The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-07-29
FEAR MOTH PLAGUE.
Farmers Rally for Bird Check. Feathered
Forces of Nature Fight Pests Best.

Farmers Rally TOT blI0 \neCN redtneIeu
Forces of Nature Fight Pests Best.
New YORK, July 26th. Alarmed by
the invasion of the gypsy and brown
tail moths into this State from New Eng
land, where their ravages have cost the
people many millions of dollars, thou
sands of leaders among the agricultural
communities of every section OF the
country are joining a movement to ward
off this crop plague by protecting the
birds that serve as its greatest check.
Acting upon this emergency demand
from the farming interests the National
Association of Audubon Societies has es-
tablished national information bureau
at 14l Broadway, from which instruct
ions for preserving and increasing the
numbers of the insect-eating birds are
being distributed throughout the coun-
try. If every American who is interest
ed in the crop wealth of the land will
Join this campaign of practical education
at once, it is declared by chronological
experts here there may yet be some hope
of averting the moth plague which now
threatens to sweep the continent.
Three main lines of work have been
projected by the leaders in this move
ment on behalf of the country's agrlcul-
tural interests. Sentiment in favor OF
the protection of birds is to be crystal
lized, comprehensive and drastic laws to
this end enacted, and every possible
means used to attract birds and thus IN
crease their number to combat the in
sect crop pests. Every State, county
and town where proper protection OF the
insect eating birds has not been provided,
or whose bird laws are not enforced, viii
fall an easy prey to the costly ravages OF
the spreading moths, it is shown. Failure
to take up an active campaign such as Is
proposed can only be undone IN the race
of the moth plague by years of hare
labor and millions of dollars of the tax
pavers money. This has been proved by
the government and State authorities.
The Empire State is massing great
force Of experts near Port Chester
where these insect pests have just cross
ed the border line on their way West. Ii
this advancing column is not checked, il
will cost the people many millions OF dol
lars il the near future to make up fol
the depletion of its wild birds, due tt
wears of lax laws, it is estimated. Ir
other States in the path of this pest
where little LEGISLATION exists to prevent
the slaughter of the insect-eaters, cam
paigns are already on foot to rouse the
people to the seriousness Of the situation
For wears the millinery interests have
prevented the farmers from securing
real bird protection in New York State
1t is pointed out. and now the whole com
ronwealth must pay the penalty.
Every American who cares for the
preservation of the nation agriculture
wealth will find US ready and glad to tel
him what ne can do to help in this emer
gercv." said William butcher, Presi
dent of the National Association Of
Audubon Societies at its headquarters
14l Broadway, to-day. ''Wild birds car
be attracted by erecting suitable bire
houses and in this way increasing the
number of birds in a given locality
Birds will be found far more effective
remedy to prevent the increase of these
two insect pests than any other means
that can be employed. The late Baror
Won Berlepsch. on his estate of 800 acre;
at Seebach, in the District OF Langen
salza, in Thuringia, experimental along
these lines for thirty years with the
most phenomenal success. A history Of
this experiment was published in Ger
man 1t has been translated into
English, and may be obtained for few
cents from this association. The fecun-
dity of the gypsy and brown-tail moth is
wonderful, and therefore every possible
effort should be made to stamp out every
colony Of them that is discovered in this
State or any other part of the United
States before these pests can spread.