The Baltimore County union., 1882-01-21

LoRILLARDs GAME PRESERVE.
Fifteen Hundred Acres Devoted to Sport
ing Purposes.

~ ANCW hOIh soHW representative Has
been examining Mr.. Pierre Lorillard's
Rancocas Stock Farm, at Johnstown,
Burlington county, n. J.. 1t contains
fifteen hundred acres Of land, and line
four miles long might be drawn from
corner to corner. 1t is oblong in shape
and is divided into large fields, many of
them fifty acres in extent. Most Of il
is brush and underground, and there are
ponds in which il is hoped to breed
some very choice fish. Mr.. Lorillard
has an English gamekeeper, and is tax
ing pains to introduce the better class
of English minor game into his preserve.
Every field is as level as a billiard Ia.
BILE, but in nearly all is growing a low
brush for the protection of partridges
and hares. The former are already on
the ground and doing well, but the lat
ter have not yet been brought from
England. Preparations have been
made for them, however, and tine fields
in which they are expected to breed are
fenced in by wire net work, high enough
to prevent their exit. This, of course,
will not allow any very active coursing
with greyhounds at first, but hereafter
the hares will probably have the run of
the farm, and for some time shooting
only will be employed to destroy them.
Quail, too, have been placed in these
preserves, and all the birds that fire.
quent and thrive on such ground will be
introduced. In the distance could be
seen plantations that one day will
doubtless afford shelter to woodcock,
snipc, rabbits and grouse. Plover are
already there in vast numbers. and are
freely shot. They are worth probably
81 each in the market, and afford fine
sport, but they are so numerous that
strangers with good credentials are not
debarrcd the privilege Of shooting them.
The keeper conducted the party to 4
duck pond. 1t is large sheet of water,
and At the far end is quite out Of gun
range, fuck of mallard were congre-
gated. Their long blue heads and dark
glossy backs were just visible. They
were very wild, and commotion was
observed among them as they caught
sight of the intrudcrs. They could not
fly much, for their wings had been cut;
but they dived and concealed themselves
among the reeds along the shore. At
first they were allowed their natural
freedom, but wild duck flies far, and
it was feared they would never come
back. So they were trapped, and their
wings cut. Several sirayed to the neigh
boring farms and were shot by the farm
ers, and Mr.. Lorillard did his share in
destroying such as could not be caught
and disabled from flying. The ducks,
it is expected, will breed rapidly, and
the necessity for cutting their wings will
soon cease 10 exist.
While the party were examining the
pond and its occupants, sudden whirr
was heard, and bevy Of about twenty
five quail arose, and after flying short
distance dropped again into the grass.
They were not very wild, for they have
been, so far, seldom shot At. They are
increasing rapidly, but it is no, thought
prudent yet to kill them. Hawks, wca-
sles, minks and even cats prey upon
them. Such vermin increased on the
farm n first almost rs rapidly as the
game. Recently, however, an active
warfare upon them has been kept up by
the keepers, and less damage has been
done to the young game than formerly.
The next place visited was the pheas-
ant pen. Last season twelve pairs Of
English ring-neck, mountain and silver
pheasants were imported. To-day seven
or eight times that number are on the
farm, and many have been shot. A,
first they were allowed TO fly wild, but
frequently they went off the farm and
were shot by strangers. Under New
Jersey laws this is not allowed. I'm.
ported game birds, brought to this coun-
try for breeding purposes, are protected
wherever they may 60, but many OF
these disappeared, nevertheless. Then
an extensive inclosure of wire and cord
was made, the cord netting being held
in place some three inches below the
wire netting, so that the birds flying
upwards in fright do not harm them
selves. Here the pheasants are kept,
and rs the inclosure gets overstocked, 4
few are turned out and allowed to shift
for themselves.
The keeper had provided himself with
some corn, and the birds knew him, for
when he opened the door pretty little
silver hen met him without any show Of
fear and craned her neck toward the
food he was carrying; but she looked
suspiciously at her other visitors. Other
pheasants, some with gorgeous feathers
and long tails, but more with the sub
dued but still beautiful plumage Of the
hens, showed a willingness to approach
the keeper, but were distrustful Of his
companions. The inclosure is well
stocked with small trees, and on these
several birds were perched. A little
fountain gave them fresh water. This
water is supplied from the same source
as the ponds, and all the buildings, with
the exception of the stables. Il is raise
ed by steam pumps from artesian wells
and from a stream that crosses the farm.
There were not more than ten or
twelve phcasants in sight when the par
" entered, but Fannie, who had been
left outside, rubbed herself against the
wires, and in a moment the inclosure
was in an uproar. Everywhere birds
we're sising. They jostled each other
in the air, and few recklessly against
the upper barriers, proving the wisdom
of having put the cord lining there, for
had they battered themselves against the
hemp many might have been bagged
without pulling trigger. The keeper,
throwing the corn upon the ground,
hurried his two companions out Of the
inclosure and closed the door.
The pheasants are not trusted to hatch
their own eggs. They make wretched-