Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-27
Birds and Trees.

Many causes nowadays are tending to
bring men into closer fellowship than here
tofore. Foremost among them is science.
Science belongs to no particular cline or
country. 1t ignores political boundaries
and national divisions; there is nothing in
/ it that is either sectional or sectarian. 1t
enlists mems sympathes on behalf of n
sublime object which beneficially reacts
on their dispositions. They who work to =
Gether in the search after truth learn to
think we'll of each other, and to feel kind
ly. International scientific conventions
are especially instrumental in promoting
| friendly relations and bringing to light a
community of interests when cannot but
be favorable to the furtherance of general
good harmony and good will.
One of the latest of these was held re-
Gently in the capital of Austria. Its OBJ
ject was to take action, or to prepare the
ground for future action, ON questions of
agricultural and forest economy, interest
ing alike to all nations. Delegates from
almost every part of Europe We're present,
and among the various subjects considered
and discussed were two which are sugges-
tive, and important enough to command
general attention.
The first relates to measures for the eff
cient protection of birds useful to agricul-
ture Appropriate legislation and the sl-
pervision of the state were considered the
best means of securing this end. DR..
Brehm, however remarked that another
method for preserving insectiverous birds
from destruction would be to extend a
knowledge of them among the people, and
to make thoroughly known the services
they render to agriculture. He proposed
to have work on natural history publish
ed, to which the most competent scientists,
and the best artists should contribute, and
which should treat of the animals and
plants of each country. He also pointed
to the necessity of preserving certain strips
of forests, where birds are in the habit O.
finding precious and Indispensable re-
fuge After a lively debate, it was decid
ed by the convention that it should be alb
solutelv forbidden to catch and kill insect
iverous birds-a complete list of which
is to be drawn up by an international com
mission; that the war even on graniverous
birds be prohibited from the 1st of Marcf
to the 18th of September; that the sale o
Iinsectiverous birds, dead OF alive, be al
ways forbidden, and that careful watcl
be kept for that purpose by the superin
tendents and police of public markets.
The other question related to the mean:
by which the ever-increasing devastation
of forests may be checked and stopped.
Every country needs a certain extent oy
wood land, not only to secure the necessar
supply of timber, but also in order to en-
Joy a regulated climate and temperature
1t is therefore necessary to ascertain wha
minimum of timbered land is indispensa
BILE to every region. This information
ought to be sought from an international
point of view, since the destruction o
trees 10 one country is liable to produce
injurious consequences to the fertility o
another. The preservation of forests, too
has special international importance
near the head-waters and on the banks o
large rivers, where it prevents too grea
variations in the depth of the water, thu
caving in of embankments, the inundatioI
of cultivated land, and similar accidents
These subjects are practical, and worth.
of careful consideration. There is scarce
ly any country where training of the peo
pie in regard to them, and regulations 70
guidance, are more needed than in this
An indiscriminate and inhuman war ha
: been waged for years on the birds of ou
fields, while the area of our woodland
has been dealt with in the most reckles
4 manner 1t is time, therefore, to discor
: tinue this course of wanton destruction
: and an attempt at devising proper RENE
dies should not pass unnoticed.-Nec Yor
. Times.