The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-03-03

The following is q short extract from a
new work, entitled; "a Plea for Birds" by
the Rev. Temberton Bartlett, recently pub
lished uuder the direction of the Comittee of
General Literature and Education, appointed
by the Society for Promoting Christian
Knowledge. Although written with refer
ence to another climate than ours, yet it con-
tains valuable hints appliable just as well to
our isles, where birds are scarce whilst their
merciless enemies are numerous.
Birds are friends and not enemies to agri-
culture. Their destruction is not wise but
foolish-the farmer and gardener In the end
loose by it. Nude well remarks on this
point - "The uses Of birds, not merely In
wild nature but In conjunction with man, as
he cultiyates the garden and the field, are
worthy of being observed and admired. We,
in our Ignorance, often regard them as pests,
and as such destroy them In the most assidu-
oUs manner, deeming every feathered crea-
ture which we deprive of life as SO much
certainly added to the produce Of our horti-
culture and our farming; but we little know,
while we are acting thus, that we are sacri-
ficing the guardians Of our vegetable wealth,
and giving protection and scope to It's des-
troyers. The whole Of nature Is replenlshed
with the germs Of small life In a condition
ready to be developed the instant the state of
heat and moisture accords with their devel-
opement A means Of preventing their ex-
traordinary increase, more efficient than any
human contrivance, Is therefore absolutely
requisite in order to preserve that relative
balance which Is essential for the system Of
nature.
EVERY bud, every creyice In bark, very
many roots, all the pools and slow streams,
and all animal and vegetable matters in a state
ofdecay, are full of the rudiments ofsmall ami
mails in some state or other; and these rudl-
ments are awakened so easily, and by causes
so little open to common observation, that II
there were not some eounteracting power,
our gardeners might, In the course Of a single
season, be left without blossom, our forests
without leaf, and our fields without blade
Of grass, a spike OF corn, or an esculent root.
II this once took place vegetation would be
gone, save the poisonous fungi which might
be Dourished by the remains Of the destroy
ers. Hence the incalculable advantage of
birds. Almost all birds feed on insects, mol
luscious animals, such as snails and slugs,
and worms, though many have recourse 10
other food at certain seasons; but even then
birds which feed upon seeds are Of service,
and the focks which throng the cornfelds
and pastures during Winter pick up the
seeds of the various plants which, If allowed
TO remain, would spring up the following
season and choke the more valuable crops"
II is well and truly said by the Editor Of
the Cottage Gardeners Dictionary, that birds
are benefactors as well as iBjurers to the gar
dener. They destroy millions Of grubs, cat
erpillars, and aphides, which would have raw
aged his crops; but At the same time, some
commit havoc on his fruit and seed The
wisest course, consequently, is to scare them
from the garden at such times, or from the
portions oft from which they can be pre-
Judicial, but to leave them TO visit IL unfno-
Tested whenever and wherever they cannot
be misehleyous- Thus, in early spring,
boy win drive them away during the time
the bud Of the gooseberry, eurrant and plum
are open to their attacks. and again during
the time the cherries are ripe. To keep them
from the fruit Of late goOseberries or cur
rants, il Is sufficient 10 lnferIacc thichiy the
bushes with red worsfed. To keep them
from attacking peas and other vegetables,
just emerging from the soil, similar display
Of white cotton or thread, fastened from pegs
about six inches from the surface, Is suficl-
emily deterring. Nets, where available, are
also good guardians By fhese aids. but
especially By watching during certain sea-
sons. the gardener may protect himself from
Injury at very trihing expence, without de-
prigiDg himself Of the services Of the most
sharp-sighted, most u1wenrying, and most
successful Of all insect-killers.