The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-01-23
Let The Birds Live.
From the Dalton Citizen.


at would be worth millions of dollars to
South Carolina if, for just one season the
hunters would fOresWear the pleasure of
hunting birds" says Prof A. F. Conrad.
EntomOlogist of Clemson College And after
quoting the saying Mr.. Clarence Poe of The
Progressive Farmer adds, "And the same
statement doubtless applies to all other
Southern states"
rather close acquaintance with rural
life conditions in various parts of several
Southern states leads the writer to believe
that the above are true and should be quoted
and emphasized by the newspapers all over
our section of the country.
The preservation of the birds is of great
est Importance in promoting the prosperity
as we'll as the health of any given locality
1t is asserted that the larvae of MOSQUITOES
are destroyed by the geese, ducks and other
birds that frequent our swamps and ponds.
This furnishes sufficient reason for their
protection
Then there are many birds of our woods
and fields that devour the weed seeds and
harmful insects, thus saving much of the
time and labor that the farmer would have
to spend on his crops were it not for these
energetic little helpers
Here is where the mothers and sisters
may Dr. their country an incalculable serv-
ice by educating their husbands, sons and
brothers in the art of preserving these nat
ural aids to the prosperity and good health
of our rural districts
How much easier it would be to grow
fruit, vegetables and field crops if the in
sect enemies and weeds could be kept in
check as they were in the earlier days of this
country.
We know of a beautiful old Southern
farm on which can be seen from the window
of the train as one passes through, a group
OF huge old apple trees standing almost in
the edge of a strip of woodland These old
neglected trees mark the spot where a
fourlshing nursery was located more than
half a century ago.
Many trees were sent out from this nurs-
cry to plant the home orchards of the sur
rounding country and on the same farm with
the nursery was an experimental and home
orchard from which many wagon loads of
fine apples and other fruits were sold each
year in all the towns that were near enough
to go with wagons, as there were no rail
roads near.
The owner of this farm protected the
black and white mulberry trees and other
ing the wild cherry trees and by planting
blac and white mulberry trees and other wild
wild fruits that he knew the birds liked
When his neighbors asked if they did not
destroy his fruit they were told that the
birds preferred the wild fruits he provided
for them to the orchard fruits and that in
return for the slight effort he expended in
providing their favorite fruits for them
they destroyed insects, that, if unmolested
would ruin many dollars worth of fruit fo1
him each year.
This was before the day of spraying anc
insecticides and was certainly less labor thar
/ the modern methods. And, if fruit-grow
ers and farmers would follow the same
plans today, they might save themselves ar
untold amount Of time and labor. Not t.
mention other advantages which will readily
occur to those who love the cheerful note!
and the beauty of the little feathered folk.