The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-27
Some Foes Of Far mers.
HOW THEY ARE FOUGHT by THE DEPART
MENr or AGRICULTURE.

HOW THEY ARE FOUGHT by THE DEPART
MENr or AGRICULTURE.
General Rusk--the doughty Wis
consin Governor who is now Secretary
Of the now Department of Agriculture
lis not member of the Cabinet for
the fun Of II. On entering upon his
duties he took off his coat and rolled
up his sleeves as he used to do, and in
fact still does, in haying time, and
now, Sin the second year of his reign"
he has got his big team we'll in hand,
knows all of its tricks, and is making
them buckle to the best they know.
have spoken of 1t as big team,
but it will be bigger. General Rusk
is determined that his Department
shall be, in size and effectiveness, what
1t really is in Importance, and the ap
preparation committee seems inclined
TO let him have his way. With larger
means at his disposal he will organic
new bureaus aud add largely 10 his
skilled force of experts, aud be ready
to consider and solve all problems
which the farmers OF the United States
have TO encounter.
One of the most Interesting as well
as useful divisions of the Department
is that of ornithology and mammalogy
presided over by DR.. G. Hart Merriam.
The object of it is, as farmers are fast
discovering, the study of the economic
relations of birds and animals TO agri-
culture; what birds are beneficial to
the farmer and what injurious; and
how shall the first be protected and
the last destroyed. So, too, regarding
aDimals-suoh as the skunk, the wood.
chuck, prairie dogs, and gophers. All
the farmer wishes to know is how TO
protect his crops from all sorts of
pests and vermin, whether of the air
or the earth. Already some of the
Western States have paid out not less
than 100000 in bounties for the ex-
termination of gophers. A great deal
of money is now being spent toward
the determination Of the English spar
row, against which ponderous count
erblast or bulletin has been issued by
DIR. Merriam and his assistants, it hav-
ing been decided that Passer domesti-
cus is curse indeed, and must go.
The good effect Of this big bulletin
against the sparrow are visible already
and the war of restriction and extermi-
nation has begun. Doubtless the gop-
her bulletins will accomplish the sam e
results when they are issued. The
section of territory inhabited by the
three species of gophers is being care
fully mapped by DR.. Merriam, and will
form valuable and interesting contri-
button to the study of biology.
An elaborate work on hawks and
owls is in course of preparation, which
will be beautifully illustrated, and at
the same time will point out to the
farmer those birds which are
wholly beneficial and harmless; those
who do about as much good as harm,
and those which are noxious or posi-
lively harmful. Out of the 7S differ
ent birds of which the work will treat
it is gratifying to know that but three
OF the noxious species are common in
the United States. y, .ae.u
The crow is to have q volume dedi-
oeted to his habits and goings on, and
in due time the crow blackbird, or pur.
pie grockle, will be treated in the same
way. When this work is done, all the
farmer will have to do will be to get
copies of the various bird bulletins,
read them, and then follow their in
structions. He can thereafter shoot
noxious birds at sight with an en-.
lightened understanding, and protect
those which are beneficial. Among
these are the rose crested grosbeak a.
yellow billed cuckoo, which have de.
veloped an appetite for Colorado pota.
to beetles and catapillars. Unfortu
nately these useful and potato bug
eating birds are not very numerous
but the best can be made of what We
have.
Many curious and important facts
about birds are discovered from ar
examination of the contents of theil
stomachs, and to that end the division
he's large and interesting collection
OF bird stomachs from all parts of the
country. The collection now number.
not far from $4,000 stomachs, each pu
up in separate vial with alcohol, ani
labeled. Nearly 1000 stomachs were
added the past year. The collection
contains the stomachs of such birds al
spsrrows of all kinds, warblers, black
birds, meadow larks, bobolinks, crows
owls, hawks, swallows, wrens, blue.
birds, robins, king fishers, woodpeckers
fycatchers, and many other birds, all
of which, in due time. will be studied
by the microscopic, the botanIst, the
zoologist the ornitholog.st, ect., etc.
and the results recorded for the bene.
fit of the farmer. An examination OF
the food and habits of the marsh hawk
for instance, proves that it is a very
beneficial bird, doing far more good
than harm, and that it should be pro
tected by law. The common screech
owl is proved, by the same means, to
be a good friend of the farmers. Il
eats no end of mice and insects, and
has recently taken to supping off Eng
lish sparrows. This little owl should
be encouraged, and boys should be
taught to let its nests alone. .s.
DIR. Merriam finds that he needs
more help to carry on the great work
in which he is engaged. Letters pour
in upon him at the rate of 1876 a day
thousands of circulars have to be sem
out, and many birds and mammals are
sent to the Office for Identification. i
permitted, DIR. Merriam proposes tc
udertake systematic biological sur
survey in which he will map out tn,
natural life areas of the country, sc
that the farmer can tell by consulting
the map and bulletin, which sections
OF the land are fitted by nature for tn,
growth of certain crops and the sup
port of certain kinds of stock. 1t is ,
great work, and will consume mucl
time.
W0MEN UnTTNQ I'M VANoAc