1
i
' t-
A
BIRDS AND THE JTAltilEK.
Why Thoy Should Bo tho
Bost oJ Priouds.
Vory
IlelntloiiM of Fcutlicrcil Iimect Hntcrn
to Agriculture Hlncujineil by
I'rof. Hunt, of the niolotfl-
cul Survey.
Special Washington Letter.
Assistant Ornithologist Beul, of the
biological survey, has prepared a bul
letin for the department of agriculture
about common birds and their relation
to agriculture. It Is a very Interesting
ofilclal document. I'rof. Beul says:
"It has long been known that birds
play au important part in relation to
KINGBIRD.
agriculture, but there seems to be a
tendency to dwell on the harm they do,
rather than on the good. Whether a
bird is injurious or helpful depends al
most entirely upon what it eats; and in
thi case of unusually abundant species
of birds the character of the food be
comes a very practical question."
Farmers of experience have long
since concluded that the big flocks of
blackbirds, woodpeckers and other com
mon birds are not present to commit
depredations, but to help the farmer by
destroying noxious insects. Nearly all
land birds subsist principally on In
sects, and during the breeding season
they rear their young exclusively on
this sort of food. When farmers dis
cover an unusually large Hock of birds
they may well be assured that there
is au unusually large crop of insects
They are luscious, and whoever believes
that common birds are not epicures has
not studied birds. They not only eat
insects, but some of them are very
choice of their selections. Tho com
mon birds discover the presence of in
sects when human eyes would never
even suspect their presence.
Attention is called by Prof. Deal to
the fact that during the recent plague
of locusts in the western states they
were eaten by every common bird in
that section, and they formed the prin
cipal food of the birds during that en
tire season. Before the locusts came
from the Rocky mountains and de
scended upon tho prairies the farmers
complained of the unusual numbers of
common birds. By prophetic instinct
the birds knew that the locusts were
coming, and they were there to receive
them. The birds were, in some occult
manner, advised of the immediate fu
ture, while the farmers were wholly
unaware of the plague which was tc
come. Thus it appears that Provi
dence is all-wise and all-seeing; or as
the old hymn hath it: "He moves in a
mysterious way Ills wonders to per
form." Insectivorous birds feed upon that
food which is most accessible and which
is most palatable. Some birds pass by
certain kinds of insects. They will not
touch them, unless the birds are on
short rations and ready to take any
sort of food which will -ward off the
pangs of hunger. But the insects which
are disdained by some birds are sought
by other common birds as their chiefest
dainties.
It is explained by the professor that
ground-feeding birds will seek for in
sects in grass and dead leaves, or about
the trunks of trees. Those insects are
the most easily accessible; and the
birds are like men, in that they are
looking always for the easiest method
of making a living. They will not fly as
longastheycanwalkorwaddle. No wise
turd will make any effort to secure prey
in the mountnin tops when he can live
like a prince in the valley. These com
mon birds toil not, nor do they spin.
They just take life as it comes, and live
in clover if they can. Thqy take no
thought of the morrow, believing that
BUilicient unto the day is the evil there
of. The common birds are wise fellows.
The fly-catching birds have an easy
time of it. They do not live in hotels,
and order their meals sent to their
rooms. On the contrary, they simply
sit and wait for their opportunities.
They know that there are lota of flies
in the world; millions of them; nnd
that flies constantly fly. They know
that by sitting on their limbs, and pa
tiently waiting the course of events,
there will be enough flics every day com
ing their way to meet the requirements
of their appetites. They simply open
their little bills, give a peck at
the passing fly, and swallow him. If
it is a common fly, well and good. If it
is a fat horse fly, so much the better.
The birds know their business. After
reading the professor's story about
birds, the writer is convinced that there
are plenty of men who have much less
sense, and who might well study the
common birds and their methods of
getting on in the world.
In the scientillc study of common
birds there has been many a murder
committed. Field observation Is not
sufllcient for man, because he cannot
discern the details of the workings of
the birds. In order to obtain accurate
and reliable information, man loads
his shot gun, goes out into the field and
shoots down a number of these Innocent
cannibals. For what purpose? Simply
to take each dead bird and examine
his stomach. The scientist can then
learn what food the birds subsist upou,
and hence cau determine whether or not
they are friends or foes of the husband
man. It Is generally discovered that tho
common birds are the friends of tho
farmers, and are destroying his insec
tivorous enemies. This discovery hav
ing been made in each case, the fanners
are informed of the result of the inves
tigation, and thereafter the shotgun Is
dispensed with. So the killing of a
few ibirds results In saving the lives of
thousands of others.
