The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-09

| more of the natural shelter cut away and less available food supply it is l time for sportsmen to interest them selves and to try to interest others 1 in the best methods of preserving the birds that remain and bringing about an increase.
 There are several ways in which quail may be assisted. In times of severe sleet or heavy snow food may be distributed: broken grain of vari- birds can obtain it in safety. Obviously. however. merely to scat 1 ter grain on the bare ground where it would be likely to be covered up by snow would fail of success. It is l necessary that some shelters also be preparing these. A few bundles of cornstalks form perhaps the best shel- ter, or a few punches of wild hay l thrown over brush or over poles will obtained with the poles about three or four feet from the ground. thus forming a rough tent under which the food may be placed. These shelters the usual haunts of the birds as pos ' sible In scattering the grain un- der the shelters it is essential to see that some gravel is mixed with it and that a little litter of hay or chaff be laid down to allow the quail a
  It is wise to make each shelter and food deposit, not too large. the num- Der and size being best known to the farmers and sportsmen in each town cal conditions. Small patches of shell ter well distributed give by far the best results.
 In order to carry this out there must be a hearty cooperation between the owner of the land and the sportsman. Fr, ,f rfoh 1icI1 1ycr Ch would be trivial. compared with the good it would accomplish. The ma terial for the shelters could. in almost every instance, be easily obtained on the spot. and the cost of forming them chiefly confined to the time spent.
 The grain, too. would not be a large item. I would suggest that the State. instead of expending large sums on the further purchase Of imported birds. lay out part of the revenue from hunting licenses in this d1rec- tion.
 Fob White would not be long in finding these shelters out and making use of them. Such shelters serve 2 double the dt,ss Dirds of rssra woua from their natural enemies. the hawks. etc. Beside supplying the shelters with food. small patches of grain should be sown and left uncut as a. natural feeding ground In this mat
  tion of food. is the cooperation Of the farmer and land owner needed There is not. it is safe to say. sim gle farmer who has not a few spare strips of land which can be used for the sowing of such grain as would af- ford both shelter and food.
 The grain should be sown in sunny. sheltered places and as near natural cover as possible. for the birds ara loath to leave the deeper shelter of the woods and heavy brush thickets in winter. especially when the ground is covered with snow.
 The grains and seeds which can be most profitably sown as winter food are buclxwheat, millet (which gives both food and shelter). sorghum. cow peas. broom corn and Kaffir corn.
 I would suggest that the State. aid- ed perhaps by the association and by such of its supporters as are able to devote a little time and money to the work, purchase and distribute such seeds as are thought suitable for each locality. and that the aid of the farm CTS be sought in doing the sowing
 There is little doubt but that q marked increase in the number of birds would be found in a short time. We shall know much more about the artificial propagation of quail In this way the stock will without doubt be increased; but the first thing is to preserve the native birds we have. They are hardy and more likely to thrive than artificially matched birds