VOL. LXTTT j ,,,
AR\
±
INDIANAPOLIS, FEBRUARY 22, 1908.
NO. 8
—
In the Winter Woods.
Editor. Indiana  Farmer:
"A snowfall is a black page from the
note-book of Nature, and upon it her children write the stories of their lives, each in
his own way."
If we study the pages and the different
styles of writing, we may be able to read
the stories. When we begin to read and
to translate them the winter woods no
longer presents a cheerless appearance;
they no longer seem a dreary waste of
snow-covered ground and bare, gray trees.
We find that the woods are peopled by a
busy community, whose lives are as full
of problems as our own, and whose occupations are as serious and important to
themselves as are those of the inhabitants
of any country.
The first story we come across has been
written by a mink—a uniform trail, which
might be imitated by a narrow board
dragged through the snow. The legs of
a mink are very short, so that the body
6tnks in, often covering up the prints of
the webbed feet, and the trail is simply
a gutter in the snow, with deeper spots
at intervals marking the points at which
the feet have sunk. The trail of an otter
is very similar, but much larger, as a full-
grown otter is sometimes nearly four feet
ia -length, while the mink seldom measures
more than two. In moving through tbe
tnow on other leaps forward and slides
some distance, plowing up the snow with
his breast, then leaping again, and sliding
as before.
But if we follow the mink's trail, one
thing is certain, it will lead us to water
sooner or later. It may go around a
xtump once or twice (where the mink hunted for mice), then through a narrow opening between two stones under the fence:
The mink has a peculiar habit of squeezing
liis body through narrow openings, and
that is one reason why his fur is nearly
valueless towards the end of winter. The
constant friction wears away the hair in
patches and makes the pelt unsightly.
When you reach the stream you will notice that the trail leads directly beneath
the overhanging ice. This is his favorite
lmuting ground. From the shadow be
can spring out upon any small creatures
that may come for a drink, and he is also
in the habit of diving for fish, which form
a considerable portion of his food. He
probably has a burrow somewhere in tbe
bank of the stream.
Here is quite a different trail, also leading to the water. It was made by a
muskrat, and in one important particular differs from nearly all other trails-
there is a sharp and almost continuous
line connecting the tracks. That line was
c«'t into the snow by the sharp-edged and
almost hairless tail, which drags on the
frnund as the animal moves. If we followed these tracks away from the water
we should probably find they led to a eorn-
Ce,d,   and we should see where the animal
jcauae, although not true hibernators,
skunks usually spend a part of each winter iu their burrows. You will notice
that these tracks are not at all like those
of any other of our small animals. They
extend in a double line, and the marks
of the toe-nails, particularly those of the
fore feet are very conspicuous. Skunks
are lazy fellows and frequently one will
drive a woodchuck from his burrow and
take possession, instead of digging one
for himself, although well able to do so.
These animals are not offensive ouly when
in danger, real or fancied.
But we have lingered so long over the
found; then let the state protect and improve such land at least expense possible
to insure scientific management until it
was make valuable and gave a good income.
We think the Connecticut law on this
subject a good one and it is said that it
has proven very satisfactory so far, and
becomes more popular as the years go by.
tliis law is briefly as follows:
The State forester may buy land in the
Stafla suitable for the growth of oak, pine
or chestnut lumber, at a price not exceeding $4 per acre, to the amount of the appropriation for that purpose,  which  land
A Shaded Street in Acton, Indiana.    Home of T>. C. Pfendler.
stories of the mink, muskrat and skunk, as
written in the snow, that we have time
only to mention many others that one may
come across in the winter woods.
Scattered fan-shaped prints show which
way Brer Rabbit wandered in his search
for food. Little field mice have left
their marks in double lines along their
trails. One may see, too, the little pairs
of foot-prints which show which way the
squirrels ran. In wild woods the tracks
of the weasel may be seen, just like the
squirrel's except that the prints are not
quite side by side, and that between every
other pair stretches the mark of the animal's long, slender body. Also, one may
see the print, as of a baby's hand, left
bj a raccoon.
Many delicate tracks made by hirsl's
feet cover the ground under the trees. All
this and much more may we read from li.o
notes written on the pages of Nature',?
note-book. Mrs. M. E. S. Charles
Henry Co.
had
scratched for    a few    ears of    corn
which had been dropped in the fall. Down
stream, in a shallow, quiet spot we may
see a muskrnt's winter house—a dark heap
of leaves and sticks in the water. Were
""Me able to see through the thick walls we
should probably see four or five dark
trown balls of fur—the sleeping muskrats
~°n beds of leaves against the side of the
chamber.
