The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-11-16
The SparTOWs.

The individual who in ignorant pursu.
ancc of IL hobby introduced or helped tc
introduce the English 81 arrow into
America may comfort II mScif with
the idea that he has brought upon his
country an infliction which will cause
his name to be held in hctestation by
every farmer in the land. When this
wicked, tyrannical, noisy, mischievous
and destructive bird was first introduced
1 tired in vain to utter q warning
through a popular agricultural journal.
But rs that would have been going
against the current Of popular feeling
just then my suggestions were sup.
pressed and instead the little pest was
pIaised and puilcd and good po nt5 at
trlbutcd to him which he did not ard
never did POSSESS. while I'll his evil
habits were ignored. Ii is almost Ger.
tain that the only service which he WIS
believed to have | crfOrmcl was i'm no
case his work, but the result o. natural
agencies, which arc always o} O. alivc TO
reduce the number of insect rests when
they, at times, become unusually
humrrous. The sparrow WIS brought
mere TO destroy the measuring worms
which lnicStcd the trees OF the Eastern
cities lie came, and the worms went.
AND IT was supposed the sparrows de-
vourod them. The present year we
have had perfect dclu9e Of worms and
inc trees have Lccn SO overwhelmed
with them that thousands have been de-
Tnvcd OF their leaves. These are the
iall Wcb-WormS, which leave their
webs when fully grown and spread
everywhere. They dcvour the leaves
Of eims, poplars, willows, p!uns, cher
rics. apples, Virginia crreNCr and other
trees and plants, and they have swarmrd
over houses and into them so as TO have
teen swept out with the broom. But
nary s 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 dcvourcd tic
gram; they have tockrd upon the
shocks, and have torn the grain from
the eanF Ihcy have torn open the corn
huSks AMI have dcvourcd the milky
grain, and now that the corn is in
sheck they may be counted by the hun
the gran. This is their old trick, and
English farmers have been used TO hirc
boys with guns and men with nets to
destroy the pests by thousands to save
their crops. And we must soon do tho
same thing.
Legislatures have passed laws pro-
tectlng these pests, urged thereto by
pcr<ens OF the Same type rs those mis-
guided and ignorant ones who have
procured laws by which farmers are
prevented from selling pure sweet
skinned milk under any circumstances
IN the cities. TO the infinite loss and det-
riment of thousands Of poor children
who would find in it wholesome and
cheap, article of food. The farmers
should insist upon having these laws
abolished. Sparrowe are not insect
eating birds. They devour the buds Of
trees i'll winter and in summer dcvour
fruit grain and seeds. They are, there
tore, out of the list of useful birds.
They are, however, very good eating.
They arc always plump and fat and are
as good game as the reed birds. They
are sold in the English and French
markets, and are accounted delicaey
when entombed under the crust of q
pie, 1t would be piety to turn them
10 this use here, and as farmers arc un-
doubtedly justified in saving their crops
from the despoilers, they can not only
40 this, but secure an agreeable varia-
ton from the frequent pork and bacon
by shooting or trapping them and hav-
ing them served up in pies or rosatcd
In the oVen.-C0r. N. l. Times.