ATTACK BY BLACK BEARS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 879, 21 September 1881, Page 2

ATTACK BY BLACK BEARS.

Bui. a short time sinoe the New York Sim published an nconunt of the killing of two black bears by Miss Lottie Merrill, of Wayne County Pensylvania, a young lady 18 years of age. Since then Miss Merrill has met a most tragic death, having been attacked in, her ]iut h,V six 1 bears, killed and eaten by them, and her 1 remains, with the carcases of her assailants, having been consumed by the burning of "her cabin after the termination of the fatal combat. It appears, according to a Yanlfep sporting contemporary, that she had on the day' of hor death kjlled a fine buck, which she had dragged home in. the snow. Six hungary bears, attracted by the smell of blood, had followed the trail to Miss Morrill's cabin, and it is presumed attacked her after devouring the carcase of the deer. The girl is credited with having made, a heroic defence, as she had evidently kiljed twp of. the bears before being overpowered. The caroase of one bear is stated to have fallen ayainst the cabin door on the inside, imprisoning them all, when the cabin took fire destroying both the girl and her assailants. Within the pjbin was found one.of her hunting boots, nev font still remaining in it, her bent hunting knife, and the antlers of her last deer. Over 300 persons attended her funeral. She was buried near her burned cabin, and upon her grave were placed a pair of antlers and a hemlock slab, bearing the following rude epitaph ;-" Lottie Merrill lays here. She didn't know what it waß to be afeer'd, but sho had her last tuisel with the bars, and they have scooped her. She was a good girl, and she is now in heaven. It took six bars to get sway with her. She was only 18 years old,"

MULCHING FRUIT TREES. (Prom Journal oi Horticulture) Gardeners and fruit-trss growers canerally, are wall aware of the advantage of mulching the ground oyer fruit-tree rootf, but the time of doing it, ia not bo well settled; consequently,So'rbe mulch early in spring, others at midsummer, and many not until the fruit is gaining size and maturing in autumn;.rltt ray opinion tit matter is of too much importance toJbe oirried out in this indefinite manner, W it would, be well-if we could ail agree ai to the best time to mulch, and act accordingly. Giving my'experience and opinion toward this, I may say that all our principal fruit trees, especially thjflS against walls, ate always.mulched hH the buds begin swelling in spring r AH all the times I have seen tried, tH appears to be the best. The trees hav? the full benefit of the nourishment from the manure throughout the whole season of their growth, and the; need this ai much when the fruit is forming and the young growths starting as they do in autumn, In tact, inducing any tree to start freely into growth in spring is of more advantage in autumn than any little extra attention just at that time. Light straw manure is of no use. for mulching, as it neither,, keeps the soil moist in dry weather or affords nourishment. For mulching, I prefer good cow dung before it jb muoh decayed, and always employ it this,state. The manure need not uaually be spread more thanttoutr t feet from the stem of the tree, and in some instances less than this will do. When applied in spring, to last all summer, it should net be less. than four inches thick, and it is a good plan to previously break up the Burface of the soil over the roots with a fork, ' ' .~.