St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-10-20
UNHONOREO FRIENDS.
Animals. Birds and Insects and Their r.
lations to Agriculture.


lations to Agriculture.
There still exist among farmers
many hazy ideas as to what are their
friends and what their foes in the ami
NAL world. That insects in general
fall In the latter category is a very
commonly received idea, but few being
aware that some of our best insect
destroyers are themselves insects, and
that certain Of the predaceous and
parasitic ones form the most efficient
check to the increase of the noxious
members Of the class. The same I'M
certainty as to the true relations of
birds and mammals to our agricultural
interests prevails almost universally.
There is probably no more beneficial
wild animal living in America than
the skunk, and yet from time imme-
mortal he has been shot on sight and
logged and hunted whenever aad
wherever he appears. 1t is true that
his method Of defense is unpleasant.
but he never molests those who let
him alone. His legitimate business,
in which he does an untold amount of
good. is digging up and devouring the
common grub worm. the larva of Ldch-
nosterna fnsca, a pest to all grass land
and a curse in strawberry beds. When
eggs and very young chickens are left
exposed he will naturally avail him
self Of this moro abundant supply o.
food. and who blames him?
In the same way the true status OF
the birds Of prey has never been fair
ly comprehended, or has been persist
emily denied. Hawks and owls have
been shot and trapped whenever Oppor-
tunity has offered ever since mankind
began to keep poultry. and the reason
given is that they catch young chicks.
The same course OF reasoning would
Justify farmer In killing his cattle
because they break through weak
spot in the fence and devour his corn;
Or in shooting his hens because they
scratch up his lettuce bed in the gar
den. The amount of damage sustained
by the farmer from the depredations OF
the great family of field mice and their
allies is not easily estimated, but the
loss of a few chickens can be reckoned
with accuracy, so that only one side Of
the account appears, while the credit
column, which does not appear, is by
far the heavier Of the two. The birds
of prey constitute the principal and
almost only efficient check upon the
increase of destructive vcrmin, yet
bounties are offered by States for the
determination OF these conservators of
the farmers crops.
What man or boy ever lets q snake
sscape il it is possible to kill it? Yet
who of us can tell whether we are
killing a friend or foe? We pursue
the race remorselessly and do our best
to exterminate it, but when asked for
our reason or upon what data we rely
for our justification. we have nothing.
Dr. at most very little, to say, as NO
extensive or systematic observations
upon the food habits Of snakes have
yet been made.
The farmer has probably more cause
to complain Of damage from insects
than any thing else in the animal
kingdom, and it behooves him. there
fore. to know just where he can pro-
sure help in the destruction Of these
pests. One of Natures most efficient
checks upon their increase Is found in
the birls that are, with but few ex.
ceptions, the friends Of the farmer.
AID should be encouraged and protect
I'd by him upon all occasions. Care
ful observations vii; confirm the above
statement-Amsriean Agrieslturiss.