We wrote about the natural flying creatures in our last two postings. Now our attention turns to one of the many man-made flying objects--gliders. And how to build and operate one.
If you want a complete ground course on operation and construction of gliding and sailflying, then here's a book just for you: HENLEY'S ABC OF GLIDING AND SAILFLYING. It's edited by Victor W. Page, Major-U.S. Air Corps Reserve and has 72 illustrations with drawings and instructions for building a primary training type glider.
Henley Publishing Company published this book in 1930, and way back then for the price of $1.50 (bound in paper) or $2.00 (bound in cloth) you could have read a brief history of gliding and soaring "with motorless airplanes" as well as bird flight and its relation to sailflying. You could also have read about popular German and American gliders and soaring planes as well as how to form a glider club, select terrain for gliding, and train glider pilots. And you could have found more books on the subject from the dust jacket list "New Aviation Books Covering All Phases of Operation or Servicing of Modern Airplanes."
Almost 80 years later, this book sits on Shelf GG5 in the Bullis Room, a bit warped from the 2001 water damage but still offering an entertaining and informative look-through, even for those of us who prefer to keep our feet on the ground.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
THE ROBIN
Today is sandwiched in between yesterday's Earth Day and tomorrow's Arbor Day. We celebrate these two occasions by sharing with you Charlie Bullis's poem "written and read Arbor Day, May 4, 1906," when he was 14 years old.
THE ROBIN, by C. R. Bullis
In the bright days of early spring
A robin from the south took wing
Thrilled by memories of the past
He flew to the north straight and fast
Through the pale ethereal blue
Unto his native land he flew
Through the bright day and starlit night
He proceeded in his long flight.
At last all wearied from his flight
As the first rays of the sun's light
Appeared over the eastern hill
At home on a pine he sat still.
For a few weeks he flew about
In every tree and bush and out
And in the balmy evening air
His song resounded clear and fair
And floated up to the pale moon
And died away very much to soon.
His singing soon brought him a mate
And they sang together in state
On a swaying evergreen bough
Never chriping his song enow
Until warmer the day did grow
Melting away the lingering snow
And birds became more numerous
The robins grew less humorous
They worked two or three bright days
And constructed a little maze
Of dry grass interlocked and round
With fine feathers all lined and downed
They constructed their little nest
On a brace high above their pest
The cat that goes prowling around
And catches young birds near the ground
Soon two little blue eggs were laid
In the warm nest all in the shade
In due time the blue eggs were hatched
The robins taking turns to scratch
And sit and search for grubs and slugs
And juicy angle worms and bugs
It was a busy time indeed
With two small gaping mouths to feed
But the robins tended them well
And their forms began to swell
When the sweet hay was being mown
I looked and the young birds had flown.
THE ROBIN, by C. R. Bullis
In the bright days of early spring
A robin from the south took wing
Thrilled by memories of the past
He flew to the north straight and fast
Through the pale ethereal blue
Unto his native land he flew
Through the bright day and starlit night
He proceeded in his long flight.
At last all wearied from his flight
As the first rays of the sun's light
Appeared over the eastern hill
At home on a pine he sat still.
For a few weeks he flew about
In every tree and bush and out
And in the balmy evening air
His song resounded clear and fair
And floated up to the pale moon
And died away very much to soon.
His singing soon brought him a mate
And they sang together in state
On a swaying evergreen bough
Never chriping his song enow
Until warmer the day did grow
Melting away the lingering snow
And birds became more numerous
The robins grew less humorous
They worked two or three bright days
And constructed a little maze
Of dry grass interlocked and round
With fine feathers all lined and downed
They constructed their little nest
On a brace high above their pest
The cat that goes prowling around
And catches young birds near the ground
Soon two little blue eggs were laid
In the warm nest all in the shade
In due time the blue eggs were hatched
The robins taking turns to scratch
And sit and search for grubs and slugs
And juicy angle worms and bugs
It was a busy time indeed
With two small gaping mouths to feed
But the robins tended them well
And their forms began to swell
When the sweet hay was being mown
I looked and the young birds had flown.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
BIRDWATCHING
HOORAY for bird migration! Twice a year, thanks to this behavior, we get a glimpse of birds not usually seen at our backyard feeders or on area hiking trails.
The sight of these visitors may send us fumbling through our worn copies of Peterson's field guide. With only the basics, however, we may have difficulty deciding whether we've spotted a Northern Woodpecker or his black-back, three-toed cousin. Fortunately, there are more extensive sources of bird information right here in the Bullis Room that can help us identify these winged friends.
