The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1913-05-30
TO THE FARMERS
OF TENNESSEE
By Capt. 7. F. Peck, Commissioner Of
Agriculture.
Protect The Birds
By A. L. Garrison, Chief Feed And
Seed Inspector, Department
Agriculture.


am influenced by neither senti
ment nor patriotism in writing thi;
article, but | write 1T on condition
of existing facts which would be
folly for anyone to undertake tc
deny or dispute. My information
on the subject is limited to my own
personal observation and may not
therefore, be presented in as logical
and as forceful manner as the sub
Jet deserves.
l wish | were able and had an OPP.
portunity to speak my feelings, and
be understood, to every man, wo-
man and child in 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 apparently small but
which are in reality great.
The protection of non game birds
means millions of dollars to the
farmers of this country in insect
destruction and weed eradication.
/ may b. somewhat cranky and over
Jealous when state that it is the
height of ingratitude to watch a
catbird satisfy her appetit4 by eating
handful of caterpillars from a
choice appletree, 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-ingrati-
tude exempiified by a real tragedy
"a benefactor and friend slaugh-
tered by him to wnom it was seat
bv a wise Creator to benefit economi-
cally, and to cheer with it's message
of love given forth from vocal chords
never to be equalled or approached
by the most accomplished prima
donna.
The people are aware as never be-
fore of the cruelty as well as the
economic loss involved in the I'M
checked slaughter # birds. One 81
the minor features of the Under
wood TaAiff Bill is to this end:
THE importation of the feathers,
quilts, heads, wings, skins or parts
of skins of wild birds, either raw or
manufactured, and not for scientific
or educational purposes is hereby
prohibited" The prohibition is
tn favorable response to the hu
name sentiment of the country and
is aimed to stop traffic in the tro-
phies of as wisnton slaughter as
was ever perpetrated to cater to the
vanity of HUMANKIND.
If the farmers, tho school teachers
the newspapers and other like
agencies would exert their powerful
influence for few years in behalf
of these little friends we could with
almost absolute assurance feel safe
from insect pests, and instead OF
the oroak of the frog there would
come from the orchard, the
meadow, ard the deep tangled
wildwood, melodies which would
excel that of the babbling brooks, "
styled by poets as Natures sweetest
music.
II protection is not given the
same, in few years there will come
from our woodlands and forrest a
d athlike silence. The boil weeyil,
potato beetle, grass hopper, and all
other insect enemies of the field and
orchard will march unchecked and
unhindered. doing damage equal to
that of all the droughts, fools, cy-
clones and tornadoes
Think about it. This is no idle
dream Let us no longer stain our
selves with the destruction of these
little creatures God Almighty gave
to bless the lives of men. 1t
will soon be too late to repine; the
moving finger writes; and having
writ moves on; nor all your pietv
nor wit shall lure it back to cancel
half a line. nor all your tears wash