The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-29
FARMERS
RALLY FOR
BIRD CHECK
FEATHERED FORCES OF NATURE
FIGHT PESTS eEsT-AUDUUBoN
WORKERS HEAD NEW MOVE.

NEW YORK, July 29.-Alarmed b.
the invasion of the gypsy and brown
tail moths into this state from New
England, where their ravages have
cost the people many millions of dol
lars, thousands of leaders among the
agricultural communities of every
section of the country are today join
ing a movement to ward off this crop
plague by protecting the birds that
serve as it's greatest check. Acting
upon this emergency demand fronl
the farming interests, the National AS
sociation of Audubon Societies has es-
tablished a national Information bu-
reau at 141 Broadway from which in
structions for preserving and increas-
ing the numbers of the insect eating
birds are being distributed through
out the country. If every American
who is interested in the crop wealth
of the land will join this campaign OF
practical education at once, it is de
clared by chronological experts here,
there may yet be some hope of avert
ing the moth plague which now threat
ems to sweep the continent.
Three main lines Of work have been
projected today by the leaders in this
movement on behalf of the country's
agricultural interests. Sentiment in
favor of the protection of birds is to
be crystalized, comprehensive anc
drastic laws to this end enacted, ana
every possible means used to attract
birds and thus increase their number
to combat the insect crop pests Ev-
cry state, county and town wi re prop
er protection of the insect eatins
birds has not been provided or whose
bird laws are not enforced, will fall
an easy prey to the costly ravages Of
the spreading moths, it is shown
Failure to take up an active campaiel
such as is proposed can only be un
done in the face of the moth plague
by years of hard labor and million.
of dollars of the taxpayers money,
has been proved by the government
and state authorities.
The Empire State is today massin
a great force of experts near POr
Chester, where these insect poets hav
, just crossed the border line on thei
way west If this advancing column
is not checked, it will cost the pee
pie many millions of dollars in tn
near future to make up for the de
pletion of its wild birds, due to year
of lax laws, it is estimated In othe
states in the path of this pest, wher
little legislation exists to prevent tn
slaughter of the insect eaters, cam
pai2ns are already on foot to rous
the people to the seriousness of til
situation. For years the millinery il
terests have prevented the farmer
from securing real bird protection i
New York state, it is pointed out, an
now the whole commonwealth mu:
pay the penalty.
every American who cares for II
preservation of the nations agrlCu
tural wealth will find us ready an
glad to tell him what he can do
r. help in this emergency said Villa
butcher, president of the National A
sociation of Audubon Societies at j
headquarters, 141 Broadway, toda
"Wild birds can be attracted by ere,
- ing suitable bird houses and in III
way increasing the number of Dir
in a given locality. Birds vii
u found a far more effective remedy
. prevent the increase of these two
sect pests than any other means tn
can be employed. The late Baron Y,
Berlepsch on his estate of 500 acr
n at Seebach, in the District Of LANCE
y salza, in Tthuringia, experiment,
- along these lines for thirty wears wi
the most phenomenal success. 4 h
tory of this experiment was publish
20 in German. 1t has been tran5la"
in into English and may be o3lain
tn for a few cents from this associate
40 The fecuudity of the gypsy and brow
-, tail moth IS wonderful, and thereto
every possible effort should 10 ma
II to stamp cut every colony Of tn
at that is discovered in this state or a