The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-10
CROWS USEFUL AS
WEATHER PROPHETS
Farmer Thinks the Raven Birds
Do More Good Than Harm.
EAT MORE GRUBS THAN CORN
Doesn't Like to See Too Many, Though,
as it's an Indication of Cold Weather.
Have Ordering Of the
Moon, Likewise.

II dropped IN on an old philoSOphtC
Orange county friend Of mine one day to-
ward the latter end OF last month";" said
John Gilbert, the travelling groceryman,
land he told me he had been taking a
drive about the country.
land I was sorry to see SO many
crows in the cornfleld. said he.
bad for the farmers. OF course
said I.
bad for the farmers; how demanded
the farmer.
"'Why, said I, because the crows are
pulling up all his corn
BAH exclaimed the farmer. Pull
ing UP nothing That's an idea
that doesn't go, nova days. Crows
don't flock into cornfields to eat
the farmers corn any more. They drop
down to dig up the worms that are max
ing way with the farmers corn.
"'When crow pulls up a hill of corn,
he doesn't do it because he wants the
seed kernels that at the root of it.
He knows there is a grub down there
getting ready to devour the young shoots,
and he is after that grub
WELL said I. what difference does
it make to the farmer. SO long as the
crow. in getting at the grub. gets the
hill Of corn. too? The hill of corn is
gone Just the same
IS A BLESSING.
""There you go!' said the farmer. That's
the way all anti-crow chaps argue!
Can't you see further than the end of
your nose? II the crow should let that
grub alone the grub wouldn't only destroy
the hill of corn. but 1t would come up
out of the ground after doing it, soon
become a. winged creature. which, fly
ing about would devote its week or SO
of life to laying thousands of eggs. every
= q NC
year, ready to dine on the farmers corn.
as fast as he put it in.
II didn't say q word
Now, resumed the farmer. suppose
the crows weren't on the lookout. and
did not make themselves busy digging
up and devouring these grubs? Why
there wouldn't be a farmer anywhere
with corn crop enough 10 make d. pot of
mush. And if there wasn't corn crop
enough to make pot of mush or
course. there wouldn't be enough to make
even a. pint Of. You've heard of the
blue grass country. haven't you?'
II told him. I had.
"'Well. said he. there wouldn't be
enough corn crop to make even a pint
of what makes life in the blue grass
country and incidentally elsewhere 1
have heard-worth living.
well. WE'LL! said l.
certainly, S31Q INe IdIlHel. Sdy 1
was sorry to see SO many crows in the
corn fields. Why? Because SO many
crows in the corn fields is a sure sign
of cold summer. and q cold summer
isn't good for the farmers.
COLD SUMMERS.
:" Crows plentiful in corn fields In june
means a, cold summer. [ can't tell You
why, so don't ask me. The crows know,
Crows know almost everything. But ve
watched it. and I never knew it to fall.
Fact. I assure YOU.
do you mean to say. said I, that
Cows
Tut the Orange county farmer cut me
off
And now mind what I told you about
crows said he, and notice if you see the
moon get full in the south before Seprem-
the crow sign or the full moon sign Will
be a dead failure this year
Why? Because lots of crows in the
cornfields early in June means a cold sum
mer The moon getting full in the south
any time during the summer means that
there will be at least three weeks or that
can't be right. coming in the same season
"'Watch out, now. It may be that the
first new moon may be the dry weather
one. In that case. If it fulls in the south.
prophets safeguard and say, All signs
fail in time of drought"
But YOU won't see the moon set full
in the south this summer The crows
have so ordered. Then. again. If the moon
fulls in the north. it means cold weather.
That you'll see the moon do, sure. Inc
crows have also ordered that, and I'm
sorry for the farmers.
The corn crop wasn't failure. though.
last year. so far as I've heard. And speak,
ing of that blue grass country, Will you,
II rose.
"'Thoueht So said the farmer. Come
along. And. hello, there. you, John! Pike
down into the corntield yonder and Tx
M them scarecrovs The ding crows are
dropping down in there to beat the