The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-30
Rocky Ford Melons May Be
Raised in Kansas.
Quality of Product Up to That
of Colorado.
DYCHE ON SPARROWS.
Kansas Naturalist Gives the
Bird q Bad Name.
Says That 1t Is a Spreader of
COntagIOn.


better than the famous Colorado prod
net can be raised on Kansas soil with
proper care and attention. In response
TO the question asked by Secretary
Barnes of the members of the State
Horticultural society yesterday after
noon as to why Kansas could not be
made a successful melon growing
state, a number of them, who had had
experience, affirmed positively that it
might.
Mr.. Barnes said: "Two-thirds of the
so-oalled Rocky Ford melons placed
upon the market are raised in Okla
hona and Texas. A considerable num-
Der OF them come from Kansas. But
Colorado gets the credit for the entire
crop of sweet, juicy fruit. The real
Rocky Ford melon is late in getting
upon the market and all the early mel
Ons are brought from elsewhere. But
as far as ! have been able to determine
by careful inquiry and investigation
over Kansas there is no reason why
this delicious fruit could not be culti-
waited within our borders as successful
~ and as remuneratiyely as in any
other state in the Union. Care is re-
quired, and judgment. 1t might take
some time to establish a name in the
market But if strictly careful pains
were taken to find the best seed and
variety and the growth of the fruit
were attended by congenial conditions
such as modern agriculture is able to
supply. there is no reason why entire
~ bAN%CooAGA ACoA4I1 AAA46 Ii 44CS NJ eeS
tanned"
This discussion took the place, on the
afternoons programme of the paper on
Commercial Gardening" by A. Chand-
Ter of Randolph, Mo, who was unable
to be present The remainder of the
afternoons session was taken up with
talks on gardening, led by Albert Dick
ems of Manhattan, and 2. J. Holman of
Leavenworth. Mr.. Dickens work has
been in connection with the experiment
al station at the State Agricultural col
legt. Mr.. Holman spoke on celery cul-
ture.
At last nights session Prof E. A.
Popenoe appeared in a discussion of
Fungi" his talk on crown gall being
Of practical interest to apple growers
DYCHE ON THE SPARROW.
The crimes for which the English
sparrow has to answer, according to
Prof. L. L Dyche, the Arctic explorer
and naturalist. are exceedingly numer-
Gus and by far more serious than those
of any of those birds from which the
laws of most Of the states of the union
withhold protection. In the interest of
scientific learning Prof Dyche has
spent considerable time and pains in the
study OF the habits Of this bird around
his home at Lawrence where he is in
charge of the natural history museum
OF the Kansas State university.
In my j. 7gment," said he, the Eng
giish sparrow must be a dangerous
Epreader of disease He wallows in filth
of all sorts. He reVels in the very
things usually regarded as the best con-
veyors Of c0ntagion. He lives around
the habitations of man and has the
most ample opportunities of carrying
disease germs. have not studied MIN
IN reference to this one thing in par
ticular, but knowing his habits, should
think the sparrow might be an i'm
portant agency of contagian-
''But thu sparrow is no friend of the
fruit grower, not only because his food
is almost entirely vegetable in char
acter, but also because he is the mortal
enemy OF birds whose protection is
really to the horticulturists' interest.
Other species of sparrows are in habits
not Objectiona BILE. But the English
sparrow makes war upon other Varie-
ties of his own kind as well as upon
other birds 1t has resulted that at
the present time almost all other ma
tive birds have abandoned the towns
of this country. I have not noticed in
the last five years that the number of
sparrows is increasing in town, but the
other birds have gone. The sparrow
has now invaded the country and is
installing hlmself about the buildings
of farm houses His food as I stated,
is almost wholly vegetable in char
scter. The sparrow spells more than
he eats knocking down much that he
does not peck into. In the old country,
I had heard he was fond of tame sun
flower seed. SO planted a row along
my yard fence. The sparroWs got all
the seeds and seemed to be quite fond
Of them. I have a small patch of
turnips. I had to plant it three times
this year before I got a respectable
stand. Not only did the sparrows
scratch up and eat the seed when 1
sowed 1t, but on looking at the crops
OF some I killed found that they had
uproeted the newly sprouted turnips,
with two tiny leaves. and had tried
that
Around my own home I have for
years tried to encourage the singing
birds, the robin, the blue bird. the
wren and others to settle down but
the sparrow has driven them away
persistently- used to put small boxes
and cans around for wrens and left
holes so small that the sparrows could
not get In. l put an oyster can out on
a shed roof and wren got in it. Well
II was not more than a day before the
Bparrows had frightened the wren
away. although they themselves could
not get in the can. 1 shot a few of
the s2aTrows but they had already
scared the wren away and a little alter
found several more of them prancinsg
about on top of the can. They annoy
even the chickens in the poultry yards
and share with them the food spread
out by the chicken raiser. At nv own
home I have watched, through nv
feld glass. a sparrow peck a hen in
the eye because she interfered with his
dinner. 1 examined the hen and found
blood running down the side of her
head.
AS I stated, the sparrow is exceed
nsly unclean in habit, apparently de-
lighting in filth He has other mani
1estations. recently removed a SPAR
rows nest from behind closed shut
ter IN an empty house near me After
nEtfng out the great quantity of ira
OF which it was composed, found my
hands covered with mites the little
creatures which infest chicken houses.
On closer examination I found the nest
contained millions of them. 1 shou, d
say that 1t is likely often the case
that in staying about chicken eoops tie
sparrow carries and spreads these
parasites.
Although no active concerted effort
has been made to rid the country of
the English sparrow it is certain that
he viii be very hard to drive away.