘“‘ortre mer’ 
to the humble ‘‘smelling ray.” They were intermixed with 
some ten or more of the tulip tribe, the low blossoming 
paroquets, and at the corners some few stalks of the single 
blooming varieties lent a charm to the whole, of which a 
written description fails to convey a very definite idea of 
the rare and beautiful treasures of a very simple and easily 
arranged window box. Inthe progress of our papers on 
the subject of window gardening in all its many forms and 
numerous adaptatious to the parlor, the drawing room, and 
the small conservatory we shall show that it is always the 
safest and best: path to knowledge to take the simplest. 
Having your box all ready you can proceed to fill it with 
such plants as you may desire: to see grow and blossom 
about you, but do not expect.to create anything wonderful 
in a month or a year; but-you may create a most wonder- 
ful and pleasing effect. in your cozy sitting room, and 
though the wind and storm rage without, and amisty veil 
of rain or snow holds in iey thraldom the out-of-door 
world, all is brightness and beauty, an ‘almost tropical 
clime, and the odor of sweet. blossoms within. 
Among the plants: much ‘loved by our lady friends will 
be found the well. known, much used’ 'smilax, (Medeola as- 
paragoides), This plant is too well Known to aeed a par- 
ticular description... Every child knows its rich, wavy, 
glossy foliage, It is-a bulb, and. originates at the Cape of 
Good Hope, where it grows in great abundance, requiring 
a rich, rather sandy, clean soil, and is not at all reluctant 
to drink considerable water. Its flowers are of a whitish 
green. Thesmilaxeasily adapts itself to almost any situ- 
tion, and will grow in a not very sunny position. It is also 
a good plant for trailing among rock work. 
OLLIPOD QUILL. 
<< 
Tup Stare Park.—In the message of Governor Dix, 
appears the foilowing, in regard to the State Parks :— 
“Near the close of the last session of the Legislature, the 
Commissioners of State Parks made their first annual re- 
port, in conformity to a direction ‘to inquire into the ex- 
pediency of providing for vesting in the State the title to 
the timbered regions lying within. the counties of Lewis, 
Essex, Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Herkimer and 
Hamilton, and converting the same into a public Park.’ 
Their report contains important views and suggestions in 
- regard to the preservation of the forests in this mountain- 
ous district for the supply of water and timber. 

They came to no conclusion in regard to the main object 
of their inquiry, but recommend, until the question can be 
further considered and decided, that the wild lands now 
owned and held by the State be retained.” 
Referring our readers to a thorough examination of this 
most important subject, which appeared in a former num- 
ber of Forest AND STREAM, we trust that His Excellency 
will further the recommendation made by the Commission- 
ers of the State Parks, and aid it by his personal and official 
influence. 
Che Ziennel. 
CLEANLINESS OF KENNELS. 
pen et ae 
E shall shortly publish a description of the fox 
hounds of the north and south, their number, man- 
agement, mode of training, feeding and breeding, compil- 
ed by the most eminent gentlemen of America. In order 
to lay before our readers.a short description of the manage- 
ment of the kennel we quote from a clever writer, named 
R. T. Vyners. ‘In some kennels where strict economy 
or, as it should be more appropriately termed, parsimony 
is the order of the day, the hounds have no beds allowed 
them on their benches during the summer months; but it is 
a bad system. In the first place the kennels do not smell 
half so sweet as when they are allowed beds, which can be 
removed as often as occasion may require, nor can the 
vermin be kept from getting into their coats half so easily, 
as when there is a little straw to shake the sulphur upon, 
moreover, hounds by continualglying upon hard boards, not 
unfrequently become quite bare upon their backs and 
elbows which has an unsportsman-like and unsightly ap- 
pearance, (where straw is too dear and precious an article 
to be wasted, cuttings of spruce, and scrub oak make an ex- 
cellent substitute, especially the spruce, as it has a tendency 
to brighten the coat and keep the hounds in strong health). 
Ticks as well as fleas are a sad nuisance in some kennels. 
They are always the effect of idleness, filth and neglect, 
and nothing can be easier than to eradicate such pests from 
all sorts of kennels if the feeder will set to work in a pro- 
per manner when he first perceives the evil to break out. 
