Keeping Bears Out Of Cornfield

Ia the district of Rachinsk, in th Transcaueasus, bears are regarded aa the worst enemies of the maizefields, and 'whsn the season for the maize cobs to ripen comes round the population tak all possible stepa to protect the iruits of their toil. In the evening the peasant, armed wïth a gun, a kiiijal, a stout oakon cudgel or whatever other ■weapon he can secure, takes all the dogs ha poesesses with him and goes off to the field, where he sleeplessly guards hia maize during thewhole night, sometimes at the risk of his life. He passes the night in firing off his gun and continual shonting, while during the day he ia forced to work to the utmost of his powers, seeing that it is just at this period - i. e., when the maize is ripenïng - that he has to thrash his wheat, gather in hia erop of beans, repair his ■winnower and maks ready the places for storing his maize. If a bear gets into a maizefield in which he does not expect to be disturbed during the whole night, he first sets to -work and gorges himself ; then, feeling heavy, he begins to roll and spra-wj. on his back. Having eprawled about a bit, the bear begins to feel playful, and it is then that the maize stalks suffer most severely. Tucking his legs under him, he rolls head over heels from one end of the field to the other, and in his course he naturally breaks and rolls do-wn everything in his way, rendering the whole erop