Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-09-14

There is no estimate made for fruits,
as there are no figures as to totals,
but close observation has shown dam
age to be at least 80 per cent, the larg-
est fruit growing areas having been
destroyed entirely.
Cotton Estimate.
The estimate in the case Of cotton
and corn is at least per cent below
actual damage, the general average
for the country being taken, nor Is
damage to gardens taken into account,
which would swell the total enormous
ly. Damage to farm forests, pecan
groves and similar orchards, Is like
wise omitted for want Of aggregate
figures. The total loss can not fall
far below $20,000.000. Nearly all OF
this Is preventable in time by wise
protection of birds, the only efficient
check on the depredations Of insects.
The loss to the entire country last
year through insect ravages has been
set down at something over $1,000,-
100000 by the entomologists of the
biographical survey Of the department
of agriculture.
According to the careful survey Of
DR.. William T. Hornaday, director Of
the New York Geological park, South
Carolina had a net loss Of 80 per cent
of its birds during the period from
1883 to 1898 (15 years). From 1898 to
1902 when the Audubon society Of
South Carolina began to be effective
the slaughter Of the birds went on at
constantly increasing rate, so tnat
by 1908 80 per cent Of the birds had
been lost. This taken in connection
with crop damages is exceedingly
ominous.
The Audubon Society.
Commissioner Watson in his 'ast
annual report has the following to say
concerning the Audubon society: THE
United States department Of agricul-
ture advises farmers throughout the
country to join the Audubon society
and back its work. AS the Audubon
society is the foremost agency in the
world for protecting insect eating and
song birds 1t is we'll to give its plan
and purpose.
1.-The National Association Of Audu-
bon societies in New York city Is the
parent Of all of the various state Au-
dubon societies and it was organized
by few patriotic men for the purpose
of saving the birds Of America. In
the year 1896 there was q rapid spread
of the society into various states until
each state In the Union has an Audu-
bon society and Is giving more or less
attention to the protection Of the birds
In 1907 the legislature Of South Caro-
lima chartered the Audubon society Of
South Carolina, whose declared pur-
pose was to educate the people up to
the value Of birds, game and non-mi-
gratory fish to the state. Since its or
ganization the society has been active
in this work Of educating the people
along the lines indicated. The secre-
tary has published great many arti-
cles in the daily and weekly press on
the value of birds and on the best way
Of protecting them. The society has
published and circulated the laws and
has issued two annual reports. The
secretary has also made a canvass Of
the state, securing members and or
ganizing branch societies for the fur
ther prosecution of the work and to
get the principles Of bird protection
understood by the people. Addresses
have been delivered at many places
for the purpose of enlisting people Of
the state in the cause"
The report further says: Farmers
must realize that the time has come to
demand more protection from the laws
than they have received in the past.
The rapid multiplication Of hunters,
struction of thousands Of insect-eat-
ing and song birds, as we'll as to de-
crease Of game that is alarming. The
burden Of all of this falls directly on
the farmer; he has to pay the freight.
Most farmers agree that something
should be done to protect the birds and
to save great losses entailed on the
crops by the slaughter of the birds.
Briefly, the situation of South Caro-
lima to the west, girdled by the noun
tains, on the east washed by the At
lantic and pierced and watered by nu-