The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-09-27
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.
The destruction of insectivorous
birds through forest fires and the bull
let's of pothunters has been found by
the United States department of agri-
culture to be,a 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 1885,
600 square miles. most of 1t 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 1t now consists of forty-two
acres, but it soon will be increased to
100 acres to permit of the breeding in
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 a 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. Z. Mcintosh read 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 I'M
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 insects are therefore
on the increase in 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.