The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-10
TIE SPARROW TEST.
Something Must BE Done 10 Exter-
inmate tho Robbers.

inmate tho Robbers.
From the Buffalo Commercial.
The present remunerative price Of
wheat and the vast focks of English
sparrows have opened the eyes of the
farming community throughout the
country. That this pest is as destruct-
i've as numerous and increasing to an
alarming extent has long been ac-
knowledgcd, but how to save the bread
of the people from these feathered rob-
bers is a subject which those most
deeply interested have not yet found
time, apparently, to give any serious
attention. The importation of the
sparrow from country where prizes
were offered for it's destruction was in
the first place the work of a fool, but
now that we have the evil and show
no disposition to mitigate it places us
all on an equal footing. Something
must be done, but how to do it and
who is to bear the expense are the
questions.
The Country Gentleman, the fore
most agricultural journal in this coun-
try, warned the United States gov
ernmcnt against this useless and pes
tiferous bird as long ago as 1868, when
the idea of its Importation was first
broached. In 1863, when several lots
arrived, the same paper urged that
their numbers be at least kept under
control as the bird was too fond of
the farmers grain. IT is needless to
say that the advice was in vain.
Some effort, however, is being made
of late to start a crusade against the
English house sparrow, and it will no
doubt be brought before the depart
ment Of agriculture in due time.
\ start in this direction has been
made by Miss OrmerOd and Mr.. w. b.
Tegetmeier, who have Jointly prepared
a circular the upshot of which Is this:
1--WE find, in addition to what all con-
cerned know too we'll already of the
direct and obvious losses from sparrow
marauding, that there is evidence of
the injurious extent to which they drive
off other birds. as the swallows and
martins, which are much more helpful
on account of their being wholly in
sectivOrOus; also that, so far from the
sparrow's food being wholly of insects
at any time Of the year, even in the
young sparrows only half has been
found TO be composed of insects: and
of the food of the adults it was found
from examination that in a large pro-
portion of instances no insects at all
were present, and of these many were
of kinds that are helpful to us or harm
less. Also it is we'll on record that
there are many kinds of birds which
help us greatly by devouring insects,
and that where sparrows have syste-
matically been destroyed for a long
course of years all have Jared better
for their absence; and also, attention
should be drawn to the enormous pow
ers Of increase of this bird, which
under not only protection, but to some
extent absolute fostering, raises its
numbers so disproportiOnately as to de-
strOy the natural balance"
The advice of many American au-
thorities that this bird should be de-
stroyed is then quoted with approval;
and the authors conclude as follows:
Reasoning on the same grounds as
to procedure i'm this country, we be-
lieve that similar action is called for
here. The amount of the national loss,
by reason of ravaged crops and SER
viCeable birds driven away, may be es-
timated, without fear of eXaggeration,
at from 100000 to 100000 a year. We
do not pretend to offer suggestions as
to what may be considered fitting to
do by government authority, but much
of their own perfection lies in the
hands of farmers themselves; and SPAR
row clubs, we'll worked and always
bearing in mind that it is only this
one bird that is earnestly recommend
ed to their attention, would probably
lessen the load to a bearable amount;
and we believe that subscriptions,
whether local or from those who know
the desirableness Of aiding in the work
Of endeaVoring to save the bread of
the people from these featheTed rob-
bers, would be money wisely and
wOrthily spent"
,Che sooner these suggestions are
adopted, and vigorously carried out,
the better.