The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-03
NEWS HAPPENINGS TOLD
 IN BREEZY FORM
Queer Creatures Which do Damage An s.Honest" Fish Tale-Rain
 in May-Buck and Doe Seen

An ssHonestr Fish Tale-Rain
 in May-Buck and Doe Seen
 Special to The Fslrmer.)
 Stratford. June 3-According to the records of Observer James Sanford at Beaver Dam reservoir. the precipita- ton during the month of May was 5.s inches which is the record for any month since the station was establish ed. The ground is full of water and the streams are still high. These con ditions have again called attention to the large area of swamp land in this town. which, if properly drained would add to our agricultural resources ma terially. Complaints are continually heard concerning the worn out soil of Ire made to utilize the swamp lands in which the virgin soil. fertilized by annual deposits of vegetable matter. will produce enormous crops. In many instances 1t would cost less to drain these spots than to restore the original fertility of the uplands. The plan. also has hygienic advantages for the water would be carried off and kept sweet which now stagnates in these places, breeding mosquitoes and malaria to be distributed about the section.
 The crop of cut worms this spring has been unusually large and the in dividuals are universally i fat and healthy Potato bugs are again ap- bearing in large numbers There is an intense rivalry between these two pests. The cut worm begins opera tions as soon as possible after the hat qft like a. larger and more profusely fol- lated field for operation. Parts of the town are overrun with rats. This condition is attributed to the large fn- crease in the number of dogs who 1n- terfere with the legitimate business of side it is claimed that cats are the worst enemies of the birds who keep down the insect pests. A good rat catching cat will also catch birds and sometimes chickens if not trained to let them alone. One good cat is worth 50 dogs as a preventative of the rat pestilence A dog is useless incum- brance in the majority of places. Field rats are also increasing in num- bers and their borrows can be found in almost every field. Once In the ascendency these are the worst enc mics of the gardener. One of their pleasures is to follow row of peas.
  leaving no trace of their operations on the surface. They are difficult to ex- terminate for it is hard to locate poi son or. traps where they will find them
 s. w. Hubbell has purchased the Ellington Place on Main street. He is moving the house further back on the lot After all modern improve ments have been installed the place will be rented
 The three Conine houses at the cor ner of Main street and Stratford ave- nue are now ready for occupancy.
 On June 20 Vernon Morehouse and Miss Bessie Houghton will be married in Christ church. Miss Houghton was bridesmaid at the wedding of MT. and Mrs Herbert Sniffen two years ago. On Saturday afternoon Mrs. Sniffen arranged handkerchief shower at the home of Mrs. Charles Lowell on. friends of the prospective bride were present and they brought with them a wealth of the daintiest creations ever produced by needle or looul- Most of the gifts were made by the donors and some are priceless. The afternoon was enjoyably passed with music and refreshments.
 Capt and Mrs A. Bedell Benjiman will leave Colorado for the East to- day, arriving in New York on Thurs day. They are expected at their home here the first of next week. Both Mrs. Benjamin and the Captain are in the best of health
 George Bartlett, George o. Lines, John Wilkinson and William Kraut left at sun-up this morning and whip ped the brooks in the north end of the town. They returned with a fine mess of trout The largest weighed one and one-half pounds. The fish -ey>{y >kA~ ,A fishermen returned.
 Harry Yates, who drives for the Blue Ribbon Garage in Bridgeport, appeared here yesterday with the big gest pleasure car ever seen in the town. The machine has seven cylin- ders and is capable of burning the road to the satisfaction of the most enthusiastic motor-manfac.
 Harold Bristol and Frank Lally are authority for the statement that pair of fine specimens of the deer, 8 buck and doe, were seen on the Ferry road, Saturday night at dusk. The buck was equipped with towering antlers and both were fat and sleek. Every few days deer are reported in various parts of the town. They are rapidly in numbers and are not as shy as might be suspected. 1t is seldom, however. at this season they venture into the thickly settled portions of the town.
 Arthur (Chummy) Knapp went black fishing yesterday and came back with an astounding fsherman's tale and a blackfish weighing 13 3-4 pounds to back it. Chummy sat in his boat figuring out the chances of President Taft and Judge Peck in the coming election, when his line began to pay out. Believing that his hook was fast to dock or wreck of some kind he took in carefully. The big fish appeared on the surface. smiled and jumped into the boat. Chummy un- said "howdy' and gazed