New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-22
GOSSIP OF THE
COMMUTERS

This s. an of year for apples in New
! Jersey. according TO the fruit growers
! and farmers. They say that the same
| trees that were 50 heavily laden with
| young fruit at this time last year that
. their buughs were bent almost 10 the
| breaking point arc now almost bare OF
/ apples There is no reason for the pros
! pcctiye shortage except that the blossoms
/ failed 10 form this spring. Agriculturists
say that ii is only a case OF reaction, one
! bountcous year never following close on
one preceding.
| a singular situation i'm Sussex County
| is the abundant blossoming of the chest
nut trees. The light blossoms against
| the dark green OF the chestnut foliage
| throughout the woods I'm this section OF
| the state tell plainly enough that there
will be n bOunteous crop OF burrs In the
fan. II will be- remembered that the
State Forester has issued the gloomiest
kind OF bulletins about the chestnut
trees. averriug that very few years
will see the end OF that tree in this state
on account of the deadly fungus
Science has not yet discovered the spe-
cidc for the blight, and trees are dying
all over tho state by the thousands. II
would appear as II Nature. 10 Offset the
approaching famine in chestnuts, was
trying to give a big farewell crop.
Belief I'm tine efficacy OF "A muskrat diet
as a means OF making chickens lay eggs
is responsible in a large measure for the
slaughter of many muskrats out Of
son along the Passaic, Whippany and
Rockaway rivers. according 20 David b.
Dickson. Of Chatham. well known
throughout this section as a reputable
hunter and trapper. Muskrats should no,
be killed before November IL or Deem
Der /. nor later than March 81: but Mr.
Dickson says that the animals are killed
during the summer by farmers. who say
they feed them TO their chickens 10 pro-
mote egg-laying Because OF this and
other reasons. Mr.. Dickson says. the
prospect for trappers in Northern New
Jersey during the coming season was
never poorer than at present.
For the last two or three years, furs
having attained high price, every one
who could possibly do so has engaged in
the business OF hunting and trapping,
with the result that there has been an
enormous reduction in the population OF
fur-bearing animals In the woods OF this
section Of the state. Dickson says that
the adoption of proper laws to protect the
coon. mink. opossum. skunk and musk
rat would have a good effect
From Little Falls to Chatham, along
the Passaic River for a distance OF more
tua ri nd ho
pany and Rockaway rivers, the country
Is fiat and marshy. Many trees have
been blown down. and the hollow stumps
make ideal homes for coon. mink. musk
rat and otter. wild ducks also fire.
quent the Big Piece Swamp in large
numbers. When the spring and winter
Hoods occur, however. the little animals
are driven out OF their holes. and then
the pot-hunter reaps harvest, for.
without a protecting law 10 save them,
the fur-bearers are killed by wholesale
Half dozen railroads In New Jersey,
which. II is alleged, have failed to pro-
vide drinking water on some of their pas
senger trains. have been summoned TO
explain the omission to the State Public
tlllly COMMISSIONERS AT trenton to-day
The failure of the railroads in this re-
spect has caused much discomfort Il not
actual hardship, during the extreme hot
weather OF the last few weeks. The State
Board has been investigating and reports
from it's inspectors show that the offend
Ing railroads include the Pennsylvania,
l.ackawanna, Erie. Susquehanna, North
ern New Jersey q New York and the
West Shore and the Sea Shore
The mosquitoes will never De exter-
minated in New Jersey unless property
owners aid us by doing away with rain
barrels and putting oil on stagnant pools
on their properties" said Chief Inspector
Dobbins, Of the Essex County Mosquito
determination Commission, last week
The commission has labored hard for ten
years lighting the pest, but it's work Is
counteracted by the indifferent and care
less property owner or tenant who allows
tin cans and rain barrels to stand around
with water In them. These receptacles
make fine hatcheries for mosquitoes. IL
the pest is to be wiped out. Chief Dob
bins says the work must be done sys-
Dramatically, by everybody everywhere.
either willingly iIlipgly