The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-03-16

viii close the same nour each day, until
ing to the variety, when they sink un-
der the water TO ripen their seeds.
which usually takes from ten to fifteen
days. When the seeds ripen they burst
their pods and are surrounded with II
iel!y-ltke substance which enabled them
10 rise to the surface of the water.
where they are blown away from the
mother plant and. after n definite time,
sink To The bottom II terminate.
Fish ara Snails in the Ponds.
Roman snails in some way found
their way into the lotus pond, II this
year TIE sides of the pond and the lotus
stalks ere covered With gleatinous cres-
ccllt-s1aped capsules, each containing
from twenty to y hundred eggs of snails
Which are now Matching. The sailing
OF the snails from one side of the pond
10 another is an interesting process, but
still more interesting is the mysterious
WaJ I'm wE:cll they will rise from the
bottom 10 The surface of the water.
They throw out a web-like substance
containing an air sac which rises to
the surface, n By what gentle assist
allee they get from that they rise up
10 the surface. The snails live on the
aigae. or the green moss-like growth
appearing on the sides, and with the
lisa. keep the water pure and sweet.
\ ~ 'iirNNl iltlctOilStiiNS, nv v i1l Y
pond on make their nests nearby are
quite distinct from the insects which
Visit the garden without water. The
dragon flies or as they are called in
England. the mosquito hawks. come
early In the spring. and on warm days
will dart back and forth in quest of
the mosquito and other midges. They
appear in pairs and make their nests
on the stalks of water plants just out
of reach of fish, for the larvae of all in
sects are delicate morsels for fish. Chill
dren used to be told that dragon flies
were dangerous n their sting poison
Gus. but nowadays children know how
harmless IL interesting these gauze-
winged creatures are. They destroy so
many mosquitoes hat it has been ser
iously proposed to propagate them for
that urpOs
Both Mr.. TAYLOR and Mr.. Case have IN
tcresting flower gardens outside Of the
water plants. Mr.. Taylor's entire back
yard, with the exception of space for shade
trees and grass plat, is given over to
pretty flowers On one side are roses, of
which Mr.. Taylcr has successfully raised
moro than 100 different kinds, on another
side are shrubs, taken from the woods in
Palmer park. and more than fifty kinds of
wild flowers: at one end, near the ponds.
so that the plants can get the benefit of
the water, are flags, iris, lilies. gladiolus.
ferns. etc, and at the rear end of his lot
is a hardy bed. composed of grasses, ivy
and roses, and a bed of dahlias.
Grasses Border the Ponds.
One OF the interesting plants that Mr..
Taylor has in his garden is the cat tail.
This was obtained some years ago in the
River Rouge swanps and has proved a
hardy grower ever since. At one time.
about three or four years ago, Mr.. Taylor
placed this plant too far from the pond.
Every spring thereafter, following it's nat
ural inclination, it came up q foot nearer
the water, until at last Mr.. Taylor. as he
says, took pity on 1T and planted IL in a
tub next to the pond, giving 1t all the
water it wanted.
Grasses of every description are raised
in Mr.. Cases back yard and they form a
pretty and unique set-off to the water
plants and the ponds.
Bat tho beauty of the entire garden
scheme as described in this article is the
fact that both Mr.. Case and Mr. Taylor
do all the work themselves. and by years
of labor and study have learned all the
requirements and want Of the many kinds
of plant life. MIR. Taylor himself gets up
every morning at $50 and works until 7:3O
in his garden and Mr.. Case Is equally as
Jealous.
people wonder how I keep in such good
good health" says Mr.. Taylor. ''and how,
at my age, ! remain in such excellent
spirits and how l manage to keep as spry
as though were many years younger. I
lay 1t all to the exercise due to this fascin-
ating garden work and would advise any
other man who has the blues or thinks
he's getting old to try 1t as IA cure. Time
and labor will he we'll spent"