The professor says that cuckoos are
much given to eating caterpillars, and
do not object to their hair, as many
birds do. On the contrary cuckoos eat
su many hairy caterpillars that the
hnlrs pierce the inner linings of their
stomachs; and when they are opened
and turned inside out, the cuckoo stom
achs seem to be lined with a thin coat
ing of fur, which appears to be a part of
the stomach itself. Nature provides for
continued digestion, just the same.
While tho scientific slaughter of
cuckoos was going on, 10 of the birds
were examined, and tiic result shows
that they had all been diligently en
gaged In helping the farmers of their
neighborhood. The 10 stomachs showed
the remains of 328 caterpillars, 11
beetles, 15 grasshoppers, G3 saw flies,
four spiders, and three stink bugs.
Those were industrious birds, and they
were doing their best for their farmer
friends, when they were ruthlessly shot
down for scientific Investigation. Just
think of itl There were 32S caterpillars,
many of them in the larva stage. But
foi those cuckoos all of those caterpil
lars would have been working on the
leaves of trees; nnd they prefer apple
trees. Of the 03 saw flies, GO were In
the larva stage.
Investigation demonstrates that
farmers should do their best to culti
vate woodpeckers. They leave no mark-
on healthy trees. On the contrary they
unerringly trail down the wood-boring
larva, and dislodge and devour them.
The official bulletin has a good word
also for the red-headed woodpecker.
It is admitted that this bird is guilty
of tapping trees and drinking the sap,
It has been discovered, however, that
very few trees are seriously injured;
although some have died within a year
or two, after being sapped by these
red-headed fellows. The professor
jays, however, that "the bird captures
millions of insects which are attracted
by the sweet sap, and the tree tapping
HAIRY WOODPECKER.
is kirgely for the purpose of catching
insects. It is probable that the red
head fully compensates for the damage
done by sapsuckiug, in consuming so
many insects."
Tho kingbird comes in for a word of
praise, lie Is distinctly a fly catcher
and takes a large portion of his food on
the wing. The kingbird also watches
tho trees closely, and gathers In all
sorts of insects. This bird has been
suspected of catching honey bees; but
an Iowa farmer says that he shot a
dozen kingbirds near his hives, and
found not a single bee in any one of
their stomachs. Therefore he con
cludes that the kingbird is guiltless of
this charge; modified by the fact that In
various parts of the country 14 king
birds were killed, nnd 40 dromi bees
were found in their stomachs. Isn't
that wonderful? How in tho realm of
Intelligence could those birds know
that the drones were proper prey, while
the working bees and queens must be
spared?
Tho meadow lark is complimented
because of the fact that it feeds al
most wholly upou insects. In 238
stcmachs examined, it was discovered
that 73 per cent, of the food of the birds
consisted of insects alone. It nests on
the ground, and walks about with
dainty step, knowing that it is a wel
come visitor and therefore not In fear
of human nssault. The meadow lark
ia wholly beneficial, and Is not guilty
of the common charge of pulling sprout
ing grain. It loves fat bugs and beetles,
and takes grasshoppers and caterpil
lars also, whenever they can be found.
Even when the ground is covered witn
snow, this bird finds insects somehow,
and does not seek the granaries. It is
a very skillful insect catcher.
SMITH D. FRY.
THE FARMING WORLD.
FATTENING FOWLS.
They Should lie Scpiirnteil mi it Put by
TIioiiihoIvcr,
Place six or eight together in n close
coop without a roost, and just sufficient
ly largo to allow their moving about
without crowding each other. Tho front
of the coop or box only needs to bo
lathed open work, and should be ar
ranged so as to make it nearly dark as
soon as they are done feeding, since dur
ing the balance of their existence the
more quietly they can be kept the more
they will improve. They need no ex
ercise. It must be borne in mind that
fat only is added by this process, the
lean or flesh must be made before, and
unless the fowl has attained the proper
standard in this respect it is almost use
less to try to fatten it. Now give them
plenty of fresh water and all they will
cat for two or three weeks in this kind
of coop, and nt the end of that period
they will be better fit for the butcher
than they will ever be nf ter that period.