William T. Hornaday, author of THE AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY (published by Charles Scribner in 1914) dedicated part of Volume II and all of Volume III to birds. Both these volumes (along with Volumes I and IV) are on the shelves, waiting for you to stop by and take a look. Besides a wealth of information on birds, these volumes are filled with illustrations which include some striking color plates of the Passenger Pigeon, Roseate Spoonbill, Emperor Penguin, White-Headed Eagle, and Bobolink. Also included is a full-page "Landscape Chart Of The Orders of North American Birds." There is detailed information on families, orders, and species of birds and also information about the cause of decreasing bird population, which was a concern to bird lovers in 1914 and continues to be today.
Those of us into literature as well as birds might want to spend some time with John Burrough's book, BIRDS AND POETS WITH OTHER PAPERS (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1877). This volume includes poetry by Wordsworth praising the nightingale and the lark and Burroughs describing the wonder of a pine warbler along with some of the poetical bird references of Coleridge, Emerson, and Cowper.
On the other hand, those of us who are detail-oriented will get a full serving in Samuel Lockwood's ANIMAL MEMOIRS, PART II, BIRDS (published by Ivison, Blakeman and Company, 1888). We can learn about the anatomy of a feather, the mechanism of a wing, and lots of other fascinating facts about birds in general.
The book that has a little bit of "all of the above" is OUR BIRDS IN THEIR HAUNTS, A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN (published by S. E.
Cassino & Company, 1884). The Rev. J. Hibbert Langille chose this poem to grace his title page:
How pleasant the life of a bird must be,
Flitting about in each leafy tree;
In the leafy trees, so broad and tall,
Like a green and beautiful palace hall,
With its airy chambers, light and boon,
That open to sun and stars and moon,
That open into the bright blue sky,
And the frolicsome winds as they wander by.
Mary Howitt.
In his preface, Rev. Langille stated: "I have tried to meet a wide demand never yet met in this country--to have a book on birds for everybody. I write almost entirely from personal observation, incorporating in my work a full report for Western New York and the adjoining regions of the Great Lakes, and a pretty full report for Nova Scotia; also a good deal of direct information from Hudson's Bay, by means of an excellent correspondent." A cursory look at this book confirms that indeed it is a bird book for everyone, everywhere, anytime.
If one or more of these books interest you, we invite you to stop by the Bullis Room and take a look at them. And may we wish you an enjoyable birdwatching season.
The sight of these visitors may send us fumbling through our worn copies of Peterson's field guide. With only the basics, however, we may have difficulty deciding whether we've spotted a Northern Woodpecker or his black-back, three-toed cousin. Fortunately, there are more extensive sources of bird information right here in the Bullis Room that can help us identify these winged friends.
William T. Hornaday, author of THE AMERICAN NATURAL HISTORY (published by Charles Scribner in 1914) dedicated part of Volume II and all of Volume III to birds. Both these volumes (along with Volumes I and IV) are on the shelves, waiting for you to stop by and take a look. Besides a wealth of information on birds, these volumes are filled with illustrations which include some striking color plates of the Passenger Pigeon, Roseate Spoonbill, Emperor Penguin, White-Headed Eagle, and Bobolink. Also included is a full-page "Landscape Chart Of The Orders of North American Birds." There is detailed information on families, orders, and species of birds and also information about the cause of decreasing bird population, which was a concern to bird lovers in 1914 and continues to be today.
Those of us into literature as well as birds might want to spend some time with John Burrough's book, BIRDS AND POETS WITH OTHER PAPERS (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1877). This volume includes poetry by Wordsworth praising the nightingale and the lark and Burroughs describing the wonder of a pine warbler along with some of the poetical bird references of Coleridge, Emerson, and Cowper.
On the other hand, those of us who are detail-oriented will get a full serving in Samuel Lockwood's ANIMAL MEMOIRS, PART II, BIRDS (published by Ivison, Blakeman and Company, 1888). We can learn about the anatomy of a feather, the mechanism of a wing, and lots of other fascinating facts about birds in general.
The book that has a little bit of "all of the above" is OUR BIRDS IN THEIR HAUNTS, A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICAN (published by S. E.
Cassino & Company, 1884). The Rev. J. Hibbert Langille chose this poem to grace his title page:
How pleasant the life of a bird must be,
Flitting about in each leafy tree;
In the leafy trees, so broad and tall,
Like a green and beautiful palace hall,
With its airy chambers, light and boon,
That open to sun and stars and moon,
That open into the bright blue sky,
And the frolicsome winds as they wander by.
