The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-28
Ntstase Paeer4 Read AZ he 5a.n.era' cen4.e44.

until 1t was found that horticulture snf.
tereu severely in consequence, even inc
forest trees being attacked by myriads OF
At the time of the French revolution the
scarcity Of food was a serious problem, and
10 provide necessities the population killed
on the birds In great numbers The eject
on tne orchards and farm crops as well as
on the vineyards was SO painfully notice.
able that laws were Immediately enacted
Tor the protection of birds.
russia at one time with view of bene-
nllhg agriculture Instructed that a tax OK
WE'VE BIRDS heads should be paid annual
~ by each farmer, but 1t only required
about two years to satisfy the Prussians
that this was grevious mistake.
Later on the British government investi-
eating plague of field mice that destroyed
the crops In several counties, finally traced
the reason TO the scarcity of owls hawks
and similar birds of prey and the lnvestl-
eating committee appointed by the house
of commons recommended the protection
or TINS class OF birds. and recognized an
ancient enemy as modern friend.
PRESIDENT Jordan of the Leland stanford
university wrote from Japan not long ago
that the song birds of that country had
been practically exterminated. lie said
there were no local laws for their protec-
tlon and the trees had been lined mud
the song birds gathered by thousands for
the millinery trade of the world The
market reports show that In n single day
OF this ahomlnable traffic 10000 bird skins
WIZ Spli III i4oNuo0. OF WulCl moro tOAn
10000 were humminE birds The forests
of Japan have become silent In order that
the dead bodies of her songsters and in
sects destroyers might be carried FOR n
few weeks on the hats and hendgear Of fair
women In Europe and America.
The sea Is being desolated as well as the
woods. The terms and other coast birds
that have been protecting our harbors as
scavengers have been sacrificed on the altar
of this cruel fashion.
The state Of Florida. once So wonder,
fully rich in bird life, has been swept al.
most clear of birds as is the Colorado
desert, and our own coast birds have been
Killed by the thousands In the midst of
their breeding season until very few are
left, If something Is not done soon to stop
the slaughter of game and other birds In
this State, Texas that can boast the big
gest of every thing. will soon he able To
boast that her biggest crop is the crop
fools l"'''''' ANU Ne' 'es'''''0'S tue o'SS'S'
In speaking Of the millinery interests,
Mr.. VIM. butcher OF New York. I'm q
pamphlet entitled "save the Birds" said
that a difference of only ! per cent In the
annual product Of our farms and gardens
amounts to more than the entire millinery
interest In the United States and he asks
the questions. have the millners any right
to jeopardize the safety OF the agricul
tural interests? and will the farmers and
fruit growers remain silent much longer
and permit the birds their best friends
to be destroyed that trihing intcrSt ike
the millinery trade, may make few dol
lars7
number OF our United States birds
have already been extermlnated dnchdnc
the wild pigeon, and the Wild turkey wood
cock, prnire chicken and others are rap
idly diminishing. II the slaughter Of ducks
and other wild fowls by market hunters is
not soon prohibited on the gulf coast some
species Of this class Of birds will also soon
become extinct for none Will remain 10
escape IN the spring 10 their Northern
breeding grounds and nesting places