Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-08-23

There is very unanimous opinion that
the birds eat cherries, and other small fruit
to a great extent Of this there is no
doubt; that they also destroy large num-
beers Of noxious insects is as justly conced-
ed. The question then arises do they do
as much good as harm? This is the point
at issue. Our Alton friends contend for
the negative aud are bent on their destruc-
ton.
Here then is the beginning of the war
on the birds, waged no douOt in good faith,
for the protection of the products of the
fruit garden.
Before we proceed so far we had best
look over the whole controversy and know
that we are right. In the first place we
cannot well spare the birds, for the great
benefit they confer on us by the destruc-
ton of noxious insects. If we can secure
them for this duty and in some way COM
promise the matter of the fruits, we shall
have made some progress in the right di-
rection.
OF late we have conversed with some
cherry growers, and most of them say that
the birds have taken but small per cent.
of fruit this year. Mr.. Dunning, If we
recollect Alright, claims loss OF not over
two per cent, or nominal amount; but
as compared with former years. Another
large cherry grower made similar state
ment but he couples it with the fact, that
in his grounds, which are somewhat en-
tensive, there is abundance of the wild
strawberry, upon which the birds fed dur
ing the cherry season. He watched them
and found that they fed largely on these
wild strawberries, and in fact, used them
up. Many of these small patches of fruit
were in the cherry orchard, along the rows
of trees and out of reach of the pillow.
They had an abundance of fruit, and yet
so closely did the birds gather it, to get
any for the table was out of question. But
this was no cause of complaint, as he had
plenty in the garden, that were not
troubled by the birds; probably on account
OF the open exposure and the presence of
pickers
| To test this further he had secured young
robins, caught and put in cages, and fed
them on strawberries and cherries. While
they were very fond of the strawberries,
they would seldom swallow cherry, but
at once throw it out when put in their
mouth. He therefore came to the conclu-
sion that so long as the robin could get
wild strawberries for their young, they
would not touch the cherry.
In this ground were several trees OF the
Early May Cherry, standing in the shade
of other trees, which retarded the ripenlng
of the fruit, and although there were sew
eral nests Of young robins in the vicinity,
the cherries were unmolested, so long as
the wild strawberries continued. For a
year he had observed to his great satisfac.
ton that the robins and other birds did
not modest his cherries as formerly and
was at a loss to account for it. Previously
they had taken liberal toll, but the place
being new did not afford a supply of the
strawberry Now almost every available
spot, at least where there is tree the wild
strawberry abounds, no doubt planted by
the birds from seed taken from the garden,
for six years ago there was not wild straw
berry on the farm. If this theory is true
it will be well to encourage the growth Of
the strawberry under our orchard trees, a
matter that is easily done. - PRAIRIE
Farmer.