The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-05-30
KILLING OF BIRDS AN
INGRAT|TUDE FOR
THEIR BENEFACT|OKS
WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN INSECT DESTRUCTION AND
WEED ERADICATION.
UNDERWOOD BILL PROVISIONS
+ Something Is Not Done for Protec-
ton at Once It viii Be Too Late to
Repent and Forests viii Not Echo
Their Song.
(By A. l.. Garrison, Chief Feed and
Seed Inspector, Department of
Agriculture


Agriculture
| am influenced by neither senti-
ment nor patriotism in writing this
article, but / write it on a condition
of existing fact. which would be folly
for anyone to undertake to deny or
dispute. My information on the SUBJ
ject is limited to my own personal
observation and may not therefore
be presented n as logical and as
forceful manner as the subject de-
serves.
| wish weIe able and had IN op-
portunity to speak my feelings, and
be understood, to every man, woman
and child il Tennessee. In a state
and country where we are capable OF
doing and where we actually do great
things, we are prone to forget and
neglect some things that are appar-
emily small but which are in reality
great.
The protection of non-game birds
means millions Of dollars to the farm
ers of this country in insect destruc-
ton and weed eradication. may be
somewhat cranky and oyer-zealous
when | state that it Is the height of
ingratitude r. watch a catbird satisfy
her appetite ~ eating a handful Of
caterpillars from a choice apple tiee,
then to take the taste out of her
mouth fit away for ripe cherry or
berry of some kind and in doing so
get shot-ingra titude exemplified by
real tragedy-a benefactor and
friend slauglt cred by him to whom
it was sent by wise Creator to bene-
fit economically, and to cheer with
it's message of love given forth from
vocal chords never to be equalled or
approached by the most accomplish
ed prima donna.
The people are aware as never be-
fore of the cruelty as we'll as the eco
nomical loss involved in the uncheck-
ed slaughter of birds. One of the
minor features of the Underwood tar
iff bill is to this end: THE importa-
ton of feathers, quilts, heads, wings,
skins or parts of skins of wild birds,
either raw or manufactured, and not
for scientific I'll educational purposes
is hereby prohibited. The prohibi-
ton is the favorable response TO the
humane sentiment of the country and
is aimed to stop traffic in the trophies
of as wanton slaughter and was
ever perpeIrated to cater to the vsni-
ty of humankind.
If the farmers, the school teachers,
the newspapers and other like Ggen-
cies would exert their powerful in
fluence for Il few years in behalf of
these little f,ieLds we could with al
most absolute assurance feel safe
from insect pests, and instead OF the
croaE ct the freq there would come
from the orchard, end the deep
tangled wildwood, melodies which
would excel that If the babbling
brooks styled by poets as natures
sweetest music.
+ If protection is not given the same,
in few years there will come from
our woodlands and forests a death
like silence. The boil weevil, potato
beetle, grasshoppers, and all othe" in
sect enemies If the Aeld and orchard
will march Unchecked and unhinder-
ed, doing damage equal to that of the
droughts, floods, cyclones and to,Ta-
does.
Think about it, This is no idle
dream. Let us no longer stain cur
selves with The destruction of these
little creatures God Almighty gave
to bless the lives of men" 1T will
soon be too .ate to repine-the NOV
ing finger writes; and having writ
moves on; NOR all your piety Or wit
shall lure it back to cancel nalf a
line, nor all your tears wash out a
line of. it."
In future articles on this subject
] shall give reports fror farmers bull
letins Nos 506 and 513 which will
prove conclusively the economic
value of difTare MT birds