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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 1915)
PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE WILD DUCKS — Farmers Can Assist in This Work, by Planting, in Streams. Ponds. Lakes and Swampy Sections. Such Foods as the Wild Ducks Are Fond Of. By W. L. McATEE. MANY plant? may be successfully used as food for wild ducks in localities where now they are not grown, and this will be a strong in ducement for the ducks to congregate in sections where they are unknown at this time. Frog bit. Frogbit is an abundant inhabitant of some of the shallow cypress-mar gined lakes in Louisiana. It produces Frog bit. spherical fruits filled with gelatinous matter in which are a multitude of seeds, eagerly sought by ducks. Near ly IS per cent of the food of 20S mal lards collected in that locality from October to March, inclusive, consisted of these seeds. From S.000 to 10.000 were found in each of several stom achs and one contained 32,000. Twenty-five stomachs of ringneck ducks collected in December contained :lj per cent of these eagerly sought seeds. Frogbit is extensively used in aquaria and water gardens, and may he obtained from dealers in plants for such purposes. The plants them selves should be set out in water a few inches deep over a mucky bottom or in soft mud near the water's edge. Frogbit has been found in parts of New York. New Jersey and Delaware, but the normal range probably is from North Carolina and Missouri sruth ward. Eel-Grass. Few who have written of the habits of sea brant have failed to mention its fondness for eel-grass. The rela « h K i W< Eel-Grass. liou between this species cf bird ami plant seems to be as close as. if not closer than, that existing between the noted freshwater pair, the canvas back duck and wild celery. All n>. r mal stomach contents of the common brant thus far examined consisted ex clusively of eel-grass. Eel-grass consists of bunches of long tape-like leaves which rise from i jointed-tibrous rooted creeping stem. The leaves grow in small bundles from the end cf the root-stock ;r its branches, and may reach a length of six feet. The plant grows only in salt water. In North America it is found from Greenland to the Gulf of Mexico, and front Alaska to southern California. It is common along shores facing the open ocean, but also grows in bays, and even lagoons where the water is > far less salt than the sea. Musk Grass. The small tubers of musk grass j are eaten in large numbers: more | than 1.000 were contained in the stom ach rf one goldeneye and more than 1,500 in that of a pintail duck. How ever. all parts of musk grasses are eaten. In September, stomachs of ducks found in North Carolina con tained 52 per cent of musk grass: Oc tober, 90 per cent. Probably no part of the United States entirely lacks representatives of these grasses. They require lime, however, and hence reach their best development in regions where that mineral is plentiful. Musk grasses belong to the great group of plants which include forms known as frog spit, green slime and seaweeds. Most of the musk grasses live in fresh water. These plants are translucent and fragile, dull green in color, and are often incrusted with lime. This has given them one of their common names. limeweed. Oth er names are stonewort, fine moss (Michigan t. -vster grass and nigger wool (N'irth Carolina), and skunk grass (Massachusetts). The latter name and the name musk grass, refer to a strong odor given aft' *>y a mass of the plants when freshly taken from the water. Water Elm. That trees should produce food for wild ducks is at first thought surpris ing, hut many do. ns oaks, thorns, hollies, ashes, haekberries and others: none is of more value for this pur pose. however, than the water elm. The range of the water elm extends from the lower Wabash valley in In diana to the river b< ttorr.s of eastern Texas, and from western Tennessee and southeastern North Can lina to Florida This plant thrives in swamps and on the margins of sluggish streams. The tree seldom exceeds 40 feet in height and 20 inches in diam eter and is usually much smaller. The water elm flowers from Fei ruarv *o April and the fruit usually ripens a:. I falls in a month or six weeks. ! ut it has been found on the trees as late Leaves and