Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1915 — PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE WILD DUCKS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE WILD DUCKS

Farmers Can Assist In This Work, by Planting, in Streams, Ponds, Lakes and Swampy Sections, Such Foods as the Wild Ducks Are Fond Of.

By W. k. McATEE. MANY plants may be successfully used as food for wild ducks tn localities where now they are not crown, and this will be a strong Inducement for the ducks to congregate In sections where they are unknown at this time. Frogblt. Frogblt Is an abundant inhabitant of some of the shallow cypress margined lakes tn Louisiana It produces

spherical fruits filled with gelatinous matter in which are a multitude of seeds, eagerly sought by ducks. Nearly 18 per cent of the food of 208 mallards collected in that locality from October to March, inclusive, consisted of these seeds. From 8,000 to 10,000 were found in each of several stomachs and one contained 32,000. Twenty-five stomachs of ringneck ducks collected in December contained 3S per cent of these eagerly sought seeds. Frogblt is extensively used in aquaria and water gardens, and may be obtained from dealers in plants for such purposes. The plants themselves should be set out in water a few Inches deep over a mucky bottom or in soft mud near the water's edge. Frogbit has been found in parts of New York, New Jersey and Delaware, but the normal range probably is from North Carolina and Missouri southward. Eel-Grass. Few who have written of the habits of sea brant have failed to mention its fondness for eel-grass. The rela-

tion between this species of bird and plant seems to be is close as, if not closer than, that existing between the noted fresh-water pair, the canvasback duck and wild celery. All normal stomach contents of the common brant thus far examined consisted exclusively of eel-grass. Eel-grass consists of bunches of tong tape-like leaves which rise from a jointed-fibrous rooted creeping stem. The leaves grow in small bundles from the end of the root-stock or its branches, and may reach a length of six feet. The plant grow* only In salt water.

In North America It is found from Greenland to ths Gulf of Mexico, and from Alaska to southern California. It is common along shores facing the open ocean, but also grows in bays, and even lagoons where the water Is far less salt than the sea. Musk Grass. The small tubers of musk grass are eaten in large numbers; more than 1,000 were contained in the stomach of one goldeneye and more than 1,500 in that of a pintail duck. However, all parts of musk grasses are eaten. In September, stomachs of ducks fqund in North Carolina contained 52 per cent of musk grass; October. 90 per cent. Probably no part of the United States entirely lacks representatives of these grasses. They require lime, however, and hence reach their best development in regions where that mineral is plentiful. Musk grasses belong to the great group of plants which Include forms known as frog spit, green slime and seaweeds. Most of the musk grasses live in fresh water. These plants are translucent and fragile, dull green in color, and are often incrusted with lime. This has given them one of their common names, limeweed. Other names are stonewort, fine moss

(Michigan), oyster grass and nigger wool (North Carolina), and skunk grass (Massachusetts). The latter name and the name musk grass, refer to a strong cdor given off by a mass of the plants when freshly taken from the water. Water Elm. That trees should produce food for wild ducks Is at first thought surprising, but many do, as oaks, thorns, hollies, ashes, hackberries and others; none is of more value for this purpose, however, than the water elm. The range of the water elm extends from the lower Wabash valley in Indiana to the river bottoms of eastern Texas, and from western Tennessee and southeastern North Carolina to Florida. This plant thrives in swamps and on the margins of sluggish streams. The tree seldom exceeds 40 feet In height and 20 inches in diameter and is usually much smaller. The water elm flowers from February to April and the fruit usually ripens and falls in a month or six weeks, but it has been found on the trees as late

as August. The fruits, which are very numerous, drop into the water immediately upon ripening. Watercress. Knowledge of the importance of watercress as a duck food is derived entirely from breeders of wild ducks.

who almost without exception cunsld sr It a valuable plant for a duck farm. Not only is it relished, but it is said to grow so fast tn some places that

the ducks cannot eat it out. Watercress occurs practically throughout the entire United States. Watercress is usually propagated by seed, which may be obtained from most seedsmen. The plant is easily transplanted by cuttings. It grows in springs, brooks, small streams and shallow ponds. Waters in which it is found are usually cool and have some current. It may be sown in similar situations at any time during spring or summer. Thalia. The writer’s only experience with thalia as a wild-duck food was in Florida. Here a slough filled with a tall growth of these elegant plants was a favorite rpsort of ducks, especially mallards. The evidence is sufficient to show that thalia has great possibilities as a wild-duck food. The seeds are large and nutritious and are born#

in great abundance. The leaf is much like that of canna, and may measure five inches wide and fifteen inches long. The plant is native from Florida to southern Arkansas and Texas, and doubtless it will thrive as far north as South Carolina and Missouri

Frogbit.

Eel-Grass.

Musk Grass.

Leaves and Fruit of Water Elm.

Watercress.

Thalia, a Favorite Duck Food.