The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-01-08
Letter Of B. F. Abell, Esq. to the Clar.
idon Farmers Club, About Birds.
WELsnFIELD. Geauea Co.. Ohio. .
Dec llth l8f3

furious to the farmer, that it would bo for
his interest to protect the one, and destroy
the other I" was duly received. I much
regret that cannot attend that meeting,
for consider hat one of tho most import.
ant problems now before the agricultural
community, and on the right solution OF
which hangs, 10 great measure, the sue.
cess OF the intelligent, industrious farmer.
To know, for example. what birds are ipiu.
rious to agriculture, and IN uhdt rous and
degree, and what ones are beneficial. and
hoio and in uLat degree, could not fail OF
placing in the bands of every cultivator of
the soil the means by which be would be
enabled to control a multitude of those
ageucies that, at times, work such fearful
havoc among his crops.
My observations among tho birds lead
me to the conclusion that, out of the whole
number that visit this County 10 the course
of year, or are residents Of it, in all about
2O0, there are very few, indeed, that il
would be for tho farmers interest to make
war upon. Many that arc looked upon BY
most as enemies, and. indeed, were SO con.
sidored by earlier naturalists, are now
known to be among his best friends, bring.
ing about, by their almos, incessant labors,
results go entirely in harmony with the end
he has in Wow, and so very beneficial, tina,
no Intelligent farmer apprised of the fact,
could, by any means, be persuaded to con.
sent to their destruction. OF this class /
may name the several kinds of Black birds,
and will advert to few of the beneficial
results secured, in part or entirely, through
their continual labors. On their arrival in
Spring, (Marcb) they gather into flocks
and may be seen busily examining the
ground 10 your old meadows and pastures.
This seems to be their chief employ ment
till their lime Of nesting, which is in MAY.
1t any one will examine the land along
the meadows and pastures soon after they
have passed over il, or, what 10 better. ex.
anime the contents of the crop of one OF
these birds. he will be soon satisfied tbu,
they have been doing work valuable to
the farmer, for he will find it filed chiefly
with those pests. exhumed by them from
rito coil, that prey upon the grass roots, and
which, it not checked, would ultimately de.
stroy all our grass land. About the first of
May. they separate and retire to the low.
lands, to rest and rear their YOUNG
Along tho last of July, their young being
able to fly and take care of themselves.
they gather into flocks. and move off to the
up'ands. ih search of appropriate food.
1t has been observed that, when grass
hoppers arc very plenty, there are very .j,w
bfdckbi'ds, and, when blackbirds are plenty,
there are oery Jep grdsshoppers. The So,
luton of this is easy. Follow ono of those
flocks. as it goes from field to field, and
from valley to hillside, and you wiz SEQ
that, nherever it has gone. there the grass
hoppers have almost entirely disappeared,
and. along with them, a multitude of kin.
dred posts. The truth is, thst the Blackbird
is one Of the great natural checks which a
kind Providence, in His wisdom, has pre-
pared. against the injurious increase of the
grasshopper aud, we're this check entirely
removed from our country, bu. very fw
years could oIapse. before its ravages would
become as destructive as those of the Lo.
Gust of Asia and Africa. ...
There are some birds whose beneficial
labors wo may direct to the accomplishment
of desired end. by taking advantage of
their bnbits. &c. OF this class is the little
House Wren. Its food consists of insects
and worms.-its habit is, to make o clean
sweep of everything of tho kind IN the
neighborhood of it's nesting. place. On or
before the first of May, (for, at that time,
they select their first nest,) place a wen.
box, which may bo any little box, with on.
~ one small opening into it, near your
grapevine, or other plant you desire to be
protected from insects, and you will have
tho satisfaction of seeing that the work is
faithfully done,-far better than you could
do it yourself. In the same manner, and
BY the same means, your beehives may, in
great measure, be protected from those
troublesome insects, that. .dsring the warmer
parts Of the year, continually infect them.
If you will take the trouble to watch pair
thar have selected a nesting-place in the
neighborhood of your bees, you will observe
them, morning and evening, and many 9th
er times during the day, if insects are plen.
ty, making careful survey of everypart of
the hive they can get at-not hesitatiug to
walk even among the bees to do so, and de.
vouring as they 60, every insect that comes
within their reach. The bees do not seem
to be at all disturbed by their presence
nor do they in any way trouble the bees.
If any one is doubtful as to the advantages
arising from the labors of the little wrer,
in the cases above specified, and of our abil-
ity to direct their labors to desired end,
beg he will mako the experiment in the man.
ncr above specified. and carefully observe
them for few weeks. BY that time, all
doubts he may have had upon the subject
will have entirely vanished.
Sincerely yours. B. F. ABELL.
Hon L. TAYLOR.
The editor Of Western paper says he