Fruit of Water Elm. as August. Tlie fruits, which are very numerous, dro; into the water imme diately upon rlreni:.g. Watercress. Krowleigi of the importance of watercress as a duck te-cd is derived entirely from breeders of wild ducks. who almost without exception consid er it a valuable plant for a duck farm. Not only is it relished, but it is said to grow so fast in some places thal Watercress. -H the ducks cannot eat it out. \\ ater- i cress occurs practically throughout the entire United States. Watercress is usually propagated by seed, which may be obtained from most seedsmen. The plant is easily transplanted by cuttings. It grows in springs, brooks, small streams and shallow ponds. Waters in which it is found are usually cool and hare seme . current. It may be sown in similar situations at any time during spring or summer. Thalia. The writer's ouly experience with thalia as a wild-duck food was in Flor idr Here a slough filled with a tall growth of these elegant plants was a favorite resort of ducks, especially mallards. The evidence is sufficient to show that thalia has great possibil ities as a wild-duck food. The seeds are large anil nutritious and are borne Thalia, a Favorite Duck Food. in great abundance. The leaf is much like that of cauua. and may measure five inches wide and fifteen inches long. The plant is native from Flor i:la to southern Arkansas and Texas and d.mbtless it will thrive as far : >rth as South Carolina and Missouri ! Old-Time Library. •lust as Arlington was ab ut t > carry | off the palm for having tb ■ eldest li- j brary in the state, organized in 1SU3. 1 along c fines Wilmington with the; statement that during a recent clean ir.g of an attic in a law office in that place a book of records was found which shewed that the Wilmington so cidl library was organized December 31. 1795, with a constitution, by-laws and a list cf subscribers. This book has been presented to tha ; resent Wilinir.gt n institution, the Cette Me se rial library, to he kept as a relic. Some of th entries in the book are very interesting. Israel Lawton was fined 17 cents for dropping tallow on bock No. 93, Timothy Castle was fired cents for getting one drop >f tallow on hock Mo. 16, Levi Packard was lined ft ce its for tearing the tinding on book Nit. 1 Ml, and several others wer° fined fbr turning down leaves and for finger marks. The latest 'late ! in the list of revenues is October 1. i 1 SI 3. Changing Ideals. "When I was a boy." said the thoughtful man. ‘T wanted to be the clown in a circus.” "You have gotten bravely ovet that” "Yes. Circus clowns are not very liberally compensated. Id rather be a good moving-picture comedian." CONDENSATIONS Tiie coal produce.! by Pennsylvania last year exceeded by mire ti.au 20 per cent the entire output of the Lulled; States ID years before, and *as nearly one-fifth of the world s pro duction. li. December. 1913. national savings ,n Russia amounted only to $350.01)0; in December. 1914. however, after the sale of vodka had been stopped, the savings bad reached nearly $15,000, 00(i. In order to reduce freight charges Califjrnia wine is tc be shipped to New York in a specially designed tank steamer very similar tc an ail freight er. The beat will make six trips a vear and will transport 4,203.000 gal lons in that time. Fatents taken out by women in the United Kingdom during 1914 included inventincs connected with dress, 54; nursing and medical, 34; mechanical, 24; household requisites. 20; games, 14; educational. 12: cocking, 9; toilet, 9: n. t ir cars and cycling. 7; babies' requisites. c; garden. 3; needlework, 3; aeiopiate, 1. ! Concrete arches resting on bedrock have been built in a New Hampshire Cemetery to support gravestones in land to> soft to support theei itself. S„ sensitive is electrical apparatus invented by a French scientist that it will detect the presence of ono part of bichromate of potash in 2b0.000,0'l0 parts of water. The flying fish does 1.01 really fly. but raises itself frjn. the water by means of its long fins. It can support itself in the air until they become dry. when It drops back it to the sea. Among the Artec treasures of Mexi co were found nary fine emeralds. They were exquisitely cut. and it is from this source that the magnificent emeralds now forming part of the roy al collection