The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-03-16
FALSE ECONOMY IN
THREATENED CUT?
FEAR THAT APPROPRIATION FOR
BIOLOGICAL SURVEY WILL
BE REDUCED AGAIN.
IT SAVES CROPS FROM PESTS
Story Of the Mice That We're Destroy.
Ing Nevads's Alfalfa Fields Some
Years Ago Shows How TINS Val.
liable Bureau Works.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK
Wnshlngton.-When one goes to the
Agricultural department he finds out
that considerable part Of the inter.
est of the farmers Of the country IL
directed to the working of the biolog
ical survey. 1t Is the duty of this bu.
reau to make war OH the pests which
attack the crops and to do what II can
to save the beneficial animals and
birds.
Two or three years ago when the
appropriation Of the biological survey
was cut, the predatory animals In the
West increased In large numbers, and
there was corresponding increase In
the loss Of cattle who fell victims OF
wolves and mountain lions. Instant.
ly the stock growing interests ap
pealed to congress and II Is said that
more money was forthcoming to en-
able the department to continue It's
saving work.
This year 1t Is feared that the ap-
preparation for the biological survey
may be cut again In the so-called in
terest Of economy. II Is debatnble
question whether economy can be
served by cutting the appropriation
by $4,000 when the cutting will mean
loss to the agricultural interests of
many times that sum.
There Is the story Of how the
biological survey works: Sixteen
years ago a plague Of mice appeared
In the alfalfa fields In Nevada. The
biological survey sent a man out to
the afflicted region to see what could
be done to check the pests. He found
that there were 1900 mice to the
$4,000 already had been done. and
that II the rest of the crop was to be
saved he must get into action at
once
How Nevada Mice Were Eradieatsd-
The biological expert found that
the birds Of prey had been attracted
In large numbers and were doing what
they could to destroy the ravagers OF
the field, but the mice being In mil.
lions and the birds being In hundreds,
II was an unequal contest, though
the hawks and the owls. and strangely
enough some sea gulls which had come
overland to the work, were doing all
that they could and as fast as they
could. II was discovered also by the
man on the ground that birds Of other
kinds. while they would not eat mice,
would and did eat all kinds of injurious
insects, occasionally varying their diet
with weed seeds and some little grain.
The first thought was to kill the
mice with poison grain, but as this
also would have killed the efficient
birds the biological surveys agent
made up his mind to try something
else.
Finally he hit upon the thought Of
trying chopped alfalfa soaked in a
palatable but poisonous solution. This
he scattered through the fields and
Just what he expected happened. The
mice preferred the chopped and dead
ly mixture to the standing crop and
In less than "a hours the work Of
destruction was at its height. There
were 1900 mice to the acre and
the governments expert succeeded in
killing So per cent Of them, and sue
ceeded also In covering all the way
from 30 to 100 acres day. the latter
figure being the high acre mark.
Success Brought Extra Money.
Admittedly II seems almost incredi.
BILE, but In one day 1,OOO,OOO mice were
killed and on the other days the num-
beers slain rarely fell below 100000.
The men whose crops were saved wrote
to Washington and told what the
biological survey had done for them.
and Of the marvellous work Of the one
government agent who had been sent
into the field.
The survey had asked for a small In.
crease In its appropriation In order
that It might carry on additional field
work wherever II was needed. The
agricultural committee, which In the
past has been anything but friendly
TO the biological survey, In the main
because It knew nothing OF the sur.
yey's work, heard the mouse story.
saw the proof and voted the extra
money.
The biological survey In recent years
has been charged with the work Of en-.
forcing tho terms OF the treaty with
Canada by which migratory song and
game birds are protected. As a re-
suit of its work the fiocks Of wild
ducks and geese have increased In
numbers and yet there Is plenty OF
sport for the sportsmen. Al first
there was a great outcry against the
prohibition OF spring shooting, but
now virtually everybody Is commend
ing that provision of the law. our
fowl generally are nesting farther
south than they did when spring shoot
ing was allowed and now In many
places In the fall home-reared ducks
offer themselves 10 the sportsmen.
Now II seems 20 he case Of shoot
ing our game and still having II.
Balfour and Rebels" Statue.
just before Arthur Balfour, chief Of
the British delegation 10 the interna
tiOnal conference on the Limitation OF
armament. left Washington. he was
standing In front OF the British EN-
bassy with the ambassador Of his
sS,,nfrv Sir Auokland laIIas Mr.