Evening star., 1945-07-31
This and That
By Charles Z. TrdceDeH.
FALLS CHURCH. Va,

Dear Sir:
The fsvorite outdoor sport Of this
correspondent at this season Of the year
is gathering blackberries, and 1t is to
be hoped that many other readers of
your ever interesting column can enjoy
this fascinating pastime.
ITO properly indulge in this sport It
is essential to be clad IN the toughest
possible breeches and blouse to guard
against briars, and boots, II possible;
spread tablespoon of kerosene on the
lower limbs and forearms to obviate
chiggers, and watch out for snakes"
to which always reply, Let the snakes
watch out for themselves since have
experienced that snakes and other wild
animals will run from rather than at
humans unless they are attacked first.
Despite the fact that Jupiter Pluvius
has had complete control over the
weather, the berries need but to be
touched and they will fall into your
bucket, and there are many green or
red ones to look forward to for weeks
This sport is especially fascinating
to those whose property edges the
stream, as wild berries seem to prosper
in this environment.
Sincerely yours, o. c."
-
Blackberrying is fun, If you like black
berries, and If you are dressed as our
correspondent advises.
Otherwise, 1t is a pain in the neck, as
the vernacular has it, or rather the legs
and arms, in this case.
That is why we believe in leaving
blackberries to the birds. They seem
to be equipped to gather them without
harm to themselves.
They do birds more good, too. We do
not believe that blackberries are anything
special as human food. We, for one.
prefer peaches, and since our birds do
not care for peaches, as a rule, we are
willing to let them have the black
berries.
This is supposed to be bumper
peach year, and If they don't send them
to Europe or someplace we all ought
to have plenty.
Eat peaches.
They are fine food. and good for you
are magnificent: in pies and cobblers,
they are heavenly.
Warm peach pie-now there Is some
thing!
With a cold glass of milk, no better
supper is to be found anywhere
X ~
There used to be saying that the
devil stamps his cloven hoof on the
Der 29). In England, Michaelmas is the
day for the beginning Of university
terms.
Tho Nf 1n 10 OBJ ie
posed to have tonic properties, but
this, too, may be left to the birds
No yard is complete without few
blackberry bushes, but many persons do
not feel that they go" with our cul-
tivated garden plants and vegetables
They are mistaken in this, provided
the-way corner. The space behind the
garage is good.
Birds find the bushes there as well
as any place else.
Tangles of wild bushes always draw
songsterS AS much may be done to
attract them this way as any other.
but planting plenty of bushes of all
kinds, permitting part OF the place to
go wild, is another.
1uC UCoI way, VI COuISc, Is 10 COInDlne
feeding with plenty of wild spots, COM
posed of berries, shrubs and small
saplings.
Birds do not mind thorns In the
least
Persons who, like our correspondent,
insist on gathering blackberries, should
beware of poison ivy and rattlesnakes
1t is said that rattlesnakes have
peculiar affinity for blackberry bushes,
liking to hide In them. And poison ivy
loves to grow In Its protection.