The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-06-20
JOHN +. DRAUGHON
WRITES DEFENDING
CERTAIN ANIMALS
PRESIDENT OF MIDDLE TENNES-
SEE FOX HUNTERS CITES
GOOD POINTS.
FOXES and SKUNkS DISCUSSED
Warning Of the United States Gov
eminent Is Mentioned to Prove His
Assertion That Destruction Must
Be Stopped.

BE Stopped.
A majority of the people OF this
country have always regarded the
fox, the skunk, and other fur-bearing
animals as pests and maruders, levy
ing upon hen roosts for living and
making themselves generally obnox-
ious. From infancy up most Of US
have considered them as wholly evil,
without redeeming trait. But these
animals now have very strong
champion in the person of Prof. John
F. Draughon, of Nashville, Tenn, who
has recently issued in their defense
a very interesting booklet, entitled
"The Farmers Best Friends" We
acknowledge the receipt of the book
let.
A lifetime of experience and obser-
walton has Impressed Prof. Draughon
with the good points of the fox and
other fur-bearing animals. i He has
found that, instead Of being enemies
to the farmer, these animals are actu-
ally an aid to agriculture, subsisting
upon the creatures that subsist upon
the crops; and he, therefore, charac-
terizes them as the farmers best
friends.
But the subject matter Of the book
let is by no means confined to recit-
al of the experience and observation
of the author in justification of his
position with regard to these animals.
There is incorporated in the booklet
the testimony of farmers and others,
corroborating the statements of the
author. Such high authority as the
agricultural department at Washing
ton, is also cited in support of the au-
thor's contention; that department
having found. as the result of scien-
tific experimentation and investiga-
ton, that foxes, skunks and the like
render the farmer most valuable
service by making their living large
ly of the things that destroy crops.
The booklet reviews certain of the
agricultural departments bulletins,
giving The results of its examinations
of the stomachs Of fur-bearing ami
mails in order o ascertain their chief
articles of diet From the examina-
tons it is stated that the pests Of the
farmer the things that destroy his
crops-constitute from 80 to 80 per
cent of the food of fur-bearing ami
mails: and the department estimates
that these pests destroy crops and
fruit trees to an amount of eighty
million dollars each year.
The booklet calls attention to the
warning of the agricultural DEPART
ment, Washington, that continued de-
struction of fur-bearing animals will
make it difficult to grow crops; that,
with the etinction of these animals,
crops will be at the mercy of the
pests that are now the food of these
animals lima Rookie. contain. ,nm.ron. ~ A.
tiers from farmers--landowne
roborative of the departments con-
clusions in the matter, these farmers
testifying that as matter Of their
own knowledge that foxes and other
fur-bearing animals, instead of injur-
ing the farmers interests, are dis
tinct benefit thereto, and that they
have known these animals to dwell in
to pigs and lambs, doing
them no injury whatever.
Prof Draughon does not declare
the absolute innocence of the fox and
other urbearing animals in so far as
the farmers hen roost is concerned,
but ne asserts that for every dollars
worth Of damage done the farmer by
foxes, skunks and the like, he is d.
DCu6IJtcu W Tic dLuOuuL vi lcu
dollars by reason Of these animals de-
stroying his pests, such as field mice,
moles, pocket gophers, etc.
AS shown in the booklet Prof.
Draughon's campaign of education in
this matter has already been success
full to marked degree. AS direct
result of this campaign the present
Tennessee general assembly enacted
a drastic law regulating the setting
of steel traps and the killing with gun
foxes and other fur-bearing animals,
imposing a fine of $25 for each viola.
tion of the law.
NO SUBSTITUTE COULD DO THIS
No inferior substitute, hut only the
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