Rocky Mountain husbandman., 1876-11-23

!
Montana.
Our conscientious course having already
won for us high standing among our con-
temporaries, we will continue in the same
straight path of duty, relying upon fighting
the battles of labor, and the same intrinsic
merit which has already broughtus triumph
anhy thus fur, to carry us through. Delhi
crate, untramelled, fearless, and self-reliant,
owing allegiance only to the invincible
truth, we deferentially and with all due re-
spect ask and trust that an apprecative pub
lie will 90 with us another year
WE publish on our first page synopsis of
the work performed at the Grasshopper
Convention held in Omaha last month, and
would reterour readers to careful consid-
Grafton ofwhat has been proposed. Mon
tana was not represented, but no State or
Territory is more deeply interested in the
great problem than we are, and we feel that
it is the duty of our people to enter into the
war against these pests simultaneously with
the people of our sister States and Terri
tories. BY united effort something may be
accomplished. Then let all interested move
at once.
Any one who has made agriculture a
study for the past decade cannot fail to see
the rapid increase of the plague. No one
who has any knowledge of the poverty and
suffering which it has caused in Minnesota,
Kansas, Colorado, Dacota and Montana,
but feels the necessity of immediate action
to arrest it, and restore this most pro-
ductive and beautiful region to its former
prosperity.
We desire particularly to call the atten-
ton of our Legislature to the resolutions
adopted by this Convention, and ask that
they take some action in the premises. 1t
may not seem ineXpedient i'll the present
embarrassed condition Of the country to levy
a tax to raise fund to offer as bounty for
the destruction of 'hoppers, but we GER
tainly think that an amendment to the game
law, so as to afford protection tor all kinds
OF birds. can meet with no serious objection.
Many garden has been saved by the indus
try of the barnyard tlocks; hence, if wild
fowls are protected they will increase SO
that in few years they will become valua-
bic as grasshopper eXterminators. Under
the present law, birds can never become
very numerous, as the sportsman is allowed
to commence his wholesale slaughter when
they are about half grown and are quite as
tame as domestic birds.
70 protect the feathered tribe for period
Of tan cnl111 fhiply n
vantageous effect, while it is highly proba-
BILE that they may render efficient service in
the great warfare against the farmers worst
enemy. We trust our Legislators may give
this matter due consideration before the
body conyenes, that they may have their
minds fully made up and pass an act for the
protection of birds-one with a sufficient
penalty attached thereto to warrant its OBJ
servance.
The British Arctic expedition, under
Capt Mares, has returned to Valentia, and
reports that they failed to preelppt that
frosty land, or even pluck a twig from that
frigid sapling. The reason assigned is, that
the Ice was too thick, the nearest point
reached being about tour hundred miles. 1t
seem that Capt Mares says President land
does not exist, and otherwise disagrees with
the reports of former explorers, which has
brought DIR. Hayes out with lengthy letter
where he doubts the courage and vcracity
OF the English Captain, and attempts to
prove that the northern passage is open, and
the sea is clear. Since the appearance of
his letter, however, it seems that the great
question is about to be settled, tile Swedes