The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-03-06
The Sparrow VS.. GrasshOpper.

One western state, or territory at least, i,
to make a systematic attempt to destroy the
plauge of the plains, which our readers are
doubtless aware is the insect commonly call
ed the grasshopper, but which is more prop
erly the locust. The fell destroyer which has
ravaged the fields of Kansas and Nebraska
eating the substance OF the people and Great
! ing u famine IN what has been called the
granary of the nation, has thus far met with
no opposition formidable enough to arrest his
march. Fire and smoke, flood and broom
have alike failed to stay the progress of this
modern sCOurge which sets on "conquering
and to conquer" Colorado, which has in the
last ten years attracted to itself the bravesI
sons and fairest daughters of the east, has re-
solved, however, not to be overrun without q
struggle, and she has summoned to her aid
that faithful ally of man in his warfare
against the insect family-the English spar.
row. A concerted movement to import large
numbers of these birds is now on foot in Den.
yer, ami the first importation, which will in
clude numerous orders, Will be made during
the summer. We predict success for the
plucky C)loradans. The sparrow is the NOR.
tai enemy of the grub, graSshopper and other
insects, for they are his favOrite TODD and his
appetite is voracious. Blu he will not prove
Wholly blessing, this saucy, cheerful little
stranger from over the sea. Like his fellow
British subject his natural cation is an easy
matter and he increases even more rapidly.
A few years ago, certainly not more than We,
500 of these little emigrunts were invited to
take up their abode In Philadelphia, to res
cue the shade trees in our streets and parks
from the ravages Of the disgusting grub that
breeds the chronological miller. The 800
did their work well, and the nuisance has
been abated and the danger is past, but there
are 5,0OJ,OOJ OF the birds now. They fill ev-
cry tree In the city with their nests, the streets
are fuller of them than they are of pcdestri.
ans, they forage in the backyard under the
nose of Biddy, and pick up their MONDAY
meals on the pavements without fear of the
small boy, All this is very agreeable to the
dwellers in the city. The sight OF the sturdy,
plump little fellows in brown Is not unpleas.
ant, and calls up associations fer which every
city man signs in vain; their innocent chirp-
ing is the sweetest of all sire sounds. We
give them the right way; some OF US train
vines and cultivate the clematis against the
bleak sides of our houses that they may have
a comfortable home; and we have sc n many
a housewife or clean-faced, tidy exile from
land near to the sparr0w's native isle, sweep
the crumbs that have fallen from her own or
her mistress table where the hungry seekers
after food might find them. Indeed, we have
taken the little strangers 10 our hearts and
fed them with our hands; but not so the far
mers hei eabout The sparrow has multiplied
and migrated, and all the coaRtry round alb pul
knows him, although not as well as we do.
Still we hear an occasional protest against
him from the agriculturist. Where he has
not the tender, juicy grub and rich sweeplngs
OF the Kitchen 10 cat and grow fat on he helps
himsplf TO the equally nuiritious Grain /, tba
husbandman 5 fields. The devices tina, in
timida;e the crow are wasted ON him, and he
breeds faster than the enraged buculc can
load and reload his gun. We do not wish TO
anticipate evil, bat wise men tell us that the
day will come when the farmers of the sub
urban counties will declare that the people of
Philadelphia opened = Pi,ndoia's box when
they swung back the doors of the cages IN
which the sparrows were imported. Sull.
this is something that worries The iownsman
in small degree; he has not the grub aud he
has the bird, a pleasant, cumpanonable sort
of q fellow, who has added another element 10
city life and given the STREETS IA new attrac-
ton. We believe the Culuradans will like
the sparrow too, and that he will rxieIninate
their pests. Certainly he will Increase us fast
rs the grasshopper. The so brought 10
i've years ago aud their descend
enis now number, or would numbrr, il a cen
sus were IakeB, more than 1900 ,O0J. IL
this flock could not cope With the largest
army of locusts that ever marched across the
plains and tell upen fair Nebraska aud free
Kansas. the people uf those unfortunate states
had best abandon their present homes and IN
Jne numerous caravan seek the EASTERN hank
ni the Mississippi river aud The Auaulic slope
philadelphia Press.