Evening star., 1936-08-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Gus puCCeruleS-tWO une SWalloWCallS
made their appearance this past week
the fascinating comedies between the
robins and the saucy sparrows over the
right to the bird bath; the cardinal
only one, so far-the blue jays, the
mockingbird, not to mention certain cut
worms, a beetle or two, and parade of
awful caterpillars-I realize fully that
real garden is what happens after
the beginnings Of a garden are secured
Most cordially, H. 3. D."
So, folks, If you want to domesticate
a garden tortoise, take tip from this
correspondent and use cantaloupe.
It's the real thing, evidently.
The way to mans heart, it has been
said, is through his stomach, but this
applies pretty universally to all living
things.
Birds, rabbits, squirrels, dogs, cats,
turtles-these are q few which may be
lured to the garden with food appro-
pirate to them.
Every evening q brown cottontail ap-
pears in the backyard, where he re-
freshes himself with the grass and the
leaves of flowers.
1t may be that in season he will con-
sumo many flowers, but what are these,
after all, compared with the sight of q
fine brown rabbit?
1t Is one Of the advantages Of packing
borders with flowers and shrubs and
evergreens that a few plants will not be
missed as rabbit food.
Worry over such small depredations
often spoilS the best enjoyment of
garden. The thing to do is to forget it,
If possible.
In the case Of bunny destructiveness,
q study of the habits Of these creatures
often enables the home owner to forget
the damage they do in the good interest
which he works up for himself.
After that he comes to look for the
wild rabbits in his yard, and to be glad
for their presence, just as he welcomes
the wild birds which come to visit his
feeding stations.
1t is all a matter Of placing the
interest.
AS result of our correspondents find
ingS, let us hope that thousands OF slices
Of cantaloupe find their way into as
many home gardens.
If this bait works as well for others,
1t will lure thousands of garden tortoises
to a succulent dinner.
This is about as good use as we ever
heard for cantaloupe!
Cantaloupe, one may deduce, is not
on the present writer's bill of fare. After
repeated trials, over the years, it has
been dropped out.
AS far as we are concerned, the turtles
may have it, and welcome. 1t ought to
make excellent food for them.
Probably they would like watermelon,
too; it would be worth an experiment.
With creatures such as these. there is
not much likelihood of an individual
idiosyncrasy. Probably all small tortoises
crave cantaloupe, not just the one in the
Baltimore garden.
1t is not likely that they have reached
the point in evolution where one will
turn up its nose at something another
specimen likes. They are so far, far
down in the scale of evolution that what
is food to one turtle Is food for all turtles.
All the more, therefore, may the friend
of Nature rejoice that one person has
found real intelligence in one of these
curious fellows, and has been able, by
loving kindness. to prove it to others.
If it is possible so to tame the brute
creatures, by kindness, may not man
believe that some time, in the years, he
will be able to tame that greatest of
brutes, man himself?