The sun., 1919-07-06
FEATHERED ROBBERS.
Lover OF Cherry Pie Seeks q
Remedy Against Greedy Robins.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Not
being we'll up in the higher branches of
cherry tree lore | come to you for in
formation ''touchin on and apper;ainin'
to" matter Of vital importance. For
the last two years robins have been rob-
bling us OF practically all our cherries.
and it seems a great pity II we cannot
have something besides pits from our
own cherry trees.
We near lot of conversation about
bird conservation. and 1t is a splendid
idea. but no one has taught them TO
reciprocate or even be satisfied on a
ffty-ffty basis Of division of cherries.
for instance. and troubles are coming to
the front In our backyard. for l love
cherry pie. love II go much that even
the flower OF that name is my favorite.
and when only q quarter of one pie
year is forthcoming 10 me. my stomach
hints at casus belli, or something like
that.
The robins are no sticklers for an
eight hour day--at least they were not
when they ate our cheNies; eighteen
would be nearer the time devoted to
the Job Of getting every chsrry just
before It is ripe enough for us. and
they are surely birds at tht business,
Maybe II will, not he so bad pext year
when we are not going to SAT , so much
daylight for them TO work IN: that's
another matter lef: to you set me
right on,
Dinner bells hung In the trees and
rung at frequent intervals far from
gearing them away have JUS the effect
dinner bells are supposed TO have. and
sleigh bells jingled TO make them think
it's time to go South simply make them
forget the hot weather and work all
the harder
The State of Connecticut says | must
not kill the birds, but the state OF my
mind inclines me to take a chance and
mix up a lot of cartridges. balls and
blanks. In about the proportion OF forty
nine OF the former to one Of the latter.
and then shoot them w into the trees.
just to scare the thieves away you
understand
But all this Is by way Of preamble
and introduction to my query which l
hope you or some OF your readers can
answer. A friend OF mine has suggested
a remedy. and ! wish TO know how II
works out and II perchance II happens
TO be worse than the trouble It is sup
posed to obvIate.
| The idea is to put about three cats. by
nature and antecedents inimical, up in
tree and tie an enemy alien dog 10
the trunk In the whole category of
IDEAS 1t certainly seems the most prom
!sing. hut you can never tell Now l
have the trees and the cherries, the
longing for pie and the feathered plum
derbund. but the cats and dogs around
here belong to other people, and do
not feel NJ liberty to use them in the
interesting experiment. II you know OF
any one who owns all the ingredients in
his own right l shall be obliged II you
will induSe him to give the plan try
out and report results
OF course as a peaceable pie loving
people we might demand representation
| In the League OF Notions in order that
the world may be made safe for pie
eaters, but that might not get us any
where in time for It to do us any good
Failing TO make inroads in our drives
against the poachers several alterna.
tives are open to us in our endeavors
TO shut them out We might cut the
Gordian knot by emulating George
Washington have less cherry trees OF
even cherryless trees such as they have
in Japan, hut less heroic methods would
be preferable. J. II. NETTLEroN.
NEW MILFORD. Conn, July 3.