The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-19
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
~
Agricultural Readers
A PIX r.nR n1Rns.

PLEA TOR BIRDS.
The following article. written for the Prairie
FurHer by horticultural friend, should be read
by every man, woman, boy, and girl who sees
this paper:
Farmers boys are guilty of destroying
many Of their feathered friends. without re-
proach from their parents few farmers them
selves knowing or at least recognizing the
great amount Of benefit that certain birds are
not only willing but anxious to confer on the
country if they are only LEI alone.
The farmer and fruit grower should know
more about the birds that nest and sing and
fit about their premises, for then they would
be willing to defend and protect them, and in
time have them back in something like their
old-time number and variety. How often does
one see the saucy, sweet-yoiced nervous little
wren nowadays? 1t few ye4 ago was seen
and heard everywhere, but it must be a favored
locality that il visits now. Yet the little wren
was a most Tavenous deyourer OF the pestiier-
Gus cut-worm Of the garden, aud did great
work toward lessoning tho damage done By
that pest.
The bright little bluebird clears the air and
the ground of thousands OF cOdling moths and
canker worms during a season; yet farmers
boys are permitted to rob its nests with impu-
nifty aud chase il from field to field in efforts
TO kill it. The crow blackbiTd has no peace
yet flock Of these birds will clear i'm short
time newly-plowcd field Of all its destructive
larve that the pillow has turned up.
Tho American crow would do the same il
10 wasn't for the inevitable man with gun
who wants the crow 10 try il once. Neither
the hackbiri nor the crow care as much for
corn as they do for grubs, and if the farmer
would scatter corn about his field instead Of
putting up scarecrows aud the like those use
full birds would never pull up hill Of his
planting. The chances are, anyhow, that If
the farmer will take the trouble 10 examine a
hill Of young corn that he charges the crow
with pulling up he will find that il was cut of
by grub, and that the crow was after the
grub. not the corn.
The robin, II cannot be denied, is a sore
| trial TO the man who has fruit trees, bat IL he
will stop and think Of the thousands upon
thousands OF ravsgiug insects that are especial
enemies Of his trees that the robin destroys,
| both before the fruit has Tipened and for weeks
after il has gone. he will not grudgo the few
/ cherries or berries it demands as partial pay
ment for its services The same may be said
OF the thrushes, cherry birds, orioles. blucjays.
aud many others Of that class. These birds
never levy tribute in the least on the grain
/ farmer, but they do him untold good.
| The climbing birds are the different varie-
| ties OF woOdpeckeT, and they are constantly be-
/ friending growing things. Whenever a wood
/ pecker - heard tapping on a tree il is the
/ death-knell Of the iarFB Of some destructive
insect. Yet it is not an uncommon thing to
\ sec the very person for whom this bird is in
/ dustriously at work following with his gun the
\ Hash of the birds red head from tree 10 tree
/ until the opportunity comes for him 20 send a
| load Of shot into. the nnsuspecting feathercd
! philanthrOpist. IL is the pet belief among the
farmers that the Woudpecker kills the trees no
works on, and that he is working for that
purpose
1T Isl fact that the common little sapsucker
does iniuro trees, but the woodpecker, never I!
/ Quite the contrary. The white. breasted nut
| batch aud the gray erUeper $50 generally con-
| founded with the sapsuckcr) live exclusively
on tree insects, yet the tuthatch il in bad favor
among many farmers, as they believe it eats
/ their trees.
"The meadow lark is another bird that is
| given little peace on any ones land. for there
is a mistaken notion abroad that this bird is a
game bird. he is game in the quality Of being
| alert and hard 70 gos.a shot at, but Is no more
entitled 10 be so classified than the flicker or
the high holder is. The meadow lark is a con-
slant feeder on underground large. and whom
| ever no is disturbed he is simply driven away
from active work in Kidding the ground Of the
worst kind Of farm pests. The buejay may be
said to be indirectly an enemy 10 the farmer as
well a5 friend, for IL destroys largely the eggs
Of birds that do only good 10 the farmer.
II there Is one bird that the farmer loves 10
do all in his power 10 exterminate more than
| be does the crow, unless il may be the hawk
/ that bird il the owl And III the city man has
a gun he will not hesitate TO use IL as many
| times during his vacation as he lsa ou owls or
! hawks. Fortunately. the occasion that either
| one Of these birds presents for the benefit Of
| the man with the gun are few and far between
| The farmer can't be brought 20 believe that II
| IL were not for the owls and the hawks his
! fields would be OyerTun and burrOwed by field
| mice 20 such an extent that his crops would be
in perpetual danger; that owls. when out
housing, feed on myriads Of night flying moths
and beetles thus preventing the laying Of mill
lions upon millions Of the eggs Of these insects,
and they not only keep the field mice down,
but lessen the number OF domestic mice and
rats about barns and outhouses, 70 an extent
that small army o! cts could not equal"
SUGAR HEET
When our farmer fully appreciate the neces-
sity Of the complete and thorough preparation
Of the soil before planting the beet, the success
Of profitable crops will the sooner be realized.
Begin year ahead. Prepare the manure in
ample quantity and of the best quality. Spread
aud pillow under as late in the Fall as compare
lively dry weather will permit. From four to
six inches Is deep enough. In the early Spring
/ INV again. 4 AG SttoHh ltohlug III tue 'pIlDEs
should be deep. The beets should DO thinued
as early as possible. 90 give the best results.
IransplantinR or neglect retards growth, so
that early wedding and hOeing is necessary.
A narrow, double-modbOard plOw, set deep.
cullvates both sides Of the row at every plow-
ing. Several plowings and hOeings early will
send the beets ahead most satisfactorily. Early
neglect is fatal 10 successful beet culture. This
method Of beet culture applies equally well TO
mangels Wherever paying crop Of oats bar
ley. or Spring wheat can DO raised, there a
paying crop Of beets can DO grown, no matter
what the latitude or longitude Of the earth's
surface. With the same methods aud care that
the French practice, American farmers can
also succeed. If sugar Ia the object, a number
Of farmers and capitalists must enlist in the
enterprise so as TO secure ample material, the
greatest reduction Of working expenses posi-
bic, and prompt manufacture. Plan before
planting.-AmericlH AgricuitTiS.
Prosperity In Dakota.
IL is estimated that in addition TO their I'm
mense crops the farmers Of Minnesota and Da-
L a. cg,8tD non -. 81.