Pointing up all cracks and crevices to the fullest extent up- 
on the sides and ceilings and two or three whitewashings 
with hot lime and water, will perfectly eradicate the intru- 
ders, provided that when the hounds again return to their 
sleeping kennels, their coats are free from vermin, Pre- 
vention is always better than cure; alittle sulphur sprinkled 
upon the beds will prevent the vermin from ever breaking 
out again, unless the hounds are allowed to pick up ticks 
and fleas when shut up in strange places, or the kennels to 
become saturated with filth and dirt under the benches or 
in the remote and dark corners of the kennel. The estab- 
lishing a good and free system of ventilation is a thing not 
half sufficiently attended to in kennels and stables.” (Most 
of the diseases of dogs that occur we are inclined to be- 
lieve may be traced to a neglect of the cleanliness of the 
kennel, either that or insufficient drainage. En.) 
aie ESTES 
Fox Hounps oF Fiormpa.—The first fox hounds ever 
brought to Florida, were from a celebrated ‘‘pack” owned 
on the estate of the ‘‘Marquis of Berresford,” in England, 


Sir Reginald, (subsequntly Marquis) of Berresford came to. 
America and opened extensive indigo plantations, on the 
bank of the St Johns river in East Florida, at a place still 
known as Lake Berresford, in the beginning of the last cen- 
tury, and like all Englishmen yearned for the most noble 
sport of his far off home. ‘‘Deer Stalking,” as it existed in 
Florida, was new to him; and not being fraught with 
danger, lacked that tone which foxhunting alone can claim. 
Anglo Saxons love ‘‘fair play,” asthe hunter must give as 
much attention to saving his own neck, as he can to secur- 
ing the ‘‘Brush’,’ and the chances are sometimes decidedly 
against ‘‘Nimrod.” ie, 
Unfortunately for the fox hound of England, the Marquis 
soon discovered that the fox of Florida wouldn’t run half 
a mile before he climbed a tree, and foxhunting was aban- 
doned reluctantly, the dog remained, however, and through 
neglect they rapidly mixed with the cur of the country, 
and the blood has become extinct. Lord Halifax then 
conceived the idea of importing foxes, and actually tried 
the experiment. 
But to-day there is no dog kept in Florida for the fox- 
chase exclusively. We have a lively and exciting substi- 
tute, however. When we want a foxhunt we can get up 
very pretty sport by calling out a pack of deer hounds; we 
run our fox sometimes half au hour, he climbs a sapling, 
we overtake hin and shake him out, the dogs take after him 
again. 
We might introduce Missouri foxes, but hunting our 
“climbing fox” is not foxhunting at all. J. A. M. 
Klee ee 
. New York, Jan. 10, 1874. 
Epitor Forrest AND STREAM:— 
Having read an article in last week’s ForEsT AND STREAM 
on ‘Can Dogs Reason?” I will relate en incident that came 
under my own notice; although whether it was reason or 
instinct on the part of the dog, I leave you to determine. 
In the fall of 1871 the Captain and I were tramping 
around the prairie about two miles from Fremont, Neb., 
and with the assistance of the Captain’s pointer, ‘‘Dick,” 
picking up a stray “chicken” every little while. A pecu- 
liar ‘‘point” of ‘‘ducks” some distance off, called our atten- 
tion to him; he would make as beautiful a “‘point” as Tever 
saw, when suddenly he would throw up his head, turn it 
in different directions, and appear to be drawing the scent 
- 


from all around; then he would give two or three bold 
steps forward, but the Captain’s ‘‘steady Dick,” ‘‘steady” 
would again bring him down to a point. The best descrip- 
tion I can give of his actions, is, that he said as plain as 
dog could say: ‘‘there is game here, but you need not waste 
your ammunition, I can attend to it if you'll let me go mes 
which we finally did, by goiag in all together on a double 
quick, when up went a prairie chicken, but in less time 
than it takes to tell it ‘‘Dick” nad it fast. 
On examination we fourfd the chicken had one wing 
broken and one thigh badly shattered by shot, and from the 
condition of the wounds we judged it had been done within 
two days, but certainly not on the day we were out. 
I’ve had great respect for ‘‘Dick” ever since, but I can't 
understand yet how he knew that bird was wounded. 
