Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-01
SNAKES AN ASSET
Worth Millions In War Time ~ Food
Savers.

Savers.
Reptiles are the greatest enemies Of 70.
dents that destroy grain and carry dis
ease. They only strike In self-defense and
few are poisonous.
Snakes are a valuable asset and there
should be a campaign against killing
them, writes Gayne T. X. Norton In the
current issue Of the American Fol- estry
Magazine. The article goes on to show
what the snake does for food conserva-
ton by way of killing rodents and insects
the greatest enemies to grain that man
knows. The public has become acquaint-
ed with snakes as never before, writes
Mr.. Norton, because Of the thousands
who have been engaged in the campaign
for war gardens that has been conducted
by the national emergency food garden
commission.
The plea for the snakes is illustrated
with pictures of Miss Gladys Ditmars.
daughter Of Raymond L. Ditmars. cura-
tor Of the New York Geological society.
fondling a king snake. Allen Samuel WILL
iams, founder Of the Reptile Study So
ciety. and George Won Buehren, of New
York city, who has one Of the best pri-
vate collections of snakes In the world.
The work Of the Ditmars club Of New
ark. N. j.. whose members go snake
hunting is recited in detail.
with this summer the millions Of
war gardens have given the snake popu-
lar interest-a news angle editors must
consider" writes Mr. Norton. The gar
dens brought outdoors many who. ordin-
arily would not step from paving blocks.
Tremendously increased tillage has
brought people and snakes together
UNLESS much educational work is done
the number Of snakes that will be xii ID
next year by the well-meaning but mis-
informed gardeners will be very large.
Our snakes. and we are rich in reptile
life ARE a national asset worth many
millions Of dollars. Snake killing will
never become a national issue-conserved
as an economic factor destroyed as a
menace-yet the snake. particularly at
this time. should be conserved. The re-
lation 1t bears to successful crops Is i'm
portant-more important than even the
average farmer realizes.
Reptiles may not manifest friendship
toward us, few would welcome such a
condition, yet they are not enemies.
They never attack unless in self-defense.
OF our Ill species but II are poisonous
two species Of Flaps. coral snakes. and
Is species of Crotaline snakes. the cop
perhead and moccasn, the dwarf and
typical rattlesnakes. On the other hand.
the help they render is valuable. The
pests destroyed each year. especially the
rodents that injure crops and carry COM
municable diseases. roll up large bal
ance of gooN service In their favor.
Rodents are destroyers Of farm prod
ucts. cause loss by fire through gnawing
matches and insulation from electric
wires and Of human life, through germ
carrying. particularly the bubonic plague.
Before the war the United States depart
ment Of agriculture placed the bill at
s50o. co. 200. one-ffth Of which equals the
| loss Of grain. With advanced prices this
is increased.
They also destroy eggs, young poul-
try. squads and pigeons. birds and young
rabbits. pigs and lambs. loss to hus-
bandry not estimated in figures but rea-
lized as extensive is due to the killing
Of fruit trees by girdling or other in
juries to the bark by species Of wild ro-
dents. Eminent medical authorities agree
that many plaques can be accounted for
by rodents. AS a destructive agency the
rodents have no rival.
THE gross ignorance regarding our
snakes causes slaughter Of all things
that wear scales and crawl. Farmers
should protect and breed the harmless
snakes rather than kill them. Many Eu-
ropean countries have protective legisla-
tion."