The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-17
TRAINED TO SAVE COTTON.
BIRDS MAKE EFFECTIVE WAR
FARE UPON THE DREADED
BOIL WORMS.
Rid Fields of Pest in Incredibly
Short Space of Time-Idea Worth
Millions to the Agricultural Inter
ests of the Section.

Short Space of Time-Idea Worth,
ests of the Section.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
Falkland. Tex.-For many years the
boil worm has been the curse of the
cotton planters in the South. In some
regions large areas of cotton. giving
promise of an abundant yield, have
been utterly ruined in a few days by
this pest, that seemed to march in
solid phalanx devouring everything in
it's pathway. Scores of devices were
employed to destroy it, but without
success, and each year the planters
have lived in. apprehension of it's ap-
pearance.
At least it looks as If a remedy for
the boil worm evil has been discovered,
and it is so simple that everybody is
wondering why someone has not
thought of 1t before. 1t has been left
for plain. uneducated Western
rancher, assisted by his wife, to make
a discovery worth millions to the peo-
pie OF the Southern states, where sci
entists and entomologists have failed
after years of study and many costly
experiments. This Texas farmer has
come to the rescue of the cotton plant
er with an effectual remedy against
boil worms. Boil mean "sharpshoot-
ers," and all other insects that prey
upon and destroy growing cotton.
G.. B. Boswell has just demonstrated
TO the distressed ranchers in the vi
cinity of Falkland that he has found
way to protect their cotton from the
pests that have been destroying the
crops for several years. He does not
call his method a discovery, since, he
says, he has only used and trained and
directed natures own forces against
one of the most insatiate and destruc-
tive enemies that the Southern farmer
has ever encountered.
FIocks of White Wings.
Boswell and his young wife own
small ranch near Preside, on the Rio
Grande. They were on their way to
the Brazos river country, where it is
reported that the boil worms are de-
stroying the cotton crop, and were in
duced to stop for a short time in the
Colorado valley Mr. Boswell and his
wife are accompanied by nearly 1000
small birds of two varieties. About
1900 are white winged sparrows, ma
tiVes of Western Texas and New Mex
leo. The remainder of the flock is
composed of Mexican canaries. Just
at daylight this morning about 800 or
1000 of the birds were turned loose
upon field of cotton of twenty acres.
Swarms of the little winged pests that
are supposed to mother the boil worm
could be seen lowering over the field,
While hideous- looking bugs with
shouts ending in a miniature lance
literally covered the leaves and stems
of the plants.
A flood of white wings descended
among the dying cotton, the birds fill
ing the air with chirps of battle. When
fly arose there was a glitter of white
feathers, followed by chirp of tri-
umph as the bird seized and ground
the mother of a million of boil worms
between its sharp mandibles.
Mr.. Boswell and his wife walked
about through the cotton patch. each
carrying a large pan containing a IL
quid of rich fragrance, which is one
of the secrets of their business. The
public has not been made acquainted
with the ingredients of this sweet
smelling mixture. The birds are fond
of it, and they flew to the pans every
few minutes, chirping with great glee
and acting as if exhilarated and in
toxicated with the joy of battle.
Did Their Work Thoroughly.
After the birds had worked for a lit
tie more than an hour Mrs. Boswell re-
turned to camp and turned the re-
mainder of the flock lose upon the
plantation The field Is 40 yards IN
length and 220 in width. II took near
~ three hours for the flock Of birds TO
accomplish their work, ana tiley SEEM
ed 70 know when their task was fin
ished. After hopping about on the
fence for a few moments they began
% ny back 70 the camp, where they
held high carnival IA the trees. Many