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THE 808-WHITE QUAIL,
OR PARTRIDGE,
And Its Value to Mankind
By HERBERT L. STODDARD
(This is the third of a series of
stories by Mr. Herbert L. Stoddard
on the “Bob-White, Its Habits, Pres
ervation and Increase,” which will
appear regularly each week in The
News. These articles are sponsored
by the Georgia Department of Game
and Fish, and at their conclusion
that Department will publish and
distribute a pamphlet containing the
entire series.)
The bobwhite quail, or partridge,
has a varied diet which includes a
wide/ variiety of both animal and
vegetable matter; in this article we
will consider only that portion of
the diet furnished by weeds, grasses
and other ground growth, reserving
the discussion of the insects, fruits
and “mast” from trees for later
articles of the series. Even with
this division of the subject only a
few of the most important items of
diet can be mentioned.
While quail are fond of cowpeas,
soybeans, corn, millet, sorghum,
wheat and other cultivated small
grains, the greatest portion of such
grains eaten are gleaned from the
fields after harvest, and seldom is
appreciable damage done to newly
planted grains or to the growing
crops. And even in country where
much small grain is grown, the
great bulk of the food of the quail
is made up of the seeds of despised
weeds and grasses that grow in the
crops, or from wild plants of fallow
or uncultivated ground.
For instance wheat stubble is
justly famous quail ground jp many
cases, but the ragweed that volun
teers in the stubble is of vastly
greater importance to the quail than
the wheat itself. The same is true
of the cornfield. Small weedy corn
fields, such as are common in south
Georgia and Florida are recognized
as about the most favorable of all
quail range. This is not primarily
because of the corn however, but to
the weeds and grasses that mature
heavy crops of rich seeds after {the
corn is “laid by.” Bull, or water
grass, an abundant and heavy seed
ing Paspalum of rich, low spots in
cornfields furnishes one of the most
important of all foods of growing
quail in late summer and fall, and
of the mature birds later in .the
year, while Florida beggarweed,
which volunteers luxuriantly in many
southern corn fields that are planted
and “laid by” early, has no known
superior as a quail food of winter
and early spring. Other valuable
foods of the weedy corn fields are
ragweed, pigweed, rough button
weed, Mexican clover, or “pursley’
and various grasses, weeds, morning
glories and others too numerous to
mention. Quail are very fond of a
variety of green food and eat the
tender green leaves of the sorrels,
clover and other succulent plants;
a form of food essential to their
health.
As a group the Legumes are ot
outstanding importance to quail, and
many species grow in open wood
lands, around field borders and gul
leys and elsewhere. Os these le
gumes the beggarweeds (fifteen or
more native perennial species) and
the lespedezas, or bush clovers (four
or more native perennial species
and the introduced Japan clover)
are of great importance as they
furnish reliable, preferred and whole
some food, especially during the cold
months.
Many species of small wild beans
such as the downy milk pea, butter
fly pea, hog peanut and others grow
in partly shaded situations in open
pimflandls, the small gray marked
bean furnishes a preferred food of
quail. Two kinds of partridge pea
(Chamaecrista) are abundant in
open woodlands and fallow fields all
over the South. The hard, flat,
black seeds furnish one of the most
important of all winter quail foods.
Like in the case of native wild le
gumes, partridge pea is most abund
ant on lands that are burned over
in winter.
Many measures may be taken on
the average farm to increase or im
prove the food for quail, and help
to bring about an increase in their
numbers. Small hard cowpeas, and
Florida beggarweed can be planted
in corn at the time of the last culti
vation, especially in the outside rows
near thicket clover, which will im
prove conditions for the game. In
case Japan clover is not widely
distributed on the farm, seed can
be broadcast in March around gul
leys and washes, on roadsides, and
like situations. Once started, Japan
closer volunteers year after year
unless killed out by burning the land
over after the seed germinates m
late February or March. When
harvesting small grain a few rows
on the outside near cover may be
advantageously left for the birds.
On game preserves, where the
largest possible surplus of quail is
desired, small patches of Florida beg
garweed, Japan clover, millet, cow
peas, soybeans, sorghum and other
small grains are frequently planted
especially for the birds, but this is
seldom really necessary where “old
fashioned” farming still prevails.
It is evident from the foreging
that while quail are an ally of the
farmer in his -fight against insects
and weeds, they would disappear if
the battle were won, and the weeds
especially are desirable where quail
are highly regarded as a supple
mentary farm crop. After all,
weeds are just as necessary for quail
as are grains for man and his do
mesticated animals.
