Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-12-06
~ g.. - - -. =. !
BIOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Its Great Work In Behalf Of Our Agri.
y cultural interests. /. .,

The biological survey is quietly
working for the good of our agricul-
tural interests and is an excellent ex-
ample Of government bureau which
conducts original scientific research
the findings Of which are of much
practical utility. For more than TWEEN
ty years it has studied the food habits
of birds and mammals that are inju-
rious or beneficial to agriculture, hor-
ticulture and forestry, has distributed
illustrated bulletins on the subject and
has :labored to secure Legislative pro-
lection for the beneficial species. The
cotton boil weevil, which has recently
overspread the cotton belt Of Texas
and is steadily extending Its range, Is
said to cause an annual loss of about
$3,O0O,000. The biological survey has
ascertained and given wide publicity.
to the fact that at least forty-three
kinds Of birds prey upon this destruc-
tive insect. LtEhas discovered that fif-
ty-seven species of birds feed upon
scale insects, dreaded enemies Of the
fruit grower. It has shown that wood
peckers as class by destroying the
larvae Of wood boring insects are so
essential to tree life that 1t is doubtful
If our forests could exist without them.
It has shown that cuckoos and orioles
are the natural enemies of the leaf:
eating caterpill liars that destroy our
shade and fruit trees; that our Quails
and sparrows consume annually hun
dreds of tons OF seeds Of noxious
weeds; that hawks and owls as q class
excepting the few that kill poultry
and game birds sare markedly bench
cial. spending their lives In catching
grasshopp ers, mice and other pests
that prey upon the products OF hus!;
bandry.SsT It has conducted field expert
mentsE for: the purpo of deyising and.
perfecttng simple methods for holding
TN check the hordes of destructive ro-i
dents "a ts, mice, IA bbi ts, gophers,
prairie dogs and ground squirrels
which annual Il destroy crops worth
many mill ions o. ollars, and 1t has
published prac cal / directions for the
;destruc ton Of wolves and coyotes on
the stock ranges Of the west, resulting
during the past rear III nm estimated
saving DC tile and sheep "a lued at
upward of NH lion dol lar.
1T has inaugu rated ii system OF in
5Gpectton at the principal ports OF en-
Try on both "a tlantic and Pacific coasts
by means &c which the Intro duction of
laoxious amnaals and birds IT'D pre-
vented, thus keeping out the mongo goose
and certain bird nj ich are as much
10 be dreaded as The previously Intro
Sduced EngI ishs spa ROW and the house
ssatsEand mice
the interest offS game# protect lion gits
has co-oparatad iittla local on falls in1
every state ia the Ion, has strivenI
sso promote fforrn leglsiat lion in the
several states, has rendered Important
service in5 emf the federal Id WI
sreguI ating Interstate ii TIA dlic inS game
sand has shown how game protection
may be made to yield d large revenue
the state, 4 revenue amounting linz
the ease Of u illinois to 12S, 900 III al
single year.
lslie bioIogI cal survey has explored
eelie faunas and ttioras off America With
reference to- the distribut on of AMI
mails and pla has defined and
mapped the natural lie areas areas
5tsa hich By reason of reYailing els
matte condi tlons, cert lain kinds ami
mails aud plants 5ccsl d has point
Sed out ttIIle adap III OF these areas
the efai Ion off pag:tti Lar crops.
5s!The results DC these III vesti cations are
not orl of efluca Il onaI Valne, but
each ear# TO The pro ressivs
FARMERS o9 the coun many tho
3sost ~ maintai ming the s1lrv es
N may be added. sis exc dinghy small.
Erecornmend no cos, ssress ttiilat bsi-S
whose lisef rlnsss is seriously
hhantIfe capped By lack funds. be-
granted an approp ri lion IA SEM dess
sggrss conn ensuiats Will the
.Iasas,e By siile work II III III