Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-09-20
PERSISTENCE OF PESTS
fhey Thrive and Increase While DesirabB
Creatures Grow Fewer.

fhey Thrive and Increase While Desirabl
Creatures Grow Fewer.
From the sowing and planting @
his seed, almost, indeed from tn
turning of the furrow, the farme
enters upon a contest with the weeds
for place in which his crops ma
grow, and il he or the crops are no
| vanquished, as the weeds never are
the warfare continues till harves
time.
While he, with infinite labor, pre-
pares the ground and sows his see,
with all care, praying that droutl
may not wither nor floods drown II
and that frosts may not cut down tn
tender plants, the winds of Heavel
and the fowls OF the air scatter broad
cast the seeds of the noxious weeds
or they lie dormant in the grount
awaiting opportunity, and then the,
terminate in sterile places, fence cor
ners and hooks OF the wayside, anC
flourish alike In scorching sunshin,
md In sodden soil.
They defy the latest and the earli
,st frosts, grow with their roots II
the air; and cut down, spring up
grow on, blossoming and ripenin,
their seed in creeping stealth anC
sven unscathed by blight; and 81
ilourlsh in spite Of all unkindliness o
man or stress Of nature, that tn,
husbandman wishes they might b,
some freak Of demand become tn,
useful plants. his present crop tn,
undesired ones.
Somewhat of the position thai
weeds stand opposed to the plant!
which the husbandman depends upoI
for his livelihood, yermin hold towart
the beasts and birds, upon which tn,
sportsman depends for his recreation
While they whose protection mer
.ndeavor to maintain during the sea
son OF procreation, and at times wher
scarcity of food prevails, decrease OF
ten to complete extinction, the yer
min, whom the hand of man Is al
ways against, continue to increas,
and multiply or at least hold thell
pwn.
To them as to the weeds natur,
seems to deal a kinder hand, anC
'pares, even nourishes, while she de
trOys their betters.
The snow crust, that walls The
luail in n living tomb, makes a roya
anQueting hall tor the pestiferou
cid mice, where they feast and revc
i plenty, secure from al their enc
:ieS. feathered or furry. 1t impound,
ne deer, but gives free range 10 the
'olf and to his as pitileSs two-legsce
.rOtGer, the crust hunter
The wet seasons that drown the
allow woodcock and grouse work nc
arn to the ravenous brood OF the
iawk and owl, nor to the litter oil
N, mink or weasel. Wet or dry
Iot or cold, the year fosters them
= lrOughOut its varied round.
Winged ticks kill the grouse, but
he owl endurcS their companionshiy
With sedatc serenity and thriyes with
i swarm Of the parasites in the covert
I his feathers.
The skunk has been In bad odo
since mans first acquaintance with
him, and has always been killed on
light as pest that the world be the
.weeter for being rid Of In latter
ears the warfare against him has re.
civcd an impetus from the value OF
Iis fury but though this has gone on
-elentleSsly for quarter ola century,
n more, his tribe still live TO load
he air with a fragrance that inciucs
Jle ambitious trapper to further con
IuCst.
All the year round all the farmer.
md their boys wage war upon the
rows, but each returning autumn
,ees the columns of the black army
moving southwark with apparent,
nthinned ranks, while year by year,
ne harried platoons OF ducks and
,ceSe return fewer and less frequent.
Those deteSted foreigners, the En-,
!lish sparrOws, increase and multiply
spite OF bitter winters and right.
'pus persecution, while our natives.
he beloved song birds, diminish il
lumbeTs
Thus on every hand we find the uL
desirable in animated nature, tn,
'irds and beasts that we would gladl,
c rid Of, maintaining their numb berS
'hile those who increase we desir,
ire losing ground and tending TOWARD
extinction.
The prospect tot the sportsman o
tie future is indeed gloomy, unless
e shall make game Of the pests ant
pccOme a hunter OF skunks and
'hooter Of crows and sparrOws Wht
an say that a hundred years hcnc,
he leading sportmen Of the period
will not be wrangllng over the point.
nd merits Of their skunk and wood.
huck dogs and Dragging OF their bagi
t crows and sparrows?-Forcst ani
'tream.