Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-27
TREES, sPARROWs AND WORMS.
The Green Worm whose Shell DeAea
the sparrow.


HIN AS USEFUL DENIxKN OF CITY PARKS
HOW THE TREES ARE PROTECTED, &C.
A pugnacious little British sparrow stood In
thoughtful contemplation OF little bunch OF
string and straw tangled together, that the
March w2nd had blown across HIS path. He had
. tiny feather in his beak, that he had inst
picked from the head Of the last bird that had
disputed his claim to the prize. He looked at
the pile. and then, with his little black eye.
measured the distance to = neighboring tree, In
the crotch of which peeped out q few sticks and
straws. After Q careful calculation he grabbed
one end Of the string In his strong beak and
struggled OF towards the tree, the bunch OF
reached the higher limb be let his burden drop
TO the ground and perched upon the branch,
picking his feathers and looking down at it in
Then something hanging the farthest end Of
little branch caught hts eye, and he few Off to
oblong pod, about two inches long, made OF small
twigs and the pulp OF leaves. fastened together
with q sort of glutinous web. and was the home
interior until the time when the green leaves
should begin TO sprout; The sparrow knew the
| 1t, hanging by o slender thread from the twig,
| like an old-fashioned pendent earring. But Il
was too much TOR him all alone, and he chirped
peared. Then they. both attacked the pod at
once, and II tumbled TO the ground, both dart
it %tS
the walls were too hard and the big green
| worm slept safely inside. Giving up the
which was lying but short way OF, and they
both took hold OF it at once and few into the
srAs Sap picked up the pod and
| the worm that eats SO many OF the green leaves
| from the shade trees.
| porter q few minutes later of Mr.. Smith, the
parking commissioner, who was STOPPING ovei
In the Botanic garden TO pluck bug from 9
plant.
sob, the green worm. Yes, they are very
destructive to the trees Get rid of them? Oh
the tn, spa sI, are doing that for us; You know
| he does not act the thorough gentleman in all
his relations in life, but he is altogether fine
| city. In the country I'll admit he is not desira
BILE, but he is very useful in town gardening.
but, it's said, !" suggested the reporter, that
| the sparrow don't eat this particular worm"
ayes, know 1t is said; but he does. How
ever we don't rely on him. The trees are bare
now and these pods can be seen bending on tho
branches. We have men go around and gather
them, so that they may be destroyed before
they hatch out. They are somewhat numer
they are not near as many as they were. The
sparrOws have been destroying them quite
rapidly. The only trouble is that the bird,
can't break the pods, so have to wait until they
| hatch out. have seen them, two at q time
pick away and try to break the shells; but they
are too hard. They pick them up and shake
and pound them around like a dog will rat
They attack them ferOciously.
| 1.-The sparrow has done y wonderful amount
OF work." he continued, after a short pause
During the twelve years he has been with u.
he has almost rid the trees of worms We have
SO many trees here in Washington that this IL
great thing. Why you used TO see the worms
| lying all over the pavements under the trees
and they'd drop down your back when you
were IN the parks OF evenings. The leaves on
| the trees would be full of holes, and many o.
the branches would be stripped. The sparrows
have eaten up millions OF worms during the
| past twelve years. But, as say, he must be
kept in the city. When he goes into the coun
| try the farmer ought to make pot pie OF him, sc
as to get the good OF his grain. In the city We
can't do without him. We are busy with the
trees all the time during the spring and sum
mer, and he is a great help to US. The men are
at work particularly to kill off these green
worms. don't know exactly what their method
u.s. Prof. iley has prepared some sort OF wash to
Kill them. They were experimenting with that
last year. l don't Know whether IL worked
and they are using it now or not, but they arc
at work on them in some way"
"Are you setting out many new trees?' asked
| the reporter.
1--WE keep right up with the engineers As
| fast as the streets are ready We plant out the
| trees. We are engaged now in planting the
| anti-malaria trees along the streets near the
| river and along the low lands. 1t is q grea
| tree. 1t absorbs all the moisture aud drinks IL
| the malaria from the atmosphere.