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

and to test them by full and candid observa-
ton and see whether they are true OF not.
1t has been impossible in the allotted time to
bring clearly into view eUery side of the
question; much more might be said in regard
to many points, hut while these have been
necessarily imperfecty treated, there has
been Il constant desire and purpose to bring
out fully those points which have the most
practical importance. All that could be said
against the usefulness of the birds treated
has been given, it is believed, its due weight,
and hat has been said on the question has
not been, intentionally mt least ovcrestimat-
ed. Certainly it is true that the arguments
brought forward have not been adduced for
the sake of any f;lvorlte theory nor out of any
sentimental regard for the beauty of the
feathered friends, but simply and solely be-
cause the facts in the case seem to support
them.
A great deal of sentimentalism in regard
to the beautiful plumage and the sweet songs
of the birds has been written, and most pa
tbetc appeals have been based thereupon to
induce people to cease their molestations.
This is all well in its place Certainly no
words can describe too wildly the exquisite
softness of cooring, the elegance and grace
fulness of form, or the righteousness of song
of very many of our birds; Longfellows
Birds of killinworth " is picture as true
rs it is poetical, hut sentiment, however well
tApItSSttl, CillnOI sunni IBillllSl Icll OF up-
parent self interest, and is not II firm founda-
ton for IA plain, sober argument, and in Il
paper intended not to amuse but to present
simple facts in their clearest light, there is
no place for such things. Not to the sympa-
thy, nor to the love of the beautiful, but to
the judgment and common sense is the APP
peal here made.
1t is not at all unlikely that many who will
see the statements just presented will recall
more than one observation of their own that
seems to conflict directly with them. While
in no way intending to declare such observa-
tions incorrect, l would remind you that they
may not be wholly conclusive. What has
been given as fact is the result, not of pass
ing observations, but of careful investigations
Very naturally nothing makes one more sure
of the truth of anything, than the fact that he
has seen it with his own eyes. Bht unfortu-
nately it is not every pair of eyes that sees
what is going on with scientific accuracy,
and in not few of natures operations APP
pearances are very deceptive, and so the in
ferences drawn from them must be errone-
Gus. Many an one looks merely ut the sur
face of things, imagines that he has seen all
there is, and acting accordingly, most reso-
lutely maintains that he is guided by the
teachings of nature. He may see wood
pecker drilling into tree and infers that it
is after sap, and is doing damages or, he sees
the Chickadee pulling of buds, and so sets
DOlil lntse DlIuS uOWIl It's Oily III lOT ucSlTUt-
ton, and usually includes in his list all that
resemble them. Observation and reasoning
of this sort are far too common, and the re-
suit of it is that thousands of dollars are lost
every year.
The relation of birds to agriculture is not
merely question involving the killing or
protecting few birds, but it involves the
welfare Of the agricultural interests of the
land, and if ut this time shall only succeed
in convincing few of the Importance of the
matter and so lead them to think of it and
investigate it for themselves, | shall be con-
tent.