Mower County transcript., 1904-06-22
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BIRDS AND INSECTS.

We AdVe actually listed S,5OO species
OF insects from New Jersey, and at
least 500 more will be found, but Of
these less than 10 per cent are in any
way injurious to the agriculturist. OF
the injurious species none of our scales
is food subject for birds, and few Of
our injurious plant lice.
Now, a bird is not beneficial to the
agr1culturist merely because it eats
insects-1n fact, it's habits may be such
that it is really injurious. To be of
direct benefit to the fruit grower a
bird must feed upon insects that cause
him injury. An excellent example of
this type is the American cuckoo
which feeds by preference upon tent
caterpillars, fall webworms and other
hairy larvae. This bird is not fruit
eater at any time; hence it's benefits
are positive, and it deserves every
possible encouragement.
Many insectivorous birds are indis-
criminate feeders. They take anything
that comes in their way, and some Of
them eat more beneficial and harmless
species than Of those that are harmful
In fact, this must be so if we consider
the small number of really injurious
forms In proportion to the whole num-
Der.
AS a matter of actual fact, is the
grower Of tree fruits actually beholde1
to birds in any way and could he not
do entirely without them?
Not bird tackles the San Jose or
pernicious scale or any Of the other
fruit scales. know of none that eats
apple lice, peach or other root lice or
grape leaf hoppers. There is no bird
that gets effectively at the peach bor-
er, none that digs out the round head
apple borer, none that gets at the
sinuate pear borer, none that takes the
pear, psylla, none that eats curculios
enough to save plum crop and none
that exercises any effective control
over the codllng moth. Now, here we
have most of our chief orchard pests.
and If every bird were given an abso-
lutely free hand and If each did Its
best the fruit grower would yet be apt
to lose fruit or tree, or both, according
to the species Of insect involved.
In other words, no matter how many
birds are in an orchard, the fruit grow
er would yet have to spray just exact
ly as he does now, and were every
bird removed he would not have to
spray much, If any more.
The robin is especially mentioned
here because this bird has become so
numerous and so bold in our state
that it is now veritable pest to the
fruit grower. All kinds Of small fruits
are taken, beginning with strawber-
ries and cherries in spring and ending
with grapes in the fall. Thousands
upon thousands Of dollars loss was
caused by them in the summer of
1908. It is fair to question what ben
eft they rendered in return.
The answer is positive. To the horti-
culturist they rendered none at all. In
the entire list Of insects found in robin
stomachs there is none that Is real
OfcudTu pest, anu there are uOne luat
feed upon small fruits that could not
have been much more cheaply con.
trolled by the horticulturist had they
occurred in troublesome numbers.
I would not for moment suggest
any general relaxing of the protection
now accorded to any bird, but it is fair
to realize that as some Of the protected
birds make no return for the fruits
they destroy the fruit grower should
be allowed to protect his property, but
no more. There should be no opening
that would allow Of wanton destruc
tion.-Dr. John B. Smith, Entomologist
Of the New Jersey Experiment Station.
Before the State Horticultural Society.