HISTORICAL DATA
-OF-
EARLY COUNTY
(At various times data will ap
pear in this column that will be of
interest to the citizens of Early
county. Every one who is in pos
session of items that should go into
the History of Early County will
please send same to Dr. J. G. Stan
difer, the County Historian.)
The following taken from Histor
ical Collections of Georgia, now long
out of print, gives this summary of
Early county:
Laid out in 1818, part set off to
Decatur in 1823; part set off to Ba
ker in 1825, organized in 1825 and
named for Governor Peter Early.
The census of 1850 gave Early
county 656 dwellings, 656 families,
1907 white males, 1807 white fe
males, 1 free colored male. Total
free population, 3,717. The census
further records that there were
3,529 slaves, 55 deaths, 367 farms,
11 manufacturing establishments.
Value of real estate, $757,005; val
ue of personal estate, $2,067,717.
The Chattahoochee is the chief
stream. Various creeks water the
county.
The face of the country is gently
undulating, almost without an ele
vation worthy of being called a hill,
and two-thirds covered with forests
of the tallest long-leaf pine. This
section of the county, except in the
lime-land valleys, is decidedly
healthy. There »are no diseases
peculiar to the country.
Among the original settlers of
this county were: Isham Sheffield,
West Sheffield, Arthur Sheffield,
James Bush, John Hays, Joseph and
Richard Grimsley, Richard Spann,
Frederick Porter, Joseph Boles, John
Roe, Abner Jones, Nathaniel Wea
ver, James Jones, Solomon V. Wil
son, John Dill, Alexander Watson,
James Carr, John Tilley, William
Hendrick, John Floyd, D. Roberts,
Andrew Burch, B. Collier, J. Fowler,
Martin Wood, George Mercier, Wil
liam Dickson, A. Hays, James Brant
ley, E. Hays.
Blakely is the county town, named
after Captain Blakely, of the Navy.
It is 180 miles from Milledgeville.
Fort Gaines is on a high bluff of
the Chattahoochee and is a place of
considerable business. It derived
its name from a fort built against
the Indians in 1816 by order of
General Gaines.
. Six miles north of Blakely, on
Little Colomokee creek, at the
plantation of Judge Mercier, are
some ancient earthen works. In
Pickett’s History of Alabama and
Georgia, they are thus described:
“The large sacrificial mound, sev
enty feet high, and six hundred feet
in circumference, is covered with
large forest trees from four to five
hundred years old. A shaft has
been sunk in the center to the depth
of sixty feet and at its lower portion,
a bed of human bones, five feet in
thickness and in a perfectly decom
posed state, was passed.
“There are two more smaller
mounds, which, like the former, have
earth stones in the summit, with
charred wood around them, which
would show that they, too, were used
for sacrifices.
“There is a wall of earth sur
rounding the three larger mounds.
There are also four other mounds
Will Fire Rob You
Os Your Home?
Because you waul your savings secure
you put them in a sound hank. For the
same reason your equity in your home
and business should be protected against
loss by fire.
Make your property safe by building,
repairing or improving it with fire re
sistive materials; remove all rubbish,
avoid careless habits AND INSURE
ADEQUATELY!
FRED H. BROOKS BLAKELY, GA.
R. O. WATERS BLAKELY, GA.
R. H. STUCKEY, JR. BLAKELY, GA.
MRS. W. R. STEWART BLAKELY, GA.
J. E. FREEMAN BLAKELY, GA.
W. R. PULLEN DAMASCUS, GA.
EARLY COUNTY NEWS. BLAKELY, GEORGIA
outside of the enclosure. These
mounds are some 20 feet high and
were probably used as watch towers.
“There is an entrance to the en
closure between the two joentral
watch tower mounds on or near the
west side. In the rear of the larger
mounds is a creek and from the
largest mounds there has been con
structed an arched passage, three
hundred yards in length, leading to
the creek, and probably intended to
procure water for religious pur
poses.”
At the present lime there is only
the largest mound, which still re
tains its original shape and size.
Another smaller mound is directly
west dF the large one. There are
also traces of a third mound in line
with these two. Slight elevations
flanking the large mound show
where smaller mounds have been.
Time and weather have reduced
them to mere rolling ground. No
trace of the earth wall remains, al
though Dr. W. B. Standifer, as a
little boy, recalls distinct traces of it.
