The National tribune., 1890-08-21
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

f-atfH
WHAT TO DO WITH THE ENGLISH SPARROW.
The English sparrow has very few friends
among fruit-growers and farmers, especially
near large cities, where he finds Congenial
shelter and multiplies very rapidly. We are
aware of all the objections that can be urged
against him as a city gnest-the befOuling of
buildings, the disagreeable noise, the destruc-
ton TO fruit and garden crops, etc; still, in
our rural home, where we receive tho almost
daily visits of flocks of these birds, and where
we know them TO have permanent breeding
and feeding grounds, we can notice but little
actual damage done by them. At times, in
periods of n week or two, both in Summer and
Winter. they help themselves to some of the
feed thrown out to poultry, or hop around in
tho back yard after crumbs of bread, etc. At
other times they seem to find all they want
elsewhere. They do not seem TO come after
their wheat ration when May beetles and
seventeen year locusts abound. They are quite
fond of these insects. On the whole, We are
also inclined to think that tho sparrow has to
serve as scape-goat for many sins committed
by other birds.
However this may be, popular sentiment is
decidedly against the English sparrow. Seven
States have enacted laws for its suppression.
Four of these States simply except it from the
protection afforded other birds New York
makes it a msdcmeanor to harbor protect
il, and Michigan even pays q bounty of three
cents for each sparrows head at the town
clerks offices.
Although the bird Is doing US no serious
damage, yet we believe that the excessive num-
Dor should be kept down. The bounty feature,
however, involves some risk that other and
useful birds are killed for sparrows and the
bounty claimed for them. recent bulletin
of tho Michigan Agricultural College Expert
ment Station names tho following birds as
| liable 10 be mistaken for the English sparrow
| Purple finch, red.polled linnet. yellow bird,
song sparrow, tree sparrow, field sparrow, and
| chipping sparrow.
While some birds of other families have
| heads somewhat like the English sparrow.
! they can always be distinguished from il by
| the form of the bill. Tho members of the
| thrush family have larger and more slender
! bills.
| No one should receive sparrows on bounty
| or prize that has not thoroughly studied the
! bird says Prof. G. II. Cook in the bulletin
| mentioned. Far too many of tho town clerks
| do not know the English sparrow's head from
| that Of linnet or thrush. As a result great
many birds that have been sent in for bounty
are most beneficial birds Thus many heads
|
was claimed, of such valuable birds as the
| song sparrow, red. polcd linnet, and evening
| grosheak-birds that Michigan laws protect by
| n fine of 50 against their slaughter. Every
! person presenting such a bird to the town
] Clerks Office should pay that penalty. The
| law does we'll 10 protect such valuable birds as
| tho song sparrow aud the red poll To sIaugh-
! ter them, AS has been done the past year, is a
| serious wrong to pay for so doing is absurd.
We have given this extract to show that
| putting premium on killing sparrows has ITS
| dangers aud may result in more harm than
good says Popular Gardening. Legislatures
must take this feature into consideration.
TURsIp CULTURE.
The Fall crop OF turnips is now one Of the
| most important to attend to at once. For the
| strap.lcat varieties month later will answer
| in the south. but northwaTd no time should be
| lost in getting the crop sown. Always SOW in
| drills If good turnps wanted Put the
| ground IN good order. then mark out burrows
/ with light plow. aud SOW good dressing OF
| superphosphate in the furFow Then turn a
furrow from each side over the first, making
| sharp ridge Now run roller down the
ridges, making them nearly fiat. aud SOW
l the seed on tho Gattened ridge with drill.
/ This will put the young plants ia Il better
| position for cultivation when small than II
| sown on the Cat surface. aud puts the fertilizer
right under them. For killing the Hullca, OF
flea. beetle, which sometimes deyours the whole
crop IN the young state. formerly used air.
slaked lime, but have Of late found n mixture
| of tobacco,dust aud acid phosphate. with one
per cent. of Paris green. the surest preventive
and insecticide. / have also used with sue
/ cess n mixture called "Iabacosa," which
/ Raleigh firm proposes 10 put the market
I another season, in cheap form. Whatever
| application is used must be applied soon a,
the plants appear for il takes bat few hour
| 10 destroy them all if tho beetles are plentiful
The Same insect is troublesome on late sowr
cabbage. plants Orchard aud Gardes.
NOTES.
The farmers who keep small flock o
sheep should not neglect examination of tht
feet Perhaps a few may be noticed feeding OF
their knees. Their feet are sore, aud, If exam
| ined, the horn will be found to be turned
under on tho sole. aud the lap will bo hllee
| with gravel and filth, while the covered sol'
viii bo quite soft. This will lead 10 foot-rot
and this in tho end will become contagious by
reason Of the virus from the sores fouing tht
| grass. Then the other sore feet and somi
sound ones will become diseased. and in time
all the flock will be crawling about on thei
| knees. The feet should be pared now, anS
before the horn decays away, and a now horr
will soon grow again.
1t is Is simple matter to grow ones owl
pottod strawberry plauts. Take two-and.a
HAL bi lhitSfl lCn poib anu htt LHtln III th'
soil, even with the surface, alongside the oil,
plants. Layer tlse young plants ia tho pots o
soil. securing them with stone or clod o
earth. In 10 or ~ days of favorable woathc
the pots will DO filled with roots, and tho plant
may then be SGT where they are to go In Til
absence Of pots, small pieces Of inverted 500
may be used, putting them just below thu
surface. This holds the roots we'll together
and permits their ready removal with sol
adhering.
About the middle Of the month is goot
time 10 prepare for the crop Of kaie and spinael
for cutting during Winter and Spring. Septom
Der will suit as we'll in the South. Kale W
SOW broadcast, but spinach should be sown il
drills like turnips. Green Curled Scotch kal
is the best for the South but tho Dwarf Germal
Greens is harder n0rthward. Ia latitude
where the cold is intense covering of roug
manure in Winter is needed. We use here tn
Norfolk Savoy spinach or the ordinary smoot
seeded sort for fall sowing. Prckly seede
spinach is best for Spring sowing
The use OF carrot juice for butter colorin
is wholly unadvisable. The albumen III th
juice quickly decomposes aud spOiIs the butter
If coIorng is used IN spite of all objections, 10
it be the clear annOtto, dissolved In warm water
Of which a few drops only are required ia
each gallon Of cream. But good taste an
common sense both of these are collateral) foi
bid the use of any c0l0ring whatever; the nat
ural gilt edge" Of the chl0rOphyl of the fires
grass or clover, or of the corn other sOiin
fodder. is alone sufficient TO give the delicat
primrose yellow of the best butter. Aud ever
dairyman should secure a supply of such fod
der by foresighted plans laid for the season bt
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