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.