The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-26
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN, Director.
A Unique Country Club.
Washington. D. c


tribes of wild animals and birls found
in this part of the country. Rabbits,
grouse and foxes, raccoons and opos-
sums all enjoy a sort of associate
| membership-that is, they are well
come to the premises, and are not dis
turbed.
This club was founded by number
of Washington biologists some years
ago. and is located on the upper Po-
tomac. Its property consists of fifty
acres of wild land, including an island
in the river, and a log cabin which the
members use as a headquarters when
pursuing their Investigations. The
place is carefully protected from tres
passers by friendly neighborS, when
meme of the members are present.
The purpose of the scientists in
founding this club was to make a
study of every form of life which oc-
ours upon a typical tract of land IN
this part of the country. Among the
members of the club are specialists in
almost all branches of biology They
have already investigated everything
from the minute algae of the river
water to the large quadrupeds which
occasionally visit the premises.
To the 1ayman fifty acres seems
altogether too small an area Tor Sucn
study; but the scientists selected
the site for their club with care. 1t
includes sloLes with exposures to the
east, west, north and south, sandy
soil and clay dry knobs, bit OF
| swamp, heavy forest, and cultivated
land. Thus it offers to visiting ana
resident wild things every sort OF
food and shelter which the region at
fords, and in addition, it gives them
protection from gunners. AS a re-
suit, two covies of quail have made
it their perm anent residence, as have
many rabbits and squirrels, while
ruffed grouse visit the place every
fall. One of them was once found
sitting on the porch of the club house.
And this place is only a few miles
from a great city, and one mile from
u noisy amusement park.
The biologists are here able to
make studies of the habits of wild
| birds and animals extending over sew
eral years. For example, DR.. A. K.
Fisher of the biological survey has
been trying for some time to solve a
problem in the breeding habits of the
bob-w1ite partridge. Each summer
two broods of cartridges are raised at
the club, and in the autumn there are
sometimes nearly thirty birds on the
tract. Some of these stray off and
| are killed by gunners, and some die
| of cold in the winter, but generally
about half of them survive until
|
| disappear except two pair. which
again rear their broods. Altho hun
| dreds of the birds have been pro-
| duced and protected on the place in
| the past few years, never more than
| four nest there. The birds seem to
understand that there are only house
| keeping accommodations for two
families. and that all the rest must
emigrate when the mating season ar
| rives. How they decide which shall
| go and which remain is a mystery.
Where the migrants go is also a mys-
| terry. Cor the scientists are familiar
with the surrounding country, know
| every convey of birds in the vicinity,
and have never been able to detect
| any addition to them. Doctor Fisher
now plans to catch the birds in traps,
put bands upon their legs, such as
are usedkby pigeon fanciers, and re-
lease them again. Anyone who kills
a banded quail will be asked, thru
notices in the newspapers, to notify
| the biological survey. In this way the
| scientist hopes to shed light on a.
| mystery in the life of Bob White.
The biologists have set aside this
tract of land for their investigations,
not only because wild animals and
| birds are becoming rare, but because
the wild flowers and other plants
| having an ornamental value are being
no less rapidly exterminated With
the coming of the automobile and the
crowds of pleasure seekers which it
carries into the country. such plants as
| the dogwood, the holly, the ground
pine and the wintergreen, which are
| esteemed as decorations, are disap-
pearing from the vicinity of Washing
almost wholly due to the thoughtless
vandalism. People do not seem to
realize that the plants growing in a
bit of woodland are as much the
property of the owner as his apple
| trees or his corn crop, and may be
equally valuable to him. They seem
to think that if the plant is a wild
| one, they have right to destroy it,
and they proceed to do SO. They are
seldom content with picking a few
light sprays, which would not serious
ly injure the plant, but commonly
tear it to pieces. After a few attacks,
| the plant dies. That is why YOU 50
seldom see a holly tree in the woods
| anywhere near a city, and why the
| dogwood is becoming more and more
rare. Even the hardy and abundant
laurel is becoming scarce in some
sections because it is an evergreen and
Is valued for decorative purposes in
the fall and winter Old timers say
that the appearance of the woods has
been radically altered by these depre-
| dations.
The wild flowers have suffered even
more than the large woody. plants
| The trailing arbutus, which was once
a common wild flower in the vicinity
| of Washington, has been almost ex-
terminated by the thoughtless woods
roamers, who are seldom content to
pick the blossoms, but usually tear up
the plant by the roots. Often it willis
before they reach home. and is thrown
down by the roadside. The wild phlox
| which used to festoon the woods in
great beds, has also nearly disappeared
Ferns have also suffered heavily
The gathering of ferns. and also OF
| evergreens. is often followed on a
commercial scale, and local florists are
much to blame, but the ever-increas-
ing tribe of the autoist is most to
blame. 1t is usually he, too. who sets
the leaves on fire, either by a care
IL. I'll Tn hull L.