The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-05-17
From the Horticultural College.
'rrespondence Of The True Northerner.

From the .9grfcmIfnraI College.
Correspondence Of The True Northerner
Our predictions Of the weather at our las
writaDg proved exactly wrong. We predicte
fair weather, and it has rained every day. II
generally believed by meteorologists that thi
Will be wet season. Those who have erie
out 30 bitterly against such wanton and reck
ess destruction of forests, as the pioneers O
Michigan are guilty Of, claim for their defenc
that it brings more rain for few years which
are followed by droughts whose severity is il
direct proportion to the amount of forest OF
given area. They claim it tends to briu.
about fewer wet, and more dry years. AsC
that in dry years the rain is not distributed
throughout the year, but falls within less time
and go more runs off over the surface and less
settles into the ground. 1t makes in the course
OF years the difference between a fertile and
an unproductive country What we're once
the garden spots of the world are now barren
wastes. Where once rain was regular and
rendered the soil productive now ii seldom
falls aud there is no vegetable growth to quick
en-. So says the meteorologist and it is no
doubt true. 1t doesn't seem possible that
within half century 80 much forest timber
could have been DESTROYED in the west. as to
make the difference in the regularity Of the
ram that there is between now and 1926. In a
series OF years. statistics show that as much
falls, but 1t is not spread out enough. II such
a destruction of the forest as we have seen IN
our own state has such an influence as this we
may wish and even make laws to check 1t as
much as possible. There Is no object in get
ting large amount OF cleared land il by that
very act we are gong to destroy Its utility in
directly. Much could be said on this subject
and 1t Is worthy OF all the attention it receives.
DR.. Kedzie gives it very scientific discussion
in his lectures IN meteorology
A great deal of pains is being taken by the
authorities here to prevent the destruction Of
birds in this vicinity. and make for them a
quiet home on the college grounds So deslr-
Gus OF having the birds feel at home here. are
they. that when they want bird for dissection
In zoology they go off OF the grounds and
shoot them where people care nothing for their
presence. The songs Of the birds have been q
subject OF admiration in all ages but modern
scientific Investigations have led men who
think but little Of these finer qualities, to
solicit their presence from a pscunisry point
Of view. They believe them to be our most
efficient insect warriors Most OF our ipjuri-
GUS insects are fed upon by birds 1t would
astonish one who never tried it to examine the
crop OF q newly killed bird to see. in some,
even hundreds Of the destructive insects. The
robin is undoubtedly the best friend the farmer
has in insect warfare-still the boys shoot them.
destroy their nests aud kill their young. II
the bird laws are enforced, and. better still
people learn to like the birds and become will
ing to see them live, the question OF injurious
insects may. perhaps, be greatly smphied.
The Wednesday afternoon oratlons OF last
week. By the third division of seniors. were as
follows: Earn your money, Bert Robinson. Of
Detroit: Party or no party, Frank Robson. OF
Lansing; Does 1t Pay Chas. Shilling. Sturgls
Age Of Reason Not Past, Clement Strong, Char
lotte; Obstacles to Scientific Investigation.
Jim Troop, Ionia; Political Slander. Sat Trow-
bridge. Birmingham; Good Manners, +. D. A.
True, Armada: Tendencies of Our country.
Dick Guley, Dearborn; Governments Ancient
and Modern, Carl Hlnman. Portland: A Fair
Example. Deck Sessions Ions.
Among the speakers for Junior exhibition
in August, and drawn from those whose
average standing is above II, We notice in the
10, the following three, from Van Buren, coun-
ty: w. S. and W. L. Thomas Decatur. and
Clifton Charles, Bangor.
The first vacation Of this year begins next
Tuesday noon and continues for one week
Just long enough for us to come home, say
how do you do, and good bye. Several stu
dents will spend their vacation with their class
mates in Van Buren, county.