LUKE TRIPP. 
pd elie 5 
A Brave Dog.—From the Columbus Sun of Georgia, we 
take the following :— 
“There are few observant ones who have been long in 
Columbus who have not noticed the large, intelligent, and 
splendid dogs belonging to Messrs. Chas. Heyman, Henry 
Averett, and W. R. Brown. Their progenitor has a history, 
At the battle of Spottsylvania Court House Mahone’s divis- 
ion of Confederates, in which was Gen. A. R. Wright's 
brigade of Georgians, was charged by tremendous lines of 
Federals. The attacking party was repulsed with terrible 
loss. In front of the advancing columns was a large dog, 
who advanced ferociously and barking to our lines. Not a 
gun was pointed at him. Of all the terrible odds advanc. 
ing, eleven to one, only this dog got over the Confederate 
breast-works, and he was captured by some members of the 
City Light Guard, of the Second Georgia Battalion. He 
was brought to Columbus, loved his Southern master bet- 
ter than life. His progeny embrace the smartest dogs in 
the country. The Yankee-southern dog died here some 
months ago at a good old age.” 
: —_+—_—_—_ 
A Dog TrActING STOLEN Goops.—At Leeds on Monday 
a piece of woollen cloth was stolen from a cart, and ‘on Tue: - 
day it was recovered, and the thief captured in a singular 
manner. A dog was observed pawing the ground ona 
piece of land attached to a bobbin manufactory, in White- 
hall road, shortly after two men had left it, and the watch- 
man employed on the premises, suspecting something was 
hidden, made a search, and found the cloth. The place 
was watched, and the thief caught in the act of searching 
for the cloth, and committed for trial.—ZLand and Water. 
ae 
—The old-fashioned stag-hound is extremely rare; how- 
ever, they possess in Florida a magnificent specimen of this 
nearly extinct breed of hounds, as the following from the 
Tallahassee Floridan will satisfy the most incredulous :— 
“‘During the recent camp hunt on St. James Island by 
some of our citizens, an incident occurred which is perhaps 
without a parallel in the annals of hunting, and deserves to 
be recorded. A large buck, closely pursued by that famous 
stag-hound, Old Ring, belonging to Mr. Hopkins, took 
water, and headed right out to sea; the Gog without hesita- 
tion boldly followed him in his voyage over the ‘dark and 
treacherous waves.’ They were watched with intense in- 
terest bythe hunters until each was a mere speck upon the 
surface of the sea, and until they were finally and totally 
lost to view. After some time, when it was supposed that 
both dog and deer had found a watery and perhaps a bloody 
grave, in mortal combat, or been devoured by sharks, a 
small object was discovered, which proved to be old Ring 
returning from his long swim, much exhausted, but reach - 
ing the shore in safety. But to the greater surprise of the 
spectators, after a time the deer also avpeared in sight, 
making -right for shore, on reaching which he was shot 
down by one of the hunters.” 
Che Horse and the Caurse. 
ORIGIN OF THE Expresston ‘‘A WILD Goose CHASE.” — 
The author of the old book entitled the ‘‘Gentleman’s Rec- 
reation,” published some two hundred years ago, in speak 
ing of the manner in which horses were matched in racing in 
former times says that ‘‘first, then, the old way of trial was, 
by running so many train scents after hounds, this being 
found not so uncertain and more durable than hare hunt- 
ing, and the advantage consisted in having the train scents 
laid on the earth most suitable to the nature of the horses. 
Now others choose to hunt the hare till such an hour was 
prefixed and then ‘“‘to run the wild-goose chase,” which 
because it is not known to all sportsmen, I shall explain 
the use and manner of it. The ‘‘wild goose chase” received 
its name from the manner of the flight which is made by 
wild geese, which is generally one after another; so that 
the two horses, after the running of 240 yards, had liberty, 
which horse soever could get the lead, to ride what ground 
he pleased, the hindermost horse being bound to follow him 
within a certain distance agreed on by the articles, or else 
to be whipped up by the tryers or judges, which rode by, 
and which ever horse could distance the other won the 
match. But this practice was found by experience so in- 
human, and so destructive to horses, especially when two 
good horses were matched, for neither being able to dis- 
tance the other, till both were ready to sink under their 
riders through weakness, oftentimes the match was fain to 
be drawn and left undecided, though both horses were 
quite ruined. This brought them to run train scents which 
was afterwards changed to three heats and astraight course.”’ 
—Mr. Anguste Belmont has entered two colts for the 
grand prize of Paris of 1875. 
—Atameeting of the stockholders of the Monmouth 


Park Association Mr. John Hoey was elected president and — 
Mr. D. M. Hildreth vice president; these gentlemen to ap- 
point the stewards. 
—The race meeting at Monmouth Park will commence . 
on the 4th of July next and continue one week. The pro- 
gramme will be published in a few days. 





