Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1871-12-02
NEWPORT, SATURDAY, DEC. 2, 1871.

years before, much if not all this great loss
would have beeu saved.
The loss by the May chaffers in three dis
tricts of the Hartz Mountains was estimated
to be in 1866 one and Il half millions of dol
lars and this is not an unusual loss so fur us
am aware, and yet in these same districts
some of the most useful birds are prescribed.
If there is n race of beings on earth that is
projected from destruction by its relations to
the general enconomy of nature that race is
that of the birds. Vengeance swift and ter
rible descends upon those who will not learn
that they are important, nay even necessary
to the success of all agricultural pursuits.
While we may be much aided by those in
sects that destroy others of their kind, we
must rely chiefly on the birds, and in so do
ing we shall lean upon no broken reed
While man stands aghast mt the prospects be-
fore him, us he contemplates his insect foes
the birds are ready and eager and able tC
to help him if only he will allow them to dc
so. Rapid us is the increase of insects. the
birds, if unmolested, will generally keeI
them in check. Dr. Brewer gives an in
stance or two to show the efficiency of the
aid birds can give, that | cannot resist the
desire to quote. In the fall of 1868 there WA.
great cry from the Southern seaboard state:
that the cotton worm was running the crops
The worms had appeared over so large III
extent of country that it seemed hopeless t.
attempt to exterminate them, but just ut thi
time the Bobolinks passed along the region
OF. iaci' South Sard journey and, instcal o
as usual visiting the rice fields, they went u
the cotton fields and in II few hours the evi
| that had seemed irremediable, was removed
and the crops saved. Again in the Spring O
1867 the Grasshoppers were Matching i'll sucl
numbers in IL part of Kansas that the crop
seemed doomed to speedy ruin, but just Il
this time large tlocks of the Yellow-heade'
Black Bird passed through the region ant
entirely destroyed the insects. Many suc
instances might be given, all showing tn
great benefits the birds are all the while con
ferring upon the agriculturists.
i should not treat this subject fairly if
passed over some birds of II different dispos
ton from those heretofore mentioned.
must be admitted, think, by most observer
: that there are injurious birds. And yt
among these there are some, if not all, tia
have valiant defenders. The number of spC
cies that may be set down rs injurious is NJ
; very large but some of them are very numel
Gus in individuals, and us they assemble
!, large flocks they may do considerable dam
age There are common in Vermont fou
, different species of Blackbirds. Some {
= these do very little damage to the crops, IN
; do much good by destroying insects. 5
, much evil do they prevent that in some cas-,
where they have been placed under the ba
a and indiscriminately slaughtered, there hay
! followed extensive and destructive depred;
= tions from grubs and worms. But the mo-
common of all the Blackbirds is that calle
! Crow Blackbirds These birds descend upo
-, the cornfelds in large flocks, pulling up an
, swallowing the grain with great gusto, an
= again when it is in the milk they tear ope
n the husks and prevent many an ear tro
,, , ever coming to maturity. And yet with a
: their faults they destroy great many il
sects.
@ As to the Crow there is considerable di
G cussion. DR.. Brewer contends, in an art
t Gle in the Atlantic Monthly, that the Crow
$ on the whole, II useful bird, but other natll
: alists doubt the correctness ofthis conclusit
$ and it seems reasonable to believe that Il
t Crow does far more harm than good
+ the winter and early spring Crows live a
It most wholly upon insects, and of course du
Il ing this time they are beneficial In May
!. early June they busy themselves in pullil
v up corn, sometimes making it necessary