The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-17

more than once through the agricultural
journals to beware of the ravages of the
sparrow. There is no doubt in my mind
but that they will feed upon insects when
they can get nothing else to eat, but they
will also become very destructive and inju-
rlous to the frllit-growcr in this country.
There is q great deal of sentiment about
birds. know that some of them are the
allies of the fruit-grower, but | was born
where the sparrows were pests in the worse
sense of the term; where they not only eat
the fruit, which we would be willing to
forgive, they feed also on the blossoms,
and so the subject comes up whether that
variety of bird will greatly benefit the
frnit-grower. / have a neighbor, and he
called me into his fruit garden and showed
me the blossoms of his trees all picked off;
he said that he had not seen any sparrows
around, but his place is only stones
throw from mine, and we had had quaint
ties Of them, and there was no doubt but
that the sparrow was the depredator. If
he would only eat the ripe fruit, ] would
say let him have it, as much as he can eat,
but when he eats the buds, then he is an
injury, and / fear that we shall regret that
they have ever passed out of the city.
Andrew Fuller-My brother brought out
two pair to our place and they have driven
all the rest of the birds away.
DR.. Weaver think that they will be
very serious injury to the country, although
it cannot be denied that they are a benefit
to the city. In England they are regarded
as a nuisance, and people are constantly
asking If there is not some way of destroy
ing them.
Mr.. Lyman-They were first introduced
in New York City, and have there proved
OF great benefit in the parks and along the
streets, but when taken out from this island
and carried abroad where they have access
to fruits, berries, and buds, they will do
more mischief than good.
Mr.. Fuller-Sparrows were introduced
when the trees swarmed with the SPAN
worm, but at that time it was mentioned in
the Brooklyn Club, if not here, that the
ichneumon fly had been seen, and that in
three years there wouldnot be span-worm
left but when the sparrows were intro
duced the span-worm disappeared, and they
got all the credit, while, in truth, they bad
nothing at all to do with the disappearance
of the worm, that being effected by the
ichneumon fly.
DR.. Weaver-This is very important
subject JUS now, because the question is
being discussed as to whether these birds
shall be carried into the country in greater
numbers than they have already been. Now,
as ! said bebre, it is fact that in England
they have proved very serious evil, and ]
think it would be well to warn farmers
against them
The Chair--The sparrows are bound to
extend themselves; they will be everywhere
in short time; they do not want to be inn
ported; they will be in California in twenty
years, and already they have been seen
thirty miles from the city.
DR.. Smith saw them in Squam last
summer.
The Chair-Well, | wish they would
stay in Squam if they are going to destroy
our fruit buds.
The BEST SUB-soILER.-H. Z. Abbott,
Syracuse, N. Y: Will you please inform
me where can buy the best sub-soil pillow
for running in the furrow behind another
pillow, for the purpose of loosening the earth
to the depth of twenty inches or more?
My farm is clay loan, with tight clay
sub-soil holds the water in the Spring.
saw, some two or three years ago, that DIR.
Grant had invented such pillow. | would
like to know where DR.. Grant lives; l wish
to purchase such pillow, and want the very
best in the market.
The Chair asked Mr.. Lyman to answer
the question.
Mr.. Lyman-The American Plow COM
pany of Beellmm street, are making large
pillow of the Grant pattern, not the largest
size, such as he showed here. There has
only one of that size been made; but
smaller one thst will pillow to the depth of
IS inches meets with fair sale. The large
size required 100 much force to draw it.
Probably his best plan is to write to r.
II. Allen &, Co., No. 191 Water street, N.
Y, for the lest device they have for rum
ming in the furrow behind another pillow and
stirring the clay to the depth of or
inches below the bottom of the first flrrow.
He wants 10 go 20 inches down at once
that is impracticable. If he gets inches
with the common pillow, and stirs 5 inches
deeper witha claw attachment, or with
Mapes's sub-soil litter, he will do well.
Then he will find that the roots of big
clover will go below his IL inches of soil,
and mellow, and darken, and improve that
light clay hardpan. The Grant pillow is
very effective, if he has two span of horses,
each horse weighing about 800, to hitch
on. But it inpe1fs the soil too much. What
he wants is tool that will claw up his SUBJ
soil, but not lift it atop and submerge his
soil.
STRAWBERRIES THIS Wharf.-The
Chairman announced two strawberry ex-
hibitions, one of Bliss 4 Son, at No. %
Park-place, New-York, on the 18th and
18th Of June and the other at Elizabeth on
the 14th and 10th of June.