Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-08-13
OF MANKIND
Feathered Creatures Of Greatest
.s Benefit to Farmers.
livery sonoster That Lives on Insect
Life 10 Worth Its Weight In Gold
Should BE Encouraged in
the Gardens fi

Few persons actually realize the
great good accomplished by many OF
the more common varieties OF insect
destroying birds. Every bird that
lives on insect life is worth its weight
In gold to mankind, declares Harper's
Weekly. In most localities these use
full birds have been SO destroyed as
to be almost exterminAted, and the
increase of destructive insects that
frequent the field, orchard and garden
Is appalling. Something will have to
be done soon or mankind will be con-
fronted with a very difficult problem.
The natural means Of exterminating
these pests are by far the best. The
birds are the natural enemies Of the
life that destroys and injuries the
various crops. Why not assist the
willing birds in this work? We can
easily do so II we but stop and con-
slider for. a moment. Instead Of de-
plotting the flocks Of bluebirds, wrens
and purple martins, encourage them
to inhabit your lawns, gardens and
orchards. q
Erect homes for the birds. The
little common house wren that is al
ways busy either in winter or summer
in catching thousands Of insects or
feeding on their laryee will greatly
appreciate a little effort on our part
to provide them shelter. Tin cans.
old coffee pots or small wooden boxes
fastened on fences, outbuildings, ar
bors or trees, and provided with en-
frances about the size of haltdol-
wren, and the number OF young
Matched and fed with the pests in
the garden will insure a greater
quality and better quality Of fruits
and vegetables. 81.
The bluebird II another enemy Of
the hundreds of insects that get In
their wicked work in the early spring
and summer, when bloom and tender
fruits are exposed to their ravages.
They can be induced to remain about
our homes If provided with suitable
roosting and nesting boxes. The type
OF home may vary, but It should not be
too large, and more than one should be
erected about the home, especially in
the orchard. A box not more than
twelve by eighteen inches, divided In
Of four rooms, with an opening into
each room and narrow ledge or
alighting board, IL the most easily pro
vided. It should be placed on pole
about twelve or fifteen feet high. It
might be well to have the pole att
80 o1,ar1 -, :, forn v,ook ~ cow a ~ !, oy
handy place, by a hinge so the box
can be lowered when 1t Is necessary to
clean 1t out or remove the English
sparroWs. sls5 ss III
The purple martin Is one Of our
greatest sectivorous birds. It is an
annual visitor. arriving about the first
of April. It never nests In trees. 1t
prefers some well sheltered home, and
one that is out OF reach of the cats
Many years ago martin boxes were
quite common. and great colonies
were seen each year. But during the
last quarter Of century the martin
has been neglected, and one can travel
for miles without seeing birdhouse.
Every farmer, and, In fact, every
owner Of a home, should assist in re-
claiming these birds. Erect homes
for them. A great variety Of houses
can be built. Any one can secure q
box from the grocer. cut q couple Of
small holes in it, and place 1t on
q pole not far from the house. Many
of pretty designs can be built that will
not only serve good purpose, but
make the home more attractive. The,
martin loves to be noticed and talked
to, and 1t will repay one for his
trouble in its CHEEKY MARBLE, and in
time its presence will be shown In
the quantity and quality Of the pro
ducts injured by the insect pests.