The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-06-30
THE GRoSBEAK AND
AGRICULTURE.

The grosbeak Is a ver- much malign-
ed bird and instead of being destruc-
tive to crops he is, on the contrary. of
great benefit, according to Farmers
Bulletin ass, just issued by Secretary
Wilson. The bulletin states that seven
kinds of finches, commonly known as
the grosbeak, summer within our
boundaries. A majority of these are
good friends Of the farmer and deserve
to be widely known in order that their
services may be appreciated. The
grosbeaks are easily distinguished from
other finches by their stout form,
bright plumage, massive bills and melo-
dious voices. Two of them live mainly
in cold, mountainous areas and have
little to do with farms or with the
insects that prey upon crops. and
these may be dismissed without furth-
er notice. The other five live largely
In agricultural regions and secure most
of their food about cultivated lands.
They perform invaluable service in de-
stroying certain Of our worst insect
pests.
The rose breasted species is a great
destroyer of the potato bug. He breeds
over Kansas and the mountains of
Tennessee. The Investigations Of the
department show that the bird Is fond
Of green peas, but invariably consumes
enough injurious insects to more than
offset the damage. He has become
famous for his preying on the Colora-
do potato beetle and no less than one
tenth of the total food it consumes has
been proven to be the potato beetle.
1t attacks the Cucumber beetle. 1t has
proven an active enemy OF the Rocky
mountain locust during that insects
ruinous invasions and among the other
pests 1t consumes are the spring and
fall cankerworms, orchard and forest
tent caterpillars, tussock, gypsy and
brown tail moths. plum curculic, army
worm and chinch bug. In fact, states
the bulletin, 1t attacks the worst enc
mics Of agriculture.
The cardinal or redbird species
ranges from Mexico, lower California
and Arizona, north to Iowa and On
tario and east 10 the Atlantic coast.
They are permanent residents, spend
ing the summer and Tyinter in the same
locality. 1t has been claimed they pull
sprouting grain. but no evidence OF
damage TO either grain or other crops
is shown from over 500 examinations.
On the contrary they do much good.
They feed on iocusts, periodical cicada,
the Colorado potato beetle. the rose
chafer, cotton worm, plum or cherry
scale, the zebra caterpillar Of the cab
bage, the cucumber beetles, biilbugs,
locust flea-bettIe, worm ear worm, cot
ton cutworm, southern figeater cod
ling moth and boil weevil and In addi-
q 80.
weed seeds.
The black headed grosbeak halls
from southern Mexico and invades
North Dakota and Nebraska. 1t fills
the same place in the west that the
rosebreast does in the east It is
foe to the worst pests or horticulture,
the scale insect composing a fourth Of
its food.
The blue grosebeak breeds over the
southern thirds Of the United
States and Is greatly destructive to
weevils, grasshopperg, Iocusts. cater
pillars and worms.
The gray grosbeak inhabits Texas.
Arizona and New Mexico. 1t is a con-
sistent enemy Of the boil weevil and
cotton worm. It also consumes great
quantities OF harmful weed seeds.
The bulletin winds up with a plea
for the protection Of the grosbeak, and
says: Present investigations prove
that the services OF the grosbeak In
destroying insect pests are Invaluable.
Each kind pays especial attention 10
certain pests which IL unchecked would
cause enormous loss. Few Of our birds
are to be credited with more good and
with fewer evils than the grosbeak and
none more clearly deserves protection
by the practical farmer