The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-01-23
Words of Caution.

We are permitted to publish the fol.
lowing paper. recently read before one
OF our oranges. as apropos tn the idea
If some thoughtlcss farmers who pso-
pose to make war upon tho rest OF man
kind. indiscriminately:
1t is one of the wise laws of the Crea-
tor that every living thing on the face
OF the earth-whethcr animal or vegeta-
ble-has TO struggle for existence; and,
as the farmer is thrown directly in con-
tact with nature-by reason of his occu-
patiOn--he has tn exercise his wits al
most constantly in order to preserve the
balance of power in favor Of those ami
MAJ and vegetable productions that are
| most useful to him. Our fruits and fruit
trees have numerous enemies-insects,
animals and birds. Each one OF these
in turn have their ns:ural enemies. The
insects are preyed upon by birds Of al
most every description. and by various
kinds of animals, such As mice, moles,
skunks, &C., and also by other insects.
The birds, in turn, have tleir enemies,
and are preyed upon by all kinds OF ami
mails and other birds of prey. Some of
these birds that are useful 10 man. by
destroying noxious insects and their
larvae, are also his enemies. They eat
his fruits, grain, &c: and it j. n difficult
matter for man to tell just which partic-
ular birds are his friends or his enemies;
whether they do sufficient good in de-
stroying noxious insects to ovcrbalance
the evil they do in DESTROYING grain,
fruit, &c. There are some thoughtful
and observing men who claim that
moles, mice, skunks, &c, destroy a suffi-
cient quantity OF insects, and the larvae
Of insects that are injurious to vegeta-
ton, 10 more than overbalance all the
harm they do, ana that the farmer
should think twice before he destroys
them. There are various kinds of in
sects that are useful to the %cultivator,
because they destroy other insects that
are injurious TO his vegetables, fruits,
&C.; and again it becomes a nice matter
OF discrimination TO tell just what insects
are injurious and which are useful. 1t
is thought of so much importance that
our State has employed one Of the most
learned and scientific men in the country
as State E~ntomologist, for the purpose
of a>ccrtaining just what insects are in
furious, and what are beneficial; and of
ascertaining the best mode of %cOntending
with and destroying those that are in
furious; and also of a%scertaIning those
that are the c~ultrvator's friend, that he
may be able to spare, preserve and pro-
tect them. Among our native birds OF
prey, there are some that are the posi-
tive enemy of the farmer, some that are |
beneficial, and some of Il doubtful char |
acter. There are some well informed
men who contend that the owl family are |
all positively beneficial; tina. they de-
stroy rats. mice, and other vermin sufii-
Client to more than compensate for what
few poultry they purloin from man.
Man is no exception to the foregoing
rule. He has to struggle continually for
his existence and supremacy; and, like
the inferior portion of animated nature,
some portion of mankind is continually
proving on the rest OF humanity; and
among this class every species of ami
mated nature has its representative, the
different characters of which it would
take q volume to delineate. While some |
prey on their fellow beings altogether,
and have no ~redeeming qualities, there
are others Of doubtful utility and some
that are, in the long run beneficial.
Now, brother Patrons. in our work of |
exterminating those insects, birds, and
beasts of prey. in the shape Of man
that devour our substance, let us be very
careful To discriminate between our
friends and our foes. Let us be very |
particular in our efforts to slay the
greedy cormorant that is gorging itself |
our flesh and blood, and not, through
mistake. Kill 1.-THE goose that laws the
Coded egg"