But here is an interesting trail; it was
made by a skunk, and if we follow it for
a "ttie while we may find where he lives.
ten we do not see skunk-tracks for
Weeks toK«her at this season.     It is be-
Forestry   Extension  Law   Needed
Editors Indiana Fanner:
For a few years past Indiana has had
a forestry law and some good work has
been done under its provisions. One immense state reserve where the work of
scientific extensive reforestation may be
carried on is all right, no doubt, but this
is only a starter—the beginning of a work
that should be general all over the state,
where benefits would be more extensive,
and this observation school far-reaching. Reserves should not be confined
to any one county or even locality. The
right idea, it seems to us, would be to buy
up cheap land wherever a bargain could be
shall be deeded to the state and shall be
called a State Forest. He may plant-sUich
land with seed or seedlings of such trees
as he may deem expedient; exchange the
lands bought with adjacent proprietors,
and for and in behalf of the State execute
deeds for such purposes; fence said lands
with substantial wire fencing, not barbed;
protect said lands from forest fires and
tresspassers; to preserve the game fish and
timber thereon; and may employ such local assistants as may be necessary. Hr
shall be custodian of such lands and shall
pay from the sum biennially appropriated
the town tax upon said land when assessed at the same rate as similar adjoining
lant'tl. find, with the approval of the governor and attorney general, may sell por-
ti .is of the same than they shall comman 1
a greater price than cost and interest
thereon, and mny execute a deed thereof
for and in behalf of the State.
A similar bill is now before the Legislature of Massachueetts and is likely t"
become a law, and it seems to us that this
is the best method yet presented for reforesting cheap and almost waste lands. It
is the line of work that must be adopted by
all the States sooner or later if the greatest
gi-od as well as benefit is to be accomplish
ed and secured.
We have in Indiana much waste and unfinished land that is not yielding any profit, in fact is getting poorer every year and
will continue to do so as long as it remains in unprogressive private hands. A
poor man on a poor farm is in no shape to
take up forestry. If he succeeds in ekeing
out a mere subsistence for himself and
family he does well, and there is not.ing
left to plant trees.    It requires a man w:th
some means at his command who can afford to wait several years for returns "n
capital invested in    any sort   of foresL-y
Sc!s.'Ills'. ,
'iho fme required to develop a valuable
wr..sdlawn farm waste land is so long that
even the full-handed are loath to take ap
the project. But the State, with its unlimited length of life and freedom frnni
taxation, is able to carry on the plan to
best advantage.
, There is uo doubt rhtit a general comprehensive fonstry system inaugerat»«l ii'l
over the state, along the above lines would
some time, end that not ta the very dim
and distant future, yield'enough yearly income to pay most of the State expenss^,
as they now do in some communities tn
Europe. Wood is the best crop for onr
steep, rocky or baren lands,.and surest so;l
renovater, and all such should gradually bs-
placed under State control and be managed
for the public good.
Improved water-ways that are coining
will need a regular conservation of rain
fall and every reserve, no matter where located, will assist in holding back the floods
that so frequently devastate our low tends,
retaining some portion of this water for
future emergencies. Is not this subject
one of great importance just now, to our
state and her peoples?     N. W. Stevens.
Seeding Clover and Timothy.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
On account of oats lodging so badly during the last few years many are consi ler-
ing the plan of sowing clover and timo'.t.y
without any grain crop. I do not tuvor
this practice for spring seeding, because
the tiny grass plants cannot cope with the
weeds and are likely to be killed out. It
has been proven that clover and timothy
plants can stand the shade of thinly sown
oats or barley, much better than they can
weeds. If the grain crop is not taken
into consideration then sow not more than
six leeks of oats to the acre. This will
not be crowding things, for the roots -of
clover, timothy and oats are so different
that they will all grow in the same seed-
lesl without crowding or injury. Don't
sow clover and timothy at the same time
that the grain is sown, for it is apt to be
buried too deeply. The nicest way to do
it is to sow oats, clover and timothy all
separate, and follow the seeding with a
light harrow and roller. Grass seed will
not grow if buried more than one inch in
the dirt, and it is much safer to merely
cover it or press it into the earth. Clover
seed will not germinate readily when it is
covered more than two inches. Too deep
seeding is responsible for many poor
catches. It is best that grass and
clover seeds be not buried deeper than one-
half inch. Grain should be covered
deeper. So it is safer to sow grass and
grain  separately. Ls.  C.  B.
Examine the seed and see if it tests
good and strong. Feburary and March are
the trying months on all kinds of seeds,
as they are more likely to absorb moisture
during this period than during the colder
part of winter. If the seed is perfectly
dry keep it in a cool place till it is wanted
for seeding.
We have an enquiry about the construction of a bank barn from a reader at
Bippus, Indiana, and if he will send us
his name we will publish it. We will not
publish the name unless he consents, but
names must accompany articles for publication, as assurance of good faith.