From observations, it has been
determined that, at the equinoxes,
the sun rises over the center of the
largest mound and sets about over
where the smaller westerly mound
was situated. Therefore, the line
was originally due east and west.
It is supposed that this series of
mounds, one of the largest in Geor
gia, was built by pre-historic peo
ple who were sun-worshipers. The
Indians, however, appropriated them
as a camping ground and general
rendezvous in their treks north and
south. Arrow heads and much
pottery of many shapes and designs,
denoting several different tribes,
have been found, especially at the
western part of the former enclos
ure. It is believed that the mounds
were built by vast numbers of men
carrying the dirt in baskets on their
heads. It must have taken them
several years to erect these mounds.
WEEK END EXCURSION
FARES
Between All Points Within The
Southeast
Fare and one-fifth for round trip
tickets on sale Friday, Saturday and
Sunday morning. Good returning
Tuesday.
Travel safely, comfortably, lux
uriously.
Ask any agent or representative.
Central of Georgia Railway,
The Right Way.
CITATION.
GEORGIA —Early County:
Whereas, T. P. Clemons, Execu
tor of Last Will of William J. Clem
ons, represents to the Court in his
petition, duly filed and entered on
record, that he has fully administer
ed William J. Clemons’ estate: This
is therefore to cite all persons con
cerned, kindred and creditors, to
show cause, if any they can, why
said Executor should not be dis
charged from his administration, and
receive letters of dismission on the
first Monday in July, 1931.
H. H. GRIMSLEY, Ordinary.
6 6 6
LIQUID OR TABLETS
Relieves a Headache or Neuralgia in
30 minutes, checks a Cold the first
day, and checks Malaria in 3 days.
66 6 Salve for Baby’s Cold
GA.-ALA. LEAGUE
OFFICIAL SCHEDULE
FIRST HALF
Thursday, June 18
Blakely at Colquit.
Arlington at Cuthbert.
Donalsonville at Columbia.
Tuesday, June 23
Blakely at Columbia.
Cuthbert at Donalsonville.
Colquitt at Arlington.
Thursday, June 25
Columbia at Blakely.
Donalsonville at Cuthbert.
Arlington at Colquitt.
Tuesday, June 30
Arlington at Blakely.
Cuthbert at Columbia.
Donalsonville at Colquitt.
Thursday, July 2
Blakely at Arlington.
Columbia at Cuthbert.
Colquitt at Donalsonville.
SECOND HALF
Tuesday, July 7
Blakely at Donalsonville.
Colquitt at Cuthbert.
Columbia at Arlington.
Thursday, July 9
Donalsonville at Blakely.
Cuthbert at Colquitt.
Arlington at Columbia.
Tuesday, July 14
Cuthbert at Blakely.
Arlington at Colquitt.
Donalsonville at Columbia.
Thursday, July 16
Blakely at Cuthbert.
Colquitt at Arlington.
Columbia at Donalsonville.
Tuesday, July 21
Arlington at Blakely.
Colquitt at Columbia.
Donalsonville at Cuthbert.
Thursday, July 23
Blakely at Arlington.
Columbia at Colquitt.
Cuthbert at Donalsonville.
Tuesday, July 28
Blakely at Colquitt.
Columbia at Cuthbert.
Donalsonville at Arlington.
Thursday, July 30
Colquitt at Blakely.
Cuthbert at Columbia.
Arlington at Donalsonville.
Tuesday, August 4
Columbia at Blakely.
Cuthbert at Arlington.
Colquitt at Donalsonville.
Thursday, August 6
Blakely at Columbia.
Arlington at Cuthbert.
Donalsonville at Colquitt.
BLAKELY CHAPTER 44 R. A. M.
Blakely Chapter 44
Royal Arch Masons
meets on the second
and fourth Monday
nights of each month
at 8 o’clock. Visiting
companions invited.
W. T. Bodenhamer
High Priest.
J. G. STANDIFER,
Secretary.
O/
Flag Day By Ted Brown '
i 74 ''
■ w, w
Jordan’s Market P ?% E Free Delivery
Fishing Time =
For your fishing trip you will find a large variety of
Cold Meats, Sandwich Spreads, Fruits, Etc.
In fact, anything you need to make your trip a success.
SOME HAPPENINGS IN BLAKELY
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AGO
Clippings from the Early County News of
June 14th, 1906.
MISS LUCILE SKINNER is visit
ing relatives in Albany.
