The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-24


and as frogs are OF no great practical
value their destruction is not serious
matter; but toads are very useful, and
their consumption, 50 far as it goes,
must be counted against the crow.
Turtles, crawfishes, and snails, of
which he eats quite a large number,
may be considered neutral, while mice
may be counted to his credit.
In his insect food, however, the crow
makes amend for sins in the rest OF his
dietary, although even here the fret
item is against him. Predaceous
beetles, which are useful, are eaten in
some numbers throughout the season,
but the number is not great May
beetles, dor bugs" or June bugs, and
others Of the same family, constitute
the principal food during spring and
early summer and are fed to the young
in immense quantities. Other beetles,
nearly all Of a noxious character, are
eaten to a considerable extent. Grass
hoppers are first taken in May, but not
in large numbers until August, when,
as might be expected, they form the
leading article of diet, showing that
the crow is no exception to the general
rule that most birds subsist. to large
extent, upon grasshOppers in the month
of August. Many bugs some caterpil
larF, many cut worms, and some
spiders are also eatsn-alI of them
harmful or neutral in their economic
relations. OF the insect diet Mr.. E. A.
Schwartz says: 1.-The facts, on the
whole, speak overWhel mingly in favor
o. the crow"
Probably the most imp 9rtant item in
the vegetable food is corn, and by pull
ing up the newly sprouted seeds the
bird renders himself extremely obnox
ious. Observation and experiments
with t8m3 crows show that hard, dry
corn is never eaten if anything else is
to be had, and il fed 10 nestlings it is
soon disgorged. The reason crows re-
sort to newly planted fields is that the
kernels are softened by the moisture Of
the earth, and probably become more
palRtable in the process Of germina-
tion, which changes the starch Of the
grain to sugar The fact, however, re-
mains that crows eat corn extensively
only when it has been softened by ger
mination or partial decay, or before it
is ripe and still lin the milk" Expe
rience has shown that they may be
prevented from pulling up young corn
by tarring the seed, which not only
saves the corn, but forces them to turn
their attention TO insects. If they persist
in eating the green corn, it is not so
easy to prevent the damage; but no de
tails of extensive injury in this way
have yet been presented, and it is prob
able that no great harm has been done.
In estimating the economic status OF
the crow, the Depar Ement concludes
that be does some damage, but, on the
other hand, he should receive much
credit for the insects which he destroys.
In the more thickly settled parts Of the
country the crow probably does more
good than harm, at least when ordi-
nary precautions are taken to protect
young poultry and newly planted corn
against his depredations. II, however,
corn is planted with no provisions
against possible maraudera, If hens and
turkeys are allo we'd to nest and to roam
with their broods at distance from
farm buildings, losses must 70 ex-
pected. The ordinary farmer will
doubtless pay much more attention to
the crow es marauder than to the
crow as q benefactor.