The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-26
SMART CoNNEOTICUT CROWS.
ana Smarter Farmer Aiorss, Who
Found a Way to oircumvenJ Them,

ana Smarter Farmer Morse, Who
round a Way to CircumvenJ Them,
| From the Netg YORK sun.
| ANsoNIA, CONN. Nov. S.-Nobody can
explain it, but every farmer in the Manga
tuck and Housatonic valleys has nuticed it,
that the crows are mighty scarce this fall.
Western Connecticut has been the crows
paradise ever since the original three black
crows sat on limb. and it is estimated that
| they have done more damage in dollars
/ and cents, to say nothing of the damage
/ 10 the farmers morals, than would
suffice to put every so-calIed "aban-
| doned" farm in good condition again,
patch up all broken fences, and almost
build good roads in place of the present cart
paths in this section of the state. Crows
are the farmers natural enemy. From
early spring, when they dig up his newly
planted corn faster than he can replace it
| until late in the fall, when they swipe his
grain, they prey on the honest, hard work
ing agriculturiss, and no device vet in
vented can prevent it. Crows are smart.
The owl may be the symbol Of wisdom, but
Tor downright yankee smartness the crow
is ct the head Of the procession, leading the
band, even
An incident that happened up in Wood
bury some time ago will prove this. Far
mer Morse had planted his corn field and
was congratulating himself that with the
right kind of weather he would have a big
crop this fall. But the crows had some
thing to say about that, and, calling a
council of war in the neighboring lot, they
decided that Farmer Morses corn was about
suited to their taste. and they proceeded to
dig up the whole field. There were, accord
ing to Mr.. MOrse's own statement, nigh
onter thOusau' of the burned sneskil'
crows, and they made mighty quick work
OF clawin' up my corn"
but the farmer was man of resources.
de was patient, too, 80 he went to work
to circumvent the crows. He built sort OF
hut Of brush in the center OF his corn field,
loaded up the old musket he had brought
home from the war, and, carrying it to the
hut, made his plan ready. Then with his
men he planted the field over again, and
early the next morning went to his ambush
ready to slaughter all crows that came within
reach of the gun As he went into the hut
the crows were at one end Of the field. AS
soon as they saw him one of them gave q
Iowd "cawn and the whole flock flew away
but alighted within sight of the
ambush. Farmer Morse remained
cramped up in the brush heap until the
dinner horn sounded, but not a crow came
near the field. When he Iimped out, feel
ing, as he told his wife, "as il tie DANCED
old rumsJiz OF last winter had come back
again" every crow in the hock settled down
in the field and went TO work on the hills Of
corn. Mr.. Morse returned again after din
ner and resum ed his vigil, but every crow
few away, and would not return until he
left the nut at dusk to do his milking. This
plan was continued for three days, and the
musket had not been aimed at single crow,
because there we're no crows in reach. Il
seemed to Farmer Morse as il they kuew
he was there and that he meant to do than
harm.
Finally bright idea struck him. He per-
suaded Mrs. Morse to put on a suit OF his
old clothes and come out to the hut after she
had SKINNED the milk and washed the
breakfast dishes. he was to go out a little
earlier than usual aud take up his place in
the Ambuscade. Then Mrs. Morse after
resting spell, was to return to the house
and the result of his scheme would be known
He had reasoned that the crows, having
some sense of numbers, would see her 90
into the hut and would fly away. Then
when they saw her 90 out they would think
the coast was clear and would come back
again. The scheme was q success. Mrs
Morse came out to the bush and remained a
little while, during which time not crow
was in sight. Then she returned
to the house to take off the
awkward garments. The crows saw
her, and, believing the coast clear much
earlier than usual, settled down within a
few feet OF the eager farmer. He let the II
get we'll to work. when bangl went the old
Springfield musket. and forty-two tat crows
lay dead in the cornield. with dozen more
Topping around, unable to fly. The lesson
was a severe one, but it was well learned
Farmer Morse put up q wellScoustruoted
dummy in the field, placed a oroomstick at
'mske-ready" position in its hands, and
his corn was not disturbed again that sum-
mer. This fall he had an enormous crop.
But the question, "What has become of
all the crowsP is still unanswered. Farm
ers by the score have been asked to tell the
reason, but not one can answer. They say:
"Durned if know. They amt here, and l
don't know ez l care where they air Of they
only stay therel"