MR. O. J. ENGLISH was over
from Dothan last Sunday.
REV. B. W. DAVIS is on a trip
to Camilla and Savannah.
MISS BLANCHE HAYNES is vis
iting relatives in Attapulgus.
MISS JETTA WOMACK is visit
ing in Milledgeville and Atlanta.
MR. E. A. EVANS, of Jakin, has
been a visitor in Blakely this week.
MR. BYRD ODUM and family, of
Albany, are visiting Mrs. W. C.
Odum.
MISS NELLIE BUTLER, of Whig
ham, is the guest of Mrs. Clara
Butler.
MISS ANNIE HALL, of Mont
gomery, is visiting her brother, Mr.
W. A. HALL.
DR. W. H. ALEXANDER has sold
his automobile to Mr. C. H. Baugh
man," of Cedar Springs.
AMONG the graduates from An
drew Female College last week was
Miss Eva Hill Johnson, of Blakely.
JAMES & CHANCY again occu
py two full pages telling of their
“Gigantic $40,000 Stock Sale.”
MISS KATHLEEN ODUM has re
turned from a visit to Pelham. While
there she was maid of honor in the
Baggs-Parker marriage.
MRS. JULIAN PERRY has sold
her house on Liberty street to Mr.
W. F. Johnson, the jeweler, who
will move his family to Blakely.
NEWS FROM ROUTE 5, by Dan
Tucker, tells us: “Mr. J. B. Sirmons
was over to Sardis Sunday.” “Mr.
E. B. Hudspeth visited at Cedar
Springs last week.” “Mr. and Mrs.
W. M. Sirmons, of Rock Hill, were
the guests of Mr. and 'Mrs. T. J.
Wolfe last Sunday.”
TUESDAY, June 12, 1906, will be
a day long remembered in this sec
tion of the country because of the
severe wind and rain storm which
swept over the country. Much dam
age was done by the wind as well
as the rain. Mill dams were washed
away. One little boy was killed.
Judge Creel, the weather observer,
reports a rainfall of 7 inches.
MISS NANNIE LOU DAVIS is
up from Valdosta on a visit to
friends.
MESSRS. R. T. Williams, Tom
Jones, R. C. Folsom and John Ken
ney have gone to Bonifay, Fla., to
work on the new court house there.
DR. STAFFORD RAMBO, of Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, is up on a visit
to relatives in Bluffton. He and
Mr. Marvin Rambo were in Blakely
last Saturday.
MR. JACK STANDIFER returned
from Staunton, Va., last Saturday,
where he has been attending the
Staunton Military Academy for the
past year.
TEACHERS have been elected for
the Blakely Institute for next year
as follows: Co-Principals, L. J.
Fowler and W. R. Lanier (Dublin),
Bth, 9th and 10th grades; Miss Mag
gie Whitaker will teach the 6th and
7th grades; Miss Nettie Hilton will
teach the 4th and sth grades. The
teachers for the Ist, 2nd and 3rd
grades have not been elected.
BLAKELY lost three games the
past week to Florala. Monday, 9-8.
Fred Miller pitched for Florala and
Emmett Irwin for Blakely. Tues
day’s game was rained out, but Wed
nesday morning the score was 8-3.
McLeod pitched for Florala and
Curt Williams for Blakely. The aft
ernoon game went 6-5. Jones and
Hall for Florala; Irwin and Under
wood for Blakely.
ROUTE 4 NEWS, by White Rose,
says: “Messrs. J. W. and J. T. An
derson went to Blakely Thursday.”
“Messrs. Swann Brunson and Moses
Freeman were here Sunday.” “Mr.
Wilk Roberts and Mr. Jerry Shaw,
of Elmo, were in our burg Sunday.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Strickland, of
Centerville, were visitors here Sun
day.” “Misses Mary and Clyde
Harris, of Lucile, visited Miss Mat
tie Anderson this week.”
HILTON ROUTE 1 DOTS, by
[Kid, says: “Mrs. Joe Ritchie was in
: Cedar Springs Sunday.” “Miss Lau
ra Wiley visited little Miss Edna
Reed Sunday.” “Miss Eula Lane is
visiting relatives in Blakely this
! week.” “Mr. J. W. Lii.'dsey, of
■ Blakely, was in Hilton Monday.”
“Mrs. Mattie Chambers, of Blakely,
is visiting relatives here this week.”
“Eugene Martin and sister, Miss
Lorena, visited in Sardis Sunday.”