of Spain were sup poised to come. Rev. William H. Haupt, who is regis trar and historiographer of the Episco pal diocese of Kansas, has been en gaged in gathering material fer a his tory of that church in Kansas for four years, while at the same time doing the work of archdeacon, and tb3 last two years as rector of the parish at Independence, Kan. Notwithstanding higher prices, the United Kingdom imported larger quan tities of sugar, tea, coffee and cocoa last year titan in 1913. Maintaining the rate of increase shown during the last forty years Russia's present population at the end of the present century will number 600.000.000. The opportunities for gaining knowl edge in the province of Ontario are great. There are. including kindergar tens, institutes and continuation classes, 6.942 public schools—all free Sea otter is the most valuable fur at present: Russian sable is next in value, with silver fox nearly approach leg it. although when the size ot the skins is considered the sable is in finitely greater in value. The province of Ontario is fortunate in the abundance and variety of its natural resources as well as in the variety of its principal products. Though second in area to Quebec among the provinces of the Dominion. Ontsirio easily ranks first in agricul turai. manufacturing and mining prod ucts and second in the lumber indus try. THE EUROPEAN WAR A YEAR AGO THIS WEEK Oct. 11, 1914. Heavy fighting near Svissons. German attacks in Craonne re gion repulsed. Allies won in the center. Montenegrins defeated Austri ans near Kalenovitch. Russians swept through Buko wina. Austrians rushed help to Prze mysl. French fleet sank two Austrian torpedo boats. German aviators killed three in Paris with bombs. Japanese aviators dropped bombs in Tsingtau. Russian cruiser Pallada torpe doed and sunk in Baltic. Oct. 12. 1914. Germans occupied Ghent. Belgian government moved to Havre. France. Battles at Lasigny and Lens. Cavalry fighting near Lille. Russians abandoned siege of Przemysl and retreated from Ga licia. Six more bombs dropped on Paris. Oct. 13, 1914. I Germans moved on Ostend and Bruges. Lille, Hazebrouck and Ypres oc cupied by Germans. Fierce fighting at Dixmude, Gen eral von Kluck trying to turn al lie’ left wing. Germans made dash for War- ' saw. Montenegrins defeated Austri ans near Sarajevo. Detachment of Boers under Col onel Maritz rebelled and martial law was proclaimed throughout South Africa. French routed German aviators near Paris. Oct. 14. 1914. Belgian army left Ostend and joined allies in the field. Allies reocupied Ypres and French gained near the border. German battalion trapped in ca nal in Lorraine. Germans occupied Bruges. Germans recaptured Lyck but advance on Warsaw was repulsed by Russians. Russians in Galicia driven back. Serbians beaten back in Bosnia. Cossacks brought down a Zeppe lin near Warsaw. Oct. 15. 1914. Germans took Ostend and Blan kenberghe on the North sea. and Tnielt. Oaume and Esschen. Allies retook Estaire. French recaptured Altkirch and Muelhausen. German convoy taken by the French. Colonel Brits' force in South Af rica captured 80 rebel Boers: General Botha took the field. British cruiser Yarmouth sunk German liner Markomannia. Oct. 16. 1914. Germans occupied Zeebrugge. First battle of Ypres began. Re-enforced allied north wing swung in on Lille and retook Ar mer.tieres. Attempt of Germans to reach | Dunkirk checked. Germans at St. Mihiel forced ! back toward Alsatian border. German-Austrian forces assumed the offensive between the Vistula and Galicia. Serbs and Montenegrins defeat ed Austrians at Glasinatz. British cruiser Hawke sunk by German submarine. British and Japanese warships bombarded Tsingtau fort. Life of Big Guns. Guns with a jore of 12 inches o more can only Ore 90 full charges. They are then considered to be worn out. and have to be sent to the foun dry to have a new core inserted. The Sign. "I wonder if the chestnut crop will be good this year?" "You can generally tell that by the tish stories." Modern Life. "Formerly a girl took pride in ac cumulating linen for her chest” “Well?" “Now she Collects a lot of grapho phone records."