Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-04-27

Against msIly -Rohinson stilI coatesds
,ha, the psrthd is no,
a Bug Eatef

To The Eagle:
In the letter that Iwrote for the
Eagle some weeks since, on the
partridge as a bug-eater and Incl.
dentally on the boil weevil ques.
ton in general, did not expect to
stir up the wrath Of Prof. Mally.
| / only wished the truth brought
out and stated my side Of the ques-
ton. as believe, in very respect
full language. did not expect to
be called "quack." Prof. Mally
had made the statement, which he
still virtually contends, that the
partridge is a great destroyer of in.
sects injurious 10 the farmer, and
wanted more stringent preventive
measures adopted than the law
now provides for the protection OF
the partridge. contend that the
present provisions Of the law
are sufficient. / also contend
that the partridge does no,
eat bugs. And | meant the lit
tie Texas partridge that Prof
Mally is bound to be very familiar
with-not the quail Of Europe, or
of the north or something that /
am not familiar with. | did not
ask the opinion Of any eminent
professor except Prof. Mally. /
know what know about the SUBJ
iect from my own personal obser-
walton and experience, and / hum
bly, asked for Prof. Mally's per-
sonal knowledge. | did not get
il. ! got some masterful disdain
that was not looking for. The
professor evidently thinks / am a
iin-horn sport, pryiDg around
among the good, honest farmers,
trying to get in their enclosures
and kill their birds. As am one
Of these long.sufiering farmers my
self, he missed his mark again.
| happen to live away out In the
country, where own seven or
eight hundred acres Of poor land,
have several hundred acres in cul-
tivation myself, and therefore
would be prejudiced on the side of
the poor farmer il actuated by
prejudice at all. But | see now
that have committed the great
SIN OF pretending that a farmer
knows anything about his own
business and his own interests. !
am glad the professor comedies
that the little partridge feeds
mostly" on seeds during hunting
season. / am so glad that 1t is the
nature Of this bird to quit his filthy
habit of eating worms and bugs
Just as he is ready for harvest
strange, TO say the least Of it.
Now, let US make an honest eff
fort to get down TO the useful facts
in this matter. If the quail is
such a great help to the farmer this
time of the year, by eating up
bugs and worms in the field, he
should certainly be found in the
plowed lands. among the growing
crops. Do you ever see him there?
No. You find him in the woods,
in the brush, where nature pro-
tects him.
After my thirty years of Clutch
cry" there are, perhaps, 100 COW
sys Of partridges on my old farm
yet, and | would not give five cents
or the help these ilocks of birds
will render me in making my
,rops. | think if the professor
would recommend the use of a gen.
line Scovil hoe, some good cult.
,ators, ETC.. and less poison and
for bugs, this county
would be in a better fix financially.
As bug-eater, the Dominick hen
las no equal. She can knock the
luail out so bad ne isn't in 1t.
She will eat snakes, frogs, mice,
centipedes, tarantulas,
itc., az we'll as bugs. So why not
ecommend the raising of scores OF
,ens and chickens on the fern?
fou can drive them to where you
reed the help. / find these pet
owls out after me every day when
am blowing near the house, but