The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-02-06
The SparrOws.

The individual who in ignorant pursu-
ance of Il hobby introduced or helped ia
introduce the English 81 arrow into
America may comfort mself with
the idea that he has brought upon his
country an infliction which will cause
his name to be held in detestation by
every farmer in the land. When this
wicked, tyrann:cal, noisy, mischievous
and destructive bird was first introduced
/ tried in vain to utter warning
through d 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 pulled and good points at
tributed to him which he did not and
never did possess. while all his evil
habits were ignored. 1t is almost Ger
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 a 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 sparrow 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 focked upon the
shocks, and have torn the grain from
the ears; they have torn open the corn
husks and have dcvoured the milky
grain, and now that the corn is in
shock they may be counted by the hum
dreds in the corn-felds still stealing
the grain. This is their old trick, and
English farmers have been used to hire
boys with guns and men with nets a.
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 circumstances
in the cites, 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. Sparrows are not insect
eating birds. They devour the buds of
trees in winter and in summer devour
fruit, grain and seeds. They are, there
fore, out of the list of useful birds
They are, however, ', cry good eating.
They are 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 delicacy
when entombed under the crust of .
pie. 1t would be a piety to turn them
to this use here, and as farmers are un-
doubtedly justified in saving their crops
from the despoilcrs, they can not only
do 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 rosated
in the oven. Cor. N. 7. Times.