—Cincinnati Times Star. More Laws. "Why can't 1 come to see you to morrow night?” “Don’t blame me," said the beau tiful girl. “Our cook has the use ot the parlor under the new domestic relations law." On Second Thought “Those men for whom you failed tc get government positions were ratheT indignant” "Only for a little while." replied Senator Sorghum. "Since they found how much more they can make to private employment they're honestly grateful.” The Way of It “Miss Gladys has a way of getting presents of diamond rings." ‘T suppose that is because her ways rro such engaging ones." GUNBOAT PRINCETON, SUNK, SAVED AND HOME AGAIN United .State ' gunboat Princeton photographed as she appeared recently in San Francisco bay flying her home going pennant. A year ago the Princeton ran on to an uncharted coral reef off Samoa and sank. She was pumped out by her own crew and the hole in her hull patched, and she is home agadi after an absence of five years. ITALIAN TROOPS CHARGING IN THE OPEN Italian troops on reconnoissance duty caught by the camera as they were charging a detachment of the enemy. COLONEL BULLARD AT BROWNSVILLE .V.VAV WWnWw* .v.v.vKMf•.v.v.-w.wv-^vy. : »v Colonel Bullard, commanding the United States troops at Brownsville, Tex., is 1-ere 3een (leftl in front of his headquarters consulting with Captain Johnson, cue of his aids. INHABITED ONLY BY CHILDREN both the German and Russian armies have marched through and (ought around this village of Rozen. Newspaper correspondents found there only ruins and children when they passed through in the rear of the advancing Germans. ITEMS OF INTEREST The gray wolf of Montana is the! hardest animal to trap, it is destruc tive to cattle. The population of Montana on March 1 was 622.8X5. Silver Bow was the most populous county with 72.500 peo ple Among those who have joined the British army during the present war are 30.000 Durham miners, 20,000 South Wales ministers and 15,000 Yorkshire miners. Constantinople is a city of mosques and minarets. There are about 80U mosques in it, many of them feeing buildings of the most beautiful and picturesque sort. Physicians of Crane. Mo., are puz zled by an ailment which strikes W H. Hilton dumb when he attempts to address persons near him, but per mits him to speak plainly when ad dressing persons at a distance, or when talking to animals. The man who runs along on an even keel never stage-manages a revolution. ROQUE GONZALES GARZA Roque Gonzales Garza, ai one time president or the convention govern ment of Mexico, is now in Washington as a representative of the Villa-Zapata factions. He says any pacification plan that recognizes Carranza and does not include the Villistas as factors in the situation will mean nothing but anar chy in Mexico. __ Too Much to Imagine. One evening Smith jitney«d to the suburbs to call on his friend Jones and while they were sitting on the veranda enjoying their after-dinner ragweed, large volumes of music broke loose in the adjacent bungalow “Some music." commented Smith, glancing through the fireflies in the scenery beyond. “Who migLt the per former be?'1 "It is my neighbor. Green," an swered Jones. “And would you be lieve that he plays by ear alone?" “I would not,” was the prompt re joinder of Smith. "I can easily im aglne that he might make that much noise by using both hands and feet and an ax, but you can’t make me be lieve that he does it by banging the side of his bead on the keys.” Stock Trout Stream With Flies. The British Salmon and Trout as sociation asks anglers and fishery t owners to send to its secretary. Sir Wrench Towse, Fishmongers’ hall. ! London, E. C., details cf cases in which the valuable water-bred flies have been increased substantially in number by any special measures, such as the introduction, by the planting of ; eggs or larvae or the liberation of ma ture flies on the banks of a river or lake; and the Improvement of a stream or lake by the cultivation of special weeds, careful removal of mud and so on. Parachutes for Airmen. It has been recommended by the chief signal officer that parachutes designed for use with aeroplanes be Durchased for members of the army aviation service. This step was taken following experiments at the San Diego aeronautic station, when a young woman made a successful drop of 1,200 feet from an aeroplane. The parachute is light, compact and so made that it may be folded and strapped to the occupant of a ma chine in such a way as not to hamper his normal movements.