Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-18


Neither oak nor, indeed, any of the
hard woods, will live if they stand for
any length of time in water 1t Is
death also to every species of upland
underground. Such thickets make ex-
cellent hiding for young fish, and all
the small fry which compose the food
Of large fish, and of water fowl.
1 know of no better place for cou-
pie of hours recreation than to study
wild nature along the shores OF such
woodland pond. Sitting on little
knoll before the water one will be as
!onished at the various vegetable forms
which can be touched from such seat.
Thinking of this, l tried the expert
ment. sat against red oak, bending
the hazel to do so. To the top OF the
little tree ran a bittersweet vine, which
in early winter will be red with its
punches of berries. There were wild
beans which horses delight to eat. A
wild wistaria vine was clambering over
the hazel. The tubes of this vine wood
mice and chipmunks dig and devour.
II it escapes their chisel-teeth, 1t will
present you with spikes of handsome
lowers, affording delicate and pleas
ant fragrance. Wood-sorrel was there;
and the mouse's ear, earliest of plants
to bloom, the downy leaves OF which
school boys gather and chew, calling it
Indian tobacco, a practice which 1t is
not worth while to copy. A diminutiVe
,laytonia peeped out from under the
leaves of a wild artichoke, which lat
ter in autumn will be ablaze with yell
low flowers, for all the world like lit
lie sunhowers. Along the edge Of the
water were clumps of star-grass, with
tiny, lovely, pink flowers. The red
man beyond the Missouri uses the root
Of this grass to heal the bite of rat
tlesnake. He chews it and binds 1t
over the wound. When ready for use
It has much the appearance OF slippery
elm bark served after the same man
ner. There were other plants within
each, but these were the most interest
ng.
Near this spot 1 discovered the re-
treat of weasel. have an idea that
be chose this place because it was
adapted to his purpose of pouncing
upon his prey; for l noticed that
little path, or trail, led through the
weeds past his door. 1t was doubtless
used by rabbits and wood mice in go
ing to drink at the pond. The weasel
Ia as shrewd as he is bloodthirsty. His
den was shallow, and as l wanted a
further acquaintance, l stirred him
with hazel rod. 1t angered him quite
a little. He barked his savagest and
bit the stick. l did not harm him. l
regard a weasel as a friend to the farm,
for it destroys rabbits, which girdle
young orchards, killing the little trees.
1t also ruins valuable shrubs and plants
in the grounds around the farmstead.
Mice, also, in great numbers. he Stays
and eats; mice, which, If not kept down,
would ruin meadows, and which are Of
great damage in cribs and granaries.
He has habit, too, Of killing birds
and robbing their nests Of both eggs
and fledglings. However, l have this
statement only from books. The other
,laughters have fallen under my own
observation.
I had planted water lilies around
little promontory and while crowding
through the plum bushes, which there
formed a dense thicket, to see how
they were prospecting, l startled
brown-coat, bird which I never be-
fore had seen in these parts. IL darted
like a flash into the water, which was
narrow on that side of the cape, and
ran up the bank on the other shore,
where it stopped a moment to look at
me. It was the color Of quail, per-
haps a shade darker, and had short,
thick bill. How neatly its plumage lay,
and how bright were its eyes! The
next moment it was lost among the
leaves and weeds. I was very careful
afterwards, when near there, not to
brighten the stranger, and the pair
raised family in that tangled and Sc
cluded spot. Why men should kill such
innocent and delightful fowl / never
could understand. For my part, am
very tender of their feelings.
A little further on, while I was in
vestigating a clump of cat-tail flags,
heard a sqdden and harsh squawk,
which recognized at once as that of
kingisher. 1 sat as motionless and
quiet as possible. Presently along It
came, and, fortunately for me, perched
in a tree near by, which leaned over
the pond. Suddenly It dropped like a
fash, the next moment it rose with
sprawling frog in its bill. $50" says
to myself, you are frog fisher, tooY
I had seen the little green heron. fish
Ing for polly wogs in the shadows, but
It WIS the first time for me to see
kinghsher at that business.
On a broad and muddy Fat which