Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-11-16
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UNHONORED FRIENDS.
Animals. Birds and Insects and Their Re-
latlons to Agriculture.

Iatlons to Agriculture.
There still exist among farmers
rnany 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 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 UNI
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. II 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 Lach-
nostcrnd tusca, n pest to all grass land
and curse in strawberry beds. When
eggs and very young chickens are left
exposed he will naturally avail him
self OF this more abundant supply OF
food, and who blames himp
II, th., "a.
the birds OF prey has never been fair
ly comprehended, or has been persist
entity denied. Hawks and owls have
becn 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;
,r in shooting his hens because they
scratch up his lettuce bed In tho gar
len. The amount Of damage sustained
~ the farmer from the depredations OF
The great family Of field mice and their
allies is not easily estimated, but the
oss OF few chickens can be reckoned
With accuracy, so that only one side of
he account appears, while the credit
column. which does not appear, is by
ar the heavier Of the two. The birds
IF prey constitute the principal and
almost only efficient check upon the
increase OF destructive vermin, vet
bounties are offered by States for the
determination of these conservators of
the farmers crops.
What man or boy ever lots snake
sscape II 1t is possible to kill ite Yet
sho OF us can tell whether VIC are
Killing II friend or foep We pursue
the race remorselessly and do our best
TO exterminate 1t, but when asked for
our reason or upon what data we rely
or our justification, we have nothing,
or ut most very little. to say, rs no
extensive or systematic observations
upou the food habits OF snakes have
yet boon iaadc
Tbs farmer has probably more cause
to complain OF damage from insects
than any thing else in the animal
kingdom, and it 5ehooves him, there
fore, TO know just where he can pro-
cure help in the destruction of these
pests. Quo OF Natures most efficient
checks upon their increase IL found in
the birds TINT are, with but few ex-
ceptions, tho friends OF the farmer,
and should be encouraged and protect
cd by him upon all occasions. Care
ful observations will confirm the above
statement. --AmerIsqt .Agriculturist