The Globe-republican., 1900-12-13


will be Incidental 10 the other. The in
dividual will understand that he who
causes one tree TO grow will be a hene-
factor to his race. In Western Kansas
alone we shall look for stimulation in
tree industry, so soon as work is COM
menced in the enter prises mentioned
Arbor days will be fete days until the
broad plains and mountain valleys are
dotted with trees, aud the desert in name
as well in fact wils blossom as the rose
sfKilling off the birds is making ha-
voc in fruit cuIture,'' says n Missouri far
ner. The insects the fruit trees have
greatly injured the fruit crop The Eng
lish sparrow is largely responsible for the
destruction of the insect destroying birds
The spar roxs 7emain mostly in the woods,
bnt their pugnacity prevents them from
performing the work other birds have
done ia keeping down insects The spar
rows are not so numerous formerly.
aud il is probable that the finer class of
birds will yet become plentiful and
sumo their place in insect destruction.
The beautiful song birds have become
almost entirely extinct in response to the
extravaganza of fashion. The strict and
rigid game laws in the western states do
not furnish the protection necessary in
the preservation of birds and game.
All states have laws similar TO Kansas
for the preservation of game. Birds or
wild game cannot he killed for shipment,
and the penalty for this violation of the
game law is as stringent as the law in re-
gard TO the killing of the game But the
law is evaded whenever possible. An
express messenger on one of the railroads
through Missouri and Arkansas tells
that sauails have been shipped in band
boxes and by other deceptive means. Last
winter coffin box shipped from
point in Arkansas for st. Louis. Suspec-
ting that the corpse was not bona
fide .-stiff,'s the railroad officials opened
the suspect and found several quarters of
venison nicely packed in the box. 1t is
Unnecessary to say that the railroad Off
GERS did not desire to be accomplices in
violation of law, and so the meat was
conveyed as private property.
The poetry of farming is fine reading
in the magazine. The sweet incense of
of the field and the aroma of the dew
laden plants of the garden have been told
in verse and prose until the reader in his
Imagination could sniff the delightful
fragrance. But the toll and hardship of
the farm weakens the imagination of its
beauty. 1t is true that agricultural pur-
suit is the basis of all industry. Adam
plucked the first fruit, and Cain despising
his brothers. Industrial vocation in rails
ing big pumpkins and his favor with the
Lord, killed Abel. And Noah, did he
not raise grapes, and from the fruit of the
vine he got glorious!
Farming in Missouri has its drawbacks
as we'll as its pleasures. The dry weather
shortens the crops and the wet fall and
winter renders crop gathering difficult
and uncomfortable through rain, sleet
and mud. Gathering of feed and wood
and the care of stock through Indictment
weather make burden Of farm life.
The sweet odor of new mown lay in the
sweltering weather finds recompense
to the tired and sweaty form of the we'll
worn farm laborer. Low prices and short
crops do not afford sufficient guarantee
to hard labor bestowed, and with these
doubtful expectations the farmers dream
of wealth is not realized, and he thinks
his calling the most Improbable in the
long list of occupation. But the farmer
is independent, after all if lie does not
expect TOO much, and is contented with
whatever his hard work and nature has
| given him.
| The writer enjoyed the hospitality of
Missouri farmers, and he saw content
to well filed tables, loaded with the pro-
ductiou of the farm, was appeasing of
the appetite. and an enjoyment not found
where poverty and want prevailed. Farm
ing is the most ennobling of all calIings,
where there is no mortgage to pinch the
farmers table and no cause to distress the
mind and wrinkle the brow.
The probable s'wet winter'' adds to the
farmers stock of misfortune. Cattle do
not thrive so we'll in winter of deep
snow and sleet. And the farmer watches
the pinched forms of his stock and the
rapidly diminishing bins of corn and
stacks of hay with degree of anxiety
that borders on the uncomfortable until
winter is passed, and delightful spring
comes again with its baIny breezes and
the summer with its horn of plenty
|