Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-05-14

United States, and P. w. S~choenber-
ger of Watertown deputy state game
warden, arrived in the city Tuesday
evening from the eastern part of the
state. and spent yesterday at Sand
Lake going owe the feasibility of
sowing wild rice in the lake, or else
putting in any one or more of a num-
Der OF excellent feeding plants for
ducks.
Terrell and Schoenberger are a
great pair of sportsmen, both having
hunters spirits foremost in their
makeup, and both loving the haunts
where the mallard, canvas back, teal,
and other tribes of the savory duck
family, foregather. Both men declare
however, that unless something is
done in the way Of raising food for
the wild fowl in the haunts they love
best, that in another decade duck
shooting will be only a memory of
bygone days.
Funds Available.
EEFEErH IIrrEE aelu+..EEEs
The Dakotas, Minnesota and Wis
consin are the great breeding
grounds for the wild ducks but these
sections are almost barren of food
for the feathery quackers, and un-
less something is done soon, the
breeding grounds Of Canada will
draw the ducks all away from this
section.
There is a large fund in the state
available for the purpose of protect
ing game, this fund belonging right
fully to the sportsmen as it was rails
ed from licenses and fines paid by
them for the privilege of hunting
in the state. Unless this fund is used
it will divert into the general fund
Of the state, a place where it does
not rightfully belong.
The state game warden has en-
gagged Mr.. Terrell TO Investigate the
proposition of planting duck foods in
all lakes and marshes in the state
where it will grow. Mr.. Terrell guar.
antees to plant these foods and make
them grow, his contract with the state
providing that nothing grown, moth.
ing paid"
How to Sow Rice.
Mr.. Schoenberger stated yesterday
that for twenty years he had tried
to learn the secret of sowing wild
rice, but had never been able to mas
ter the art, and an art he declares 7
to be.
Il have learned more during the
past few days from Mr.. Terrell" he
said, 'than / learned during my en-
tire life about duck foods" He went
on to state that he had always tried
to SOW the rice in hard kernels, just
as the seed appears when ripe, and
that he had never been able to make
it grow no matter how favorable the
conditions are.
The secret is so simple" declared
Mr.. Schoenbarger, and follows SO
closely to the conditions provided by
nature herself, that / cannot see why
/ never tumbled onto it myself. When
the seed is ripe it falls into the water,
where it is soaked UP. During the
winter it almost freezes. but in the
spring it comes right back up again,
This natural condition must be fol
lowed when planted by hand. In or.
der to make wild rice grow the seed
must first be soaked thoroughly, and
then kept in cold storage until plant
ed. Being exposed to warmth before
it is planted will kill the sprouts en-,
tirely.
Wild rice must be sOwn in still
waters, marshes are the ideal loca'
ton, although it will grow anywhere
where there Is plenty Of water free
from alkalies, and where there IS nc
wash. Rice will not grow where
there is a wash OF waves, as the seed
win not get start. When once sown
it Will grow prolifically. and vii
gradually spread out until g wide
territory ii covered BY the Wild rice
fields. the greatest feeding and breed
Ing grounds in the world 9 NAL
|lards. It viii grow in from i've tc
six inches Of water
What Has Eeen pone.
MI. Schoenberger win have charge
of the work Ia this state. and has 81
Iready taken hold Of matters. Practi
Ically everything ii Codington county
has been soWn u wild rice. including
Pelican lake, otton slough north q
Lake KampesEa, Heathcote slough
and ali the sloughs r. the county %
which the mallards can be enticed,
Chain Lakes have too much aIkaii
in chem 10 permitthe seed I y grow
|there, and hare not been touched, Al.
though they ma be planted 10 other
5000.