The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-27
that offers their State piece of the
THE SPARROW AND THE wEEv1I,

The Tribune has heretofore talzer
notice Of the claim that the English
| sparrow is foe TO the alfalfa weevil
and that hope of the determination Of
the weevil can be entertained by the
use of the sparrow 10 that work of cX
termination, But since the English
sparrow was here in great numbers be
fore there was any such thing as the
alfalfa wecvil ever dreamed of in this
locality. and since the weevil appears to
be having very much its own way in
spite OF the innumerable flocks Of Eng
lish sparrows here, il is not easy to see
what practical expectation can in fact
be entertained Of any relief from the
weevil by means of the sparrow.
However, In order that those who
have the idea that something is to be
hoped for from the aid of the sparrow
against the wcevil. and since there ap-
pears TO be some scrambling for pre-
cmincncc in the expression of this hope,
The Tribune is glad to print the follow
ing letter which seeks to place priority
in this discovery of the effectiveness of
the English sparrow against the weevil
where il belongs:
TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE
CAESARS,
Editor Tribune.-In The Tribune OF
this date. / noticed an item from Madi
son, Wisconsin. under the caption: Eng
lish Sparrow Foe OF Alfalfa Weevll I'M
portant Discovery Made by Two Scien-
lists from Wisconsin and Idaho" The
arIyr n no wO-f0
that the weeYi Is not spread through
the seed, and that the pest is taken by
the English sparrow. II would seem that
these scientists are q bit late in their
discovery at all events so far as the
English sparrow Is concerned. Under
date of September 27. 1911, The Tribune
published letter from F. r. Kalmbach.
an expert connected with the Biological
Survey. at Washington. which makes in
teresting reading in view OF the reported
discovery The letter was address TO
Fish and Game Commissioner chambers.
and gave some OF the results of the In
vestigatlons carried on by the Govern
lnent in connection with the A. c. u,
in the vicinity of Murray, and In ad-
jacent infested localities. In this letter
the writer stated that twenty-one species
of birds included the weevil In their bill
OF fare, some OF which, such as the Bobo-
link and Cowbird. eat IL TO the extent
OF over half OF the food taken. while
certain sparrows go as high as 81 per
cont. THE young OF the English spar
row." II was stated. gave a percentage
OF 32.1 as their share Of the good work.
This was based on the examination OF
over 200 stomachs. The old birds
,te but II per cent Of the weevil." From
his 1t seems that the relations OF the
English sparrow to the wecyil were un-
ierstood at least two years ago.
And not only have Government experts
studied this subject on the ground. where
he weevil has done the greatest amount
'f damage. but our own entomologists,
If the A, c. U.-Drs. Ball and Titus
rave devoted much time to this pest
almost from its first appearance in Utah
n 1907: and have recently given to the
press the results OF their labors. In cir
,ular No. 10. entitled "The Control of
he Alfalfa Weevil." by DR.. E. G. Titus |
4 the Agricultural College, issued in |
March OF the present year. is to be found
: concise statement OF our knowledge OF |
he weevil. I'd to date. We would COM
mend n careful reading Of this circular
o the scientists referred to in the Item |
lnder consideration, and to all others |
Who are in search OF reliable information |
IN the subject.
S H. GOODWIN.
Provo. August "a. 1918.