The Bienville Democrat., 1922-05-11
RAVACES OF jim
CROW IN SPRING
His Raids on Cornfie|d Are
Largely Responsible for His
Unsavory Reputation.
ATTACKS OTHER WILD BIRDS
Does Farmer Big Favor, However, by
Devouring Grasshoppers, Cater.
pillars, White Grubs and
Other Insects.

prepared by the United States Department
Of Agriculture.)
Like most outlaws the notorious
Jim Crow has some points that are
commended among law-abiding citi-
zens, but when he is bad bird ne
IS a hard-bOiled egg. His springtime
ravages on the cOrnfeld are largely
responsible for his unsavory reputa'
ton, but he has added to it by occa'
sional raids on the poultry yard, dep
relations on wild birds, and attacks
on crops other than corn. At certain
seasons and in certain localities he
becomes such nuisance and a detri'
ment to farming that he must be
warned by making an example Of some
members of his gang.
Jim is only about half bad, and be-
cause Of his better half, which does
not mean his wife, who IS just as
black as he is, it IS not advisable to
treat him too harshly. Nearly one
fifth of his food Is made up of in.
sects, and he includes on his menu
some Of the farmers worst enemies
grasshoppers, caterpillars, and white
grubS and their parents, the May
beetles.
Been Going Too Far.
Probably we could not get along so
well without Jim Crow as with him.
killing off the whole family, if that
were possible, would be a Short-sight-
ed policy. So, when the United States
Department Of Agriculture recon-
mends the poisoning Of crows, this
measure should be looked upon mere
ly as warning to Jim and his family
that they have been going too far and
that they can't get away with every
thing. They are wary Enough not to
need many repetitions of the lesson,
Every spring farmers revive their
old feud with the Jim Crow family,
carrying on a desultory battle by
means Of scarecrows, epithets, and the
more effective deterrents Of coal tar
and poison. Coal tar, which may be
secured at gas plants and some paint
shops, is not a poison, but it imparts
a disagreeable gasSy OdOr to the seed
grain that is distasteful to crows and
other pests. 1t has the advantage,
not possessed by some other deter
rents on the market, Of not affecting
the termination Of the corn when
used in limited quantities. A table.
spoonful Is used to half a bushel Of
seed. The grain Is first heated by an
application Of warm water, and then
drained. The coal tar Is added i'm.
mediately and thorough stirring will
give each kernel an even coating. The
seed Is then spread out to dry or IS
dried by the addition of sifted ashes,
pland plaster, or powdered earth.
Strychnine Is Favored.
The best deterrent, however, is
strychnine, which may be applied to
corn In a paste made up in the pro-
portion Of one ounce Of powdered
strychnine, two tablespoonfuls Of
starch, ald one and one-half pints Of
water to 20 quarts Of corn. The starch
and strychnipe are put into the water,
which is heated to boiling, and stirred
we'll when the starch begins to thick
en-. This paste is poured on the corn
and stirred into it until thoroughly
distributed. The corn Is spread to
dry and is then ready to use. This
method Is better than the old one of
sleeping the corn in a strong strych-
nine solution. Because of their war
mess 1t will not be possible to kill
many of the crows, but little of this