Mary Howitt.
In his preface, Rev. Langille stated: "I have tried to meet a wide demand never yet met in this country--to have a book on birds for everybody. I write almost entirely from personal observation, incorporating in my work a full report for Western New York and the adjoining regions of the Great Lakes, and a pretty full report for Nova Scotia; also a good deal of direct information from Hudson's Bay, by means of an excellent correspondent." A cursory look at this book confirms that indeed it is a bird book for everyone, everywhere, anytime.
If one or more of these books interest you, we invite you to stop by the Bullis Room and take a look at them. And may we wish you an enjoyable birdwatching season.
NEW ENGLAND FRUGALITY
"USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT, MAKE IT DO, OR DO WITHOUT.
Western New Yorkers who witnessed the Bullis Family's frugality assumed that it came from their Vermont roots. Whatever the primary source may have been, Nettie and Charlie learned this lifestyle at their father's knee because Abraham Bullis spent his money only on the very necessities of living.
Abraham's children received new clothing only when their old clothes were worn out. Toys were a rarity in the Bullis home, and Abraham never allowed his children to play games unless the games taught them something. He wanted them to think for themselves and be creative. Obviously, he accomplished his child-rearing goals because Nettie and Charlie were known for their independent, creative thinking. And they both followed their father's conservative lifestyle.
Nettie and Charlie both maintained simple diets during their lives. Charlie's favorite food was dry cereal and peanut butter/brown-sugar sandwiches while Nettie, it is recorded, routinely stopped by a grocery store on her evening trip home from work to buy two slices of bologna, sometimes bread, and a pint bottle of milk for her supper. Charlie also made the rounds of Rochester bakeries for stale breads, which he soaked in warm water to make edible.
Both dressed quite simply, making-do with the same clothing year after year. Nettie's style of dress was businesslike and always neat, but with few changes over the years.
Charlie was into recycling long before anyone else knew the word. He used dry cereal boxes to make filing cases for his business papers and made-do with only one light for his illumination in the nighttime hours. To conserve heat, he sat directly over the heat register in a chair fashioned out of a large cardboard box, with a light bulb for additional heat.
We may smile and roll our eyes at the idea of some of these frugal behaviors. However, today as we raise concerns about our carbon footprints and worsening global economy, perhaps we would be wise to take another look at some of Charlie's and Nettie's frugal ways.
Western New Yorkers who witnessed the Bullis Family's frugality assumed that it came from their Vermont roots. Whatever the primary source may have been, Nettie and Charlie learned this lifestyle at their father's knee because Abraham Bullis spent his money only on the very necessities of living.
Abraham's children received new clothing only when their old clothes were worn out. Toys were a rarity in the Bullis home, and Abraham never allowed his children to play games unless the games taught them something. He wanted them to think for themselves and be creative. Obviously, he accomplished his child-rearing goals because Nettie and Charlie were known for their independent, creative thinking. And they both followed their father's conservative lifestyle.
Nettie and Charlie both maintained simple diets during their lives. Charlie's favorite food was dry cereal and peanut butter/brown-sugar sandwiches while Nettie, it is recorded, routinely stopped by a grocery store on her evening trip home from work to buy two slices of bologna, sometimes bread, and a pint bottle of milk for her supper. Charlie also made the rounds of Rochester bakeries for stale breads, which he soaked in warm water to make edible.
Both dressed quite simply, making-do with the same clothing year after year. Nettie's style of dress was businesslike and always neat, but with few changes over the years.
Charlie was into recycling long before anyone else knew the word. He used dry cereal boxes to make filing cases for his business papers and made-do with only one light for his illumination in the nighttime hours. To conserve heat, he sat directly over the heat register in a chair fashioned out of a large cardboard box, with a light bulb for additional heat.
We may smile and roll our eyes at the idea of some of these frugal behaviors. However, today as we raise concerns about our carbon footprints and worsening global economy, perhaps we would be wise to take another look at some of Charlie's and Nettie's frugal ways.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
CHARLES ROGERS BULLIS
In March we honored Nettie Bullis on her birthday. Now, as crocuses show their colorful faces and daffodil shoots poke through April's warming soil, our attention appropriately turns to her only sibling, Charlie, and his horticultural achievements.
He was Abraham and Josephine's eldest child, born October 13, 1891. After finishing high school at Macedon Union School, Charlie briefly taught at District #2 school in Walworth, New York. In 1913 he applied and passed the entrance exam to Cornell University but never attended the school. Following service in World War I, he devoted himself to projects conducted in and on the family's Canandaigua Road property.
