Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-09-26
I Fruit Eating Birds.
THE GROWER SUFFERS, BUT HE SHOULD
CONSIDER HIS GAINS FROM THEM.

"Grspe Grower" Keuks Lake, N. T.,
writes: "What redress Is there against
the ravages of birds on fruit? Ny choic'
est grapes are getting ruined this year
by ph9bes, song sparrows and other
protected vermin, and neither know Of
a way to stop it or to obtain indemnity
for the serious losses they inflics on the
only income that We ineyardists have.
Why are not snakes, tOads and frogs
protectedP They are among the greatest
exterminators OF vermin that We have
and do no injury to either farmer or
fruit grower"
The questiouer has my warmest SYM
pathy. 1t is hard to see the fruit OF
ones labors destroyed and have no
remedy except be become a law-bresker.
Yet one must be philosopher and real
ize that, after all, most OF our laws are
just and are based on "the greatest good
to the greatest number" and although
We sometimes suffer because OF them, in
the long run we ourselves are the gain
ers. Do not misunderstood me; fully
realize that TO sit down and philosophize
will pay no debts nor feed the hungry
two very present factors with most of
us. Nevertheless, if one does take
broad view of such matters his outlook
on life becomes much brighter. know
of no redress in cases of this kind-and
they are many-e1cept either to take
the law into ones own hands and de-
stroy the pests, or to take such prevent
i've measures as one can. As to the
first, it would doubtless afford relief
from present ills, but what If such prac-
tice became universal? We should en-
gender disrespect for law, wholly bad.
Further, were the birds allowed to be
ruthlsssly destroyed, the horde of in
sects which would then spring up would
leave our orchards and vineyards, not to
mention other crops, like the land of
Israel after the palmer worm, the locust
and the grasshopper had done their
work. Analyses Of the stomachs of the
birds mentioned show an immense guam
tity of insects which prey on our fruit.
Unquestionably the increase OF many of
the insect pests long with US is due to
the unbalancing of nature by the de
structiou Of birds and their places OF
habitstion.
Some years ago the writer was called
upon TO make an address before the
farmers congress of this state on the
subject of damage by insects to agri-
culture, and he made the prophecy that
unless there was greater encouragement
given to the secure nesting OF birds and
their wholesale destruction was stopped
the state would be obliged to propagate
them, as it now does fish. Longer OBJ |
have not caused me to change |
my mind. Further, to do away with the |
songs of the birds would be to take |
away one of the charms of country life. |
Please do not call this sentimentality,
out of place in the life of hard handed
farmer. God pity the men and women |
who have sentiment left out OF their |
lives.
The grapes may be protected by bag
ying. This is practical and, aside from |
the protection it gives them from birds |
and bees, it will enhance their lustre and
increase their market value enough to
well repay the outlay. The task is not |
40 great as would appear. A short time
ago was in the vineyard Of B. j. Case
Of Sodus, and saw ten acres all bagged.
He had used more than forty thousand |
paper sacks, and he did it as COM
mercial proposition.
There is not the incentive to destroy |
snakes and toads that there is BIRDS
good for food, as we'll as ornament-and |
their manner of life in the dark gives
them a protection not secured to our
feathered friends. Frogs are killed for
their meat, but the good they do is
small. Only certain kinds Of snakes are
beneficial anyway.-Edward Van AL
styne, in Tribune Farmer.