Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-08-25
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UNHONORED FRIENDS.


ANIMALS, Birds and Insects and Their Re.
lations to Agriculture.
lhcro still exist among farmers
many Ia2y IDEAS as to what are their
friends and what their foes in the ami.
mai world, That insects in general
lMI IN the latter category is Il very
commonly received idea, but few BEING
aware that some of our best insect
ucslroE"rs are themselves insects. and
mat certain Of the predaceous and
parasitic ones form the most efficient
chceh TO the Increase Of the noNious
members OF tho class. The same nm
certainty rs to the true relations of
plrds ana mammals 10 our agricultural
interests prevails almost universally.
mere is probably no more beneficial
Wlld animal living in America than
'he skunk, and yet from time imme-
moral he has been shot on sicht and
logged and hunted whenever ood
Wherever he appears. II is true that
ms method OF defense is unpleasant
put ne never molcsts those who let
nm alone. His Legitimate business
N winch he does an untold amount of
good is digging up and dcvouring the
common grub worm, the larvno of Locb.
"os'''"' J"Se"' Il pest TO all grass land
ana II curse in straw berry beds. When
eggs ana very young chickens are left
exposed he will naturally avail him
sen OF inns nor abundant supply of
food, and who blamcs himp
In the same way the true status If
the birds Of prey has never been fair
~ comprchcnded, or has been persist
ehtly denied, Hawks and owls hovo
peon shot and trapped whenever oppor-
tuhlty has offered ever since mankind
began to keep poultry, and the reason
given Is That they catch young chicks
Inc same course Of reasoning would
Justify a farmer in killing his cattle
because they break through a weak
spot IN the fence and dcvour his cor,.
or IN shooting his hens because tbc,
scratch up his lettuce bed in the cnr-
den The amount of damage sustained
by the farmer from the ~deprcdations Of
the great family of field mice and tboir
allies Is not easily estimated, but tbo
loss oil n few chickens can be reckonod
WIN accuracy, so that only one side of
inc account appears, while the credit |
eoiuinn, which does not appear. is nv
lar the heavier of the two. Tho hi,.,i.
OF prey constitute the principnI ma
almost only efficient check upon ,hn
increase of destructive vermin. va,
pounties are offered by States for tho
determination of these conservation. Of |
the farmers crops.
what man OF boy ever let's a snail,
escape If it is possible to kill itp W.,
OF us can tell whether we ,re
killing q friend or foe? We nr,sns
'he race re~morselessly and do onr has,
10 exterminate it, but when asked fo,.
our reason or upon what data we rol,.
ior our Justification, we have notbinn
or at most very little. to saw. ms -
extensive or systematic ohserva,ions
upon the food habits of snakes b,,s
yet been made. nave
The farmer has probably more corso
10 complain of damage from insect
nan any thing else in the amin,
slhgdom, and it behooves him, there.
lore' to know just where he can my
'ure help in the destruction NJ n
pests One of Natures mos, omaie"
cheoks upon their increase is fo,,a
ne olrds that are, with but faw
'ept'ons' the friends of the f.rm"~
'nu should he encouraged and n~ro,aa.
INN upon all occasions. Care
observations will confirm the abov.
.f"sr'sa" AarieuuurI,t