His horticulture interest evidently stemmed from both genetic and environmental factors, according to Elizabeth Ferrari's 1984 account in THE BULLIS FAMILY OF MACEDON, NEW YORK:
Abraham's wife, Josephine, was a very fine lady. Her home was always
spotless and her yards filled with beautifully kept flower gardens of
tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilacs. These gardens were begun by
her husband.
Ferrari also notes that Charlie was a highly intelligent man who thought differently than others. He had a variety of interests and would start projects that he soon lost interest in, such as his flying glider invention that he abandoned "before he could put the feathers on it!" However, he never lost interest in breeding his flowers and plants.
Through years of experimenting, Charlie bred many of his own hybrid plants. He developed a hybrid corn that interested American Can Company, collected sweet corn from Indian tribes all over the world, and bred a corn kernel one inch in diameter. As a result, Cornell University asked him to help them with the breeding of corn. He pursued these horticultural projects over many years, but did not follow through on either American Can or Cornell's proposals.
Although Charlie did not earn a higher-level educational degree, he became a renowned botanist by extensive self-study (reading the vast choice of books and materials in the family library) and through experimentation. His expertise was greatly respected and other botanists throughout North America sought his advice. His urge to share knowledge with others is evident in his contributions to horticulture bulletins and journals. One of these papers was respectfully referred to by a Canadian forest-tree geneticist.
A favorite story of Charlie-admirers centers around a horticultural manuscript that he needed typed in order to submit it for publication. He found a neighbor who was willing to do the work and paid for that clerical work with some of his prized tulip bulbs. (He was a staunch believer in bartering.) Other examples of his New England thriftiness, as well as the high value others put on his horticulture achievements, regularly occurred in Charlie's lifetime.
Charlie's only apparent extravagance was in producing the beautiful, showy flowers that brought pleasure to everyone who saw them. Local residents today still speak of driving by the Bullis house when he was alive and admiring the sea of red poppies and yellow daffodils.
Charlie Bullis died in the springtime on May 13, 1974, when all his flowers were blooming.
He was Abraham and Josephine's eldest child, born October 13, 1891. After finishing high school at Macedon Union School, Charlie briefly taught at District #2 school in Walworth, New York. In 1913 he applied and passed the entrance exam to Cornell University but never attended the school. Following service in World War I, he devoted himself to projects conducted in and on the family's Canandaigua Road property.
His horticulture interest evidently stemmed from both genetic and environmental factors, according to Elizabeth Ferrari's 1984 account in THE BULLIS FAMILY OF MACEDON, NEW YORK:
Abraham's wife, Josephine, was a very fine lady. Her home was always
spotless and her yards filled with beautifully kept flower gardens of
tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilacs. These gardens were begun by
her husband.
Ferrari also notes that Charlie was a highly intelligent man who thought differently than others. He had a variety of interests and would start projects that he soon lost interest in, such as his flying glider invention that he abandoned "before he could put the feathers on it!" However, he never lost interest in breeding his flowers and plants.
Through years of experimenting, Charlie bred many of his own hybrid plants. He developed a hybrid corn that interested American Can Company, collected sweet corn from Indian tribes all over the world, and bred a corn kernel one inch in diameter. As a result, Cornell University asked him to help them with the breeding of corn. He pursued these horticultural projects over many years, but did not follow through on either American Can or Cornell's proposals.
Although Charlie did not earn a higher-level educational degree, he became a renowned botanist by extensive self-study (reading the vast choice of books and materials in the family library) and through experimentation. His expertise was greatly respected and other botanists throughout North America sought his advice. His urge to share knowledge with others is evident in his contributions to horticulture bulletins and journals. One of these papers was respectfully referred to by a Canadian forest-tree geneticist.
A favorite story of Charlie-admirers centers around a horticultural manuscript that he needed typed in order to submit it for publication. He found a neighbor who was willing to do the work and paid for that clerical work with some of his prized tulip bulbs. (He was a staunch believer in bartering.) Other examples of his New England thriftiness, as well as the high value others put on his horticulture achievements, regularly occurred in Charlie's lifetime.
Charlie's only apparent extravagance was in producing the beautiful, showy flowers that brought pleasure to everyone who saw them. Local residents today still speak of driving by the Bullis house when he was alive and admiring the sea of red poppies and yellow daffodils.
Charlie Bullis died in the springtime on May 13, 1974, when all his flowers were blooming.
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