Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-10-27
The Sparrows.

The individual who in ignorant pursu-
ance of hobby introduced or helped to
introduce the English sparrow into
America may comfort b mself with
the idea that he has brought upon his
country an infiiction which will cause
his name to be held in detestation by
every farmer in the land. When this
wicked, tyrannical, noisy, mischievous
and destructive bird was first introduced
tried in vain to utter n warning
through popular agricultural journal
But as that would have been going
against the current of popular feeling
just then my suggestions were sup
pressed. and instead the little pest was
praised and pufled and good pc nts at
tributed to him which he did not and
never did possess, while all his evil
habits were ignored. 1t is almost cer-
tain that the only service which he was
believed to have performed was in no
case his work, but the result of natural
agencies, which are always operative to
reduce the number of insect pests when
they, at times, become unusually
numerous. The sparrow was brought
here to destroy the measuring worms
which infested the trees of the Eastern
cities. He came, and the worms went.
And it was supposed the sparrows de-
voured them. The present year we
have had perfect deluge of worms and
the trees have been so overwhelmed
with them that thousands have been de-
prived of their leaves. These are the
fall web-worms, which leave their
webs when fully grown and spread
everywhere. They devour the leaves
of elms, poplars, willows. plums, cher
ries, apples, Virginia creeper and other
trees and plants, and they have swarmed
over houses and into them SO as to have
been swept out with the broom. But
nary arrow touched worm.
On the contrary, they have been en-
gagged in their natural work, which is
grain eating. They have broken down
the wheat and rye and devoured the
grain; they have flocked upon the
shocks, and have torn the grain from
the ears; they have torn open the corn
husks and have dcvoured the m ky
grain, and now that the corn is in
shock they may be coanted by the hun
dreds in the corn-iields still stealing
the grain. This is their old trick, and
English farmers have been used to hire
boys with guns and men with nets TO
destroy the pests by thousands to save
their crops. And we must soon do the
same thing.
Legislatures have passed laws pro
tecting these pests. urged thereto by
persons OF the same type as those mis-
guided and ignorant ones who have
procured laws by which farmers are
prevented from selling pure sweet
skinned milk under any circumstance
in the cities, to the infinite loss and det
riment of thousands of poor children
who would find in it wholesome ant
cheap article of food. The farmers
should insist upon having these law,
abolished. Sparrows are not insect
eat ng birds. They devour the buds o
trees in winter and in summer devou
fruit, grain and seeds. They are, there
fore, out of the list of useful birds
They are, however, very good eating
They are always plump and fat and ar,
rs good game rs the reed birds. They
are sold in the English and Frencl
markets, and are accounted delicacy
when entombed under the crust of
pie. 1t would be piety to turn then
10 this use here. and as farmers are un
doubtedly justified in saving their crop
from the despoilers, they can not onl,
do this, but secure an agreeable varia
tion from the frequent pork and bacoi
by shooting or trapping them and hav
ing them served up in pies or roasted
in the oyen.-COr NJ T. Times