The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-05-26
FIELD AND HOME.

NE hODlN AMI SOihSH
pondent of the Country Gentleman, as re-
CARDS the robin, writes thus: | feel
called upon to give my experience, as a
unit of public sentiment. Ihad choice
grapery, one hundred and fifty feet in
length, in the city of Rochester, which
came into bearing in the fall of 1875
Deep lots on two streets backed together,
and many fruit trees formed a harbor,
in which the robins took shelter. As
soon as the grapes became palatable the
robins "opened on them" A single bird
would, in three minutes time, destroy
every bunch of grapes within reach of
where she happened to alight Being
Out of business at the time, l personally
attempted to keep the birds at bay. 1t
required my entire time by day to pass
along the trells and throw stones, and
then the robins would get in at one end
while l was at the door. 1t was surpris-
ing how bold they soon became.
Having become wearied in body,
famed in my arm, and finally stirred in
my temper at seeing my fruit destroyed
in spite of my efforts to protect it, |
called two girls-employed in the
house-and told them to pass continually
along the trellis while | went down town
for more effective means of protection.
Having hastily procured a six chamber
revolver and box of fine hot cart
ridges, l returned to the field of action.
A large flock of robins were in the berry
briers, hopping about, waiting for an OPP
portunity TO get at the grapes not two
rods distant. Drawings fine sight on the
nearest one and firing, ! had the salts
faction of seeing her futtering in her
last agony. They soon learned that
the range of my weapons was much ex-
tended.
In face of the game laws, and of city
ordinance against discharging firearms
within the corporation, | continued to
lay the robins low for two autumns. |
was not complained of except that my
neighbors said Ipetted the robins in the
spring and shot them in the fall. took
the position that, if complained of, and
the executive did not remit the fine, |
would demolish my grapery, and berry
brlers too for that matter and did not
believe that the authorities would adhere
to course that would drive from the
city these appendSges of beauty and
luxury. 1t was suggested that robins
made an excellent eating, and l had
some of them cooked, but they had SO
strong taste that we threw them away,
and | enriched my vines by digging holes
and putting the birds into them.
If the ill-advised game law were re-
pealed, and some one could suggest a
way of cooking robins to make them
eatable, they might serve a double pur-
pose, by cheering us in the spring, when
their songs are most acceptable and
when they are most given to song, and
IN the fall serve us as do doves or tame
pigeons-in a stew.
BIRD HoUsEs.-By the erection of
bird-houses, wrens, martins and blue
birds, wholly insectiverous birds, will
occupy the premises and tend to keep
away robins, catbirds and cherry birds,
which are as destructive to small fruits
as to insects. There is another class of
birds that live in great measure on the
insects that destroy those we wish to get
rid of-such as the crow and the black
bird, and for that reason should be dis
couraged. Our most useful and beneficial
bird is the wren, which lives principally
on millers, which produce worms that
destroy our fruit and the foliage of our
trees. The next most useful is the blue
bird; next the ground birds and chip
ping birds. If these were plenty our
fruit would be less injured, and the ex.
pense of bugging lessened.
o.. NEwREMEDY FOR CHICKEN CHOLERA.
IS. l.. Mccormick furnishes an ex-
change with the following important in
formation: / will give your readers my
treatment for chicken cholera. About
one month ago my chickens took the
cholera, and having tried all remedies I
could hear of without any good results,
and knowing that boiled oats are a sure
cure for sours in young stock when fed
to the mothers, 1 concluded to try the
same for my chickens. I quit feeding
corn to my chickens and fed them boiled
oats for few days. Those who were too
sick to eat, l drenched with the water
IN which the oats were boiled. The re-
suit was that every one of my chickens
got well. l have been feeding boiled
oats once or twice week since, and they
all remain healthy and in good condition.
1t any of your readers have chickens with
the cholera, l trust they will give my
treatment good trial.
Home Receipts.
GINGER SNAPs.-One-quarter pound