Evening journal., 1897-12-21

Authorities on natural history say
that the whole genus is parastical, and
species have been de-
scribed: but only the mistletoe proper
is a native of Europe. II forms an ever
green bush, about four feet in length,
thickly crowded with dichotomous
branches and opposite leaves. The
leaves are about two inches long, obo-
vate-lanceolate, yellowish green; the |
flowers. which are small and nearly of |
the same color. but yellower, appear in
February and March; the fruit which |
when ripe is filled with a viscous semi |
transparent pulp (from which bird |
lime is derived), is almost always |
white but there is said to be a variety |
with red fruit. The mistletoe is para |
sitic on both deciduous and evergreen |
trees and shrubs. In England it is |
most abundant on the apple trees, but |
rarely found on the oak, while here is |
is nearly always found on the oak. The |
fruit is eaten by most frugivorOus |
birds, and through their agency, par |
ticularly that of the thrush (hence mis- |
sel-thrush or mistle-thrush), the plant |
is propagated. The sowing is effected |
by the bird wiping its beak, to which
the seeds adhere against the bark of
the tree on which it has alighted. The
growth of the plant is SLOW and its dur
ability proportiOnately great, its death
being determined generally by that of
the tree on which it has established it.
self. The mistletoe so extensively used
in England at Christmas-tide is large
ly derived from the apple orchards of
Normandy.
The above description is based upon
the characteristics of the English mis-
tletoe. Here in the United States there
are several features of its growth which
do not agree with those of England.
For instance most of it is found in
the woods and upon oak trees. At this
time of the year a person can find It in
almost any stretch of woodland which
has not already been visited by those
in quest of it. There is a good deal of
it in the western part of this county,
and it is especially abundant in the
woods along the headwaters of the Lit
tie Elk river, in Cecil county
DRUMAfERS TO BLAME FOR 1T.
The great grievance that the news
paper men of Wilmington have against
the Edge Moor Bridge Works is that
the immense plant is not connected
with Wilmington by telephone. There
is always more or less news going out
there, but one-third of it does not get
in the papers. The Wayfarer asked
one Of the officials why the company
/ did not put in a telephone. He said
it was because the drummers, who now
come in personal contact with the COM
pany. would not travel on accommoda-
ton trains and stop off there, but take
the express trains, come right on
/ through to Wilmington and do all their
soliciting by telephone. which would be
exceedingly unsatisfactory. Be this as
it may, the plant is so isolated from all
communication that the newspaper men
are at a decided disadvantage in get
! ting the news of one of the greatest
| bridgebuilding plants in the country.
JUDGE AND THE GAME BAG.
Ex-Judge David T. Marvel has quite
a reputation in this community as a
sportsman. He is credited with being
one of the best bird shots in the state.
! The story the Wayfarer is about to re-
late at his expense may injure his repu-
tation in this respect, but it is not the
rule of a modern newspaper office to
permit a mans personal reputation to
stand between an item and its publica-
tion, especially ifit is one of the read
able kind
When the judge was several years
younger than he is now, and at the
present time he is in the prime of life,
he lived in Georgetown. Quail abound
in the coverts of that section of the
state, and persons living up here can
scarcely credit the true stories of what
| constitutes a good days sport in the
lower county.
One evening a party of distinguished
( New Workers arrived in Georgetown. 1t
was composed of three men who had a
great deal of faith in their shooting
powers. They had fancy trappings and
high bred dogs and all other things
which go to make up the real metro
. pOlitan spOrtsmans equipment. It was
their intention to make an early star
next morning. Judge Marvel and q
friend of his. an unassuming ole
, farmer, were to go out at the same
time, but to another part of the sur
rounding country. During the evening
the judge and the New Workers became
friendly, and in talking over the spor
of the succeeding day bottle of win'
was wagered as to which party wou,C
p bring in the most birds Both side.
! | were pltuSeu uOL u bug any game uuI
/ ing the day and to make an honest re
: | turn of the days shooting.
7 Bright and early next morning the.
! set out, gunned all day, and returne,
to the hotel that evening with thei
q | game. When all had assembled tn
T New Workers were asked how man.
J birds they had killed They gave tn
I | number, which was something owe
> | thirty. Then they asked the judg
! for his returns. He said tha
/ he and his friend had hllel
I | forty-one; and there were tn
! birds to back up the statement. AM
/ the word of honor that none of tn
a birds had been bought.
The New York spOrtsmen cOngratu
4 lated the two men upon their shootin
e qualities and produced the bottle O
e wine 1t was opened Immediately, an
e while the participants in the day
S shoot were discussing the liquids fla
{. | vor Judge Marvel dumfounded the Ne'
= Workers by saying:
III Yes, our party killed forty-on