Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-12-18

have q lot Of questions that would like
answered. Perhaps am different from most
people, bnt am always noticing the things
ia nature. aud while am not fond OF bugs,
snakes and like creatures, like to know
tn IN b abits.
1t is a puzzle to me to know how earth or
angle worms get into 3 water barrel. Our
water is hard. so for washing purposes catch
rain water After every rain or heavy shower
in summer there are sure to be several Of
these worms 10 the barrel. How does worm,
whose life is spent in the ground, set into
such plsces How can they exist In water,
as they will for ct least day or twc'
Twice in tub OF rain water this last sum
mer found 8 frog, in each case nearly ex-
hausted. / believe frog cannot exist long
under water. ! supposed they could leap
from IL, but II seems not, and 80 in such case
one would have 10 keep rising to the surface
for air aud having no place to rest rouid
drown after . time.
We all know how quickly vegetables
and flower seeds lose their power to germ
mate, some much sooner than others, yet
let piece Of ground be scrsped bare below
every root or possible seed from the saiise-'
ass brick yard for instance, and see how
quickly clover aud other plants will cover
it, Ciea. q dense forest, with no form OF
under vegetation, and in two years see the
variety OF grasses, berry bushes. ETC.. that
spring up. How lie 1t brought sbcutf How
is IL that soft wood will succeed hard wood,
or the reverse, on tbs same piece OF iand'
How do the seeds get in the soilf Yes,
know some are carried by wind, some BY
birds, yet that doesn't account for it wholly,
and l stiH wonder II these various seeds lie
dormant in the soil for generations. Who
knowss
believe haven't told you . snske story
since / told OF ending some eggs while
digging In the garden, and Matching ont ave
lively young snakes in the house. Please
don't think this town is especially noted
for snakes IL 1 tell Of some more, for The
fact is they are rarely seen.
On one of my berrying excursions last sum.
mer, accompanied by Zip Coon. my six
months-old kitten, found . particularly
q ne spot OF strawberries. made myself COM
Portable in the midst OF IL with Zip near by.
When rose to my feet and looked down TO
see II had got all the berries. the largest
green snake 1 ever saw was moving 81 the
slowest. most cautious pace imaginable be-
tween me and the cat. I suppose should
I might have been sitting on or near his
snakeship. but instead 1 was merely inter-
ested to see II he could, IS he Was evidently
trying TO do. get sway without being seen BY
the cat. OF (sprarently) by me. So slow we're
his movements that not grass blade moved
TO indicate his presen nee, and not until the last
inch of his green tail was vanishing and Zip
caught sight OF IL. hastily putting out an in
vestigating paw. did he hasten his progress.
Then there was one Wild dash into tall grsss,
and he was lost to view before I had caught
mp the cat to prevent his folio wing.
few days later, In another field, i saw
another smaller snake as was walking near
. stone wall. This time, the snake. in his
flight towards the wall, fairly lifted himself
clear of the ground In his haste to reach it.
In the first instance, did the snake see that
in the open field his safety lay in not attract
ing attention, while In the second, did he feel
so sure OF reaching the wall that he was reek-
less OF being seem wondered.
have still another snake story, but think
win reserve 1t for next time. Perhaps my
stories are not interesting TO those who don't
like to investigate the ways OF these outdoor
creatures.
s J. T., / can now send that recipe for
lemon pie with clear conscience, for 1t il
said we can now have more sugar and need
not feel guilty in using it. I can hardly yet
realize that the war is over. And who can be
grateful enough for its cessationf only hope
that no exigency will arise in Europe 70
cause a renewal OF warfare.