The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-01-13

in spite OF the closed season. | do not be-
killed by shooting seriously affects the sport
in the following autumn.
"If the birds are given closed season
for a year it means that nothing more will
be done for them. In my opinion, the
difficulty in Maryland does not arise from
the number of birds which are killed by
shooting, but from the change which has
taken place in the methods of agriculture
in the State which deprives the birds OF
cover and protection du ing both the sum
mer and the winter. At present the nests
of large numbers OF partridges are de
stroyed by the mowers and reaperS, and
probably this cannot he avoided to any
great extent; but, in addition to that, by
the constantly increasing use OF the wire
fence throughout the State, the birds are
being deprived more and more each year Of
the protection from hawks, storms, etc,
which protection the old post and rail AMI
snake fences used to afford.
"The farmers throughout the State are
adopting the practice Of cleaning up thsir
Old fields in the fall by the use of mower,
and in this way great deal OF clover
which would protect the birds from hawks,
and in cold weather afford them good,
safe feeding ground is destroyed Now,
merely closing the season for year will
not remedy this. The hawks will be as
hungry and as numerous, the winds will
be as cold and the snow as deep in the
closed year as during the winter in which
and all other persons interested in the birds
will not have the incentive of shooting
within few months to urge them to pro-
tect the birds, but, as in Virginia, they
will feel that az the season is closed, thu
birds can be sfely # to themsel es, and
even if the winter be very severe, few peo
pie will take the trouble to feed them.
Again, as happened in Virginia the winter
which follows the closed year may be very
severe and may again wipe out all the good
which the closed year has produced.
81 believe in the second plan because |
do not think that we will ever have good
shooting in Maryland until the farmers al.
ford the birds protection from hawks and
SHOWS. | think in neighborhoods where
the birds are now very scare, if those in
tuInatpI in Shnptiptr will food tho hi rlu
during tlis winter, SO that the loss of life
through cold will De rendered as small as
possible if they will, by placing small
traps on the tops of poles through the
country, catch the hawks il in mo wing
and reap,ng the nests OF the b.ooding birds
are avoided as far as possible if hundreds
of vagrant ours owned throughout the coun-
ties are destroyed through some effective
law which will protect the farmers sheep
as we'll as the birds. then the right step
will be taken toward o permanent increase
OF birds in the State.
"Where farmers have constructed wire
fences, if they could be induced to leave a
strip OF land two feet wide on each side of
the fences to grow up in bushes, briers ard
wild grasses, it would afford good nesting
place for many Of the birds in the summer
and a safe refuge from hawks, as well as a
well.stocked larder for the birds during the
SHOWS OF winter. II the farmers, instead
of clearing their lands in the fall as bare es
billiard table, would leave along the
streams and in protected places patches OF
high grass, tn. birds would find sufficient
cover to hide them from ha yks and would
get seeds for food.
81 also believe that the residents of the
city who take advantage Of the invitations
OF their country friends to shoot in the
country should assist in the good work by
purchasing quail from the West to be
turned out for propagating purposes. My
experience in Howard county 10 this line
conclusively proves to me two things
First, that large proportion OF the birds
which are turned out will breed, and Sec
ond, that every farmer on whose land
small bunch OF birds was liberated imme-
diately took an interest in protecting the
birds, and was willing to do every thing
possible to assist them in increasing, and
from that time became an ardent advocate
OF protecting and feeding the birds The
residents OF the city could also very easily
make the necessary pecunary arrangements
with their counsry friends to have small
patches of grain sown in various sheltered
spots, to he left uncut for use Of the birds.
There are more birds in England to an acre
than there are here On 10 acres, and their