Connecticut western news., 1910-09-29
WILD BIRDS BRED
 TO SAVE FRUITS
California Starts Huge Farm
 to Aid Growers.
WAR ON INSECT PEST OPENS
Experiment of Vast Pacific Coast State Watched by New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Governments, Which Expect to Follow if Plan Proves a Success.

Proves a Success.
 The destruction of insectivorous birds through forest fires and the bull lets of pothunters has been found by the United States department of agri- culture to be principal cause of the insect pests which have wrought so many million dollars damage to crops throughout the country. Practical work has been left to the states, and California has taken the lead by es- tablishing a state bird farm near Hay ward, in Alameda county, where birds of all sorts are being bred for distribu- ton through the areas that have been devastated. Already the demand for birds is greater than can be supplied In ten years of breeding.
 The first species propagated were the larger woodland and field birds, such as pheasants, quail, cartridges and wild turkeys, but arrangements are be- ing made to raise the smaller insect eating birds, such as robins and war blers. California has an area of 153,- GOO square miles, most of it wild land, so the field is practically limitless and offers great possibilities.
 Favorable Field For Experiment.
 The experiment long ago has been advised by the National, Audubon so- ciety, and the results will be watched with interest by the agricultural de- partments of many states, notably New York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for on results in California depends action by these states.
 The new bird farm is supported by the state treasury and is under super vision of the state fish and game com mission. It now consists of forty-two acres, but it soon will be increased to 100 acres to permit of the breeding in a natural state of the smaller birds.
 It is expected that the farm will be able to turn out 5000 annually. The young birds will be distributed over the state as evenly as possible in punches of fifty and 100.
 The pheasants for breeding were all imported from Europe. The wild tur- keys are obtained from. old Mexico. The females lay eggs promiscuously in the pens, and the eggs are gathered by the keeper and placed under common hens for matching of which the farm has flock of 225 of the White and Barred Plymouth Rock strains.
 The chicks are allowed to run with their foster mothers for two months. Then they are placed in pens by them selves until ready to be liberated.
 Fruit Grower Favors Plan.
 At a recent fruit growers convention at Fresno W. R. Mcintosh read a pa- per in which he said:
 Nowhere in the universe do we find more interesting law of balance than formerly existed in the lives of insects and wild birds. Insects are justly re- garded everywhere as the enemies of agriculture. So long as nature held un- disputed sway our friends kept our enemies in check. But in the destruc- ton of the home of wild birds, the for est, the harmony of nature has been undermined and the balance destroyed. Wild birds are decreasing to an alarm ing extent in every part of the United States. Injurious insectc are therefore on the increase in a similar ratio. So striking has been the increase of in- sect depredations of late years that the appeal of the farmers everywhere for relief is constantly on the increase"