Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-10-18

tAs corr. aud The corn Il eomplsssly siassd
By The sun.
Ethan Brooks, who rscommsnds this
method, considers 1t By far the quickest
way Of tarfing corn, and states that for
Year, he has planted with machine corn
treated In this way.
In cases whore grosbeaks or other small
birds are the only ones that injurs SEED
grain. 1t 10 probable that the shove pre-
caution may be safely omitted. Drilled
grain, especially II planted BY . machine
which packs soil over the seed, 10 safe
from their attacks. II the birds simply
nip on the leaf, no particular harm Is
done. Indeed in some cases the crop ID
benefited BY the stooling this process
stimulates.
Standing grain may BE- insured against
tho attacks Of small birds by planting .
few rows Of millet on the edges Of the
held. Millet 10 considered . prime IA
vorite with all grain-eating birds, and
should be sown 90 % to rtpen ct the time
the grain 10 exposed to damage.
Grosbeaks sometimes steal corn from
cribs, bat the remedy il obvious. A
lining Of small-meshed wire netting, be-
sides protecting the contents Of the crib
from birds, docs greater service by keep
ing out mice and rats.
Planting wild fruit 10 important for the
purpose Of attracting birds. The best for
the purpose are elder, mulberry, june
berry or serviceberry, wild or seeding
cherries, dogwoods, hollies, juniper, bay
berry, Virginia creeper, blueberries,
blackberrie and wild grapes. Not ali
the thickets on farm should be removed.
since they serve to harbor birds, to protect
them from enemies and to furnish nest
ing-sites. Where thickets are lacking,
the growth OF artificial ones should be en-
couraged, for they are very attractive to
grosbeaks.
permanent drinking and bathing
place on the farm and in the garden is to
be numbered among the most potent
attractions for birds, and with a little
ingenuity one can be prepared in almost
any locality. Winter feeding serves to
attract the cardinal, which relishes corn,
sunfiower and other seed, and takes
kindly even to table scraps. II particular
premises prove congenial as Q winter
home, the bird is likely to prefer them in
summer.
No efforts to attract grosbeaks will sue
coed unless protection IL assured. Gros-
beaks are already protected BY law in
practically every state, but, since the
machinery for the enforcement OF the
laws 10 often ineffective, statutory pro-
lection must be supplemented by individ-
ual action, particularly under trespass
laws. Such action has long been taken in
behalf Of game birds, and the wise land
holder will take equal precautions to pre-
serve the samller insectivorous species
which he is 80 fortunate q to have ss
tenants.
Shooting and nest-robbing must, OF
course, be barred. Squirrels, when al.
lowed to become too numerous, destroy
many eggs and young. But In the settled
districts the worst enemy of birds is the
prowling cat. In certain islands, cats
have completely exterminated many birds,
almost every kind nesting on or
near the ground, and everywhere they
levy heavy toll upon small insectivorous
species. Unquestionably, II the number
Of birds is to be materially increased,
measures must be taken to dispose OF row.
ing cats. Grosbeaks are usually able to
defend themselves and their nests against
the English sparrow, but for the sake Of
other small birds the numbers OF this for
eign pest should be materially reduced.
Present Investigations prove that the
services Of grosbeaks in destroying insect
pests are invaluable. Each kind pays
special attention to certain pests which, IL
would cause enormous Losses.
Few Of our birds are to be credited with
more good and with fewer evil deeds than
the grosbsaks, and none more clearly de-
sssvs protection By the practical farmer.