The manner of feeding and keeping the
fowls in this confinement is a very sim
ple affair, and wo have found it etfi
caclous as well ns feasible. Cooked food,
and all they will devour morning and
night, with cracked corn and
wheat at noon, will fatten healthy
poultry In less time than any
other feed that we have ever ex
perimented with. The mash should be
composed of good corn meal two parts
and boihMl potatoes one part. Into a
pailful of this meal and vegetable food,
well mixed, while hot, drop one pound
of lard, tallow or pork scraps, and
mix this fat substance through the
mass. Feed this while warm, and give
only what the fowls will eat up clean
at a meal. Western Plowman.
HANDY ARRANGEMENT.
Description of ii Combined Chicken
Cooi nml l'cii.
The coop and pen illustrated below
have been in use on my farm several
years. The coop is made perfectly tight
except at one end. The lower two-thirds
of this end is slatted and contains a slat
door. This coop is intended for the hen
nnd her brood nt night or during wot
days. A pen which will allow the hen
considerable exercise and sunshine on
pleasant days is shown adjoining the
coop. The three pieces running hori
zontally are three feet long and two
CHICKEN COOP AND PEN.
inches square. It is slatted with com
mon lath placed far enough npart to al
low the chicks to get out of the pen.
Only one end of the pen is closed, the
other being placed over tho door of
the larger coop. The pen and coop are
fastened together by menus of small
chains. Set the coop upon wide boards
and have it so situated that the pen
will cover a nice grass plot. A number
of these pens will be found handy, as
they cau be joined to almost any small
coop. Marie A. Bigg, in Farm and
Homo.
How to EnrduniKu tin; IloyH.
Every boy on the fnrm should be
given a young aniinul to raise for him
self, he to attend to it and be induced
to take an interest in its progress. He
will tints early become fond of animals
and of farming, nnd will be more recon
ciled to farm life when he is grown.
The boy who leaves tho farm for the
city is the one who has never had any
opportunities and looks upon farming
as drudgery. Labor becomes a pleasure
when there is something to strive for,
and the early education of the boy on
the farm should be by giving him an in
terest in something. All children love
young stock and pet them.
The Fmicy Furnior'M .MIhnIoii.
"Fancy fanners," or the owners of
"fancy" stock, are frequently ridiculed,
but it is due to their willingness to im
prove stock and their persistency in ad
hering to their belief in something bet
ter than scrubs that the farmer is bene
fited. The man of capital goes on with
his improvement of stock and may
suffer Ioks at first, but after awhile he
begins to make profits, the farmers be
ing lifted up with him, as the farm on
which improved breeds are specialties
becomes a fountain source from which
superior animals are distributed in all
directions.
I'kc Only Level UoiikIn,
The old-time step-ladder roost, with
one round four or fho feet from the
floor and the others lower until the low
est is near the floor, takes up a large
share of space in the poultry-house, and
is unserviceable, as the hens will in
stinctively go upon the high roosts in
preference to the lower ones, some of
the fowls being forced down while oth
ers ore injured by jumping oil' in the
morning. It is to high roosts that
bumble-foot and lameness may be at
tributed, and it is cheaper to have low
roosts, all on the same level, than to
doctor fowls for lameness. Farm and
Fireside.
Keeping fowls on a hard floor will
frequently cuuse swollen feet and legs.
CLEAN FEED FOR HOGS.
An Ailjtintiihlc Uncle Which Aeoin
IiIIrIicn II 1'iti'pitNi'.
The old notion that n hog prefers to
wallow in the mire is u great mistake.
The hog prefers clean water nnd food
the same as any nnimnl, but his style of
getting it is at fault. This dlfllculty is
easily remedied by some such plan as
illustrated below, where an adjustable
rack can bo llxed for nny si.ed pig or
hog so it cannot get into the feed
trough. The trough is made of two
inch plank, one plank seven inches the
other nine inches, nnd instead of being
nulled nt right angles they arol ineh-
v
ADJUSTAHLE HOC- TROUGH.
cs or so off tho square. At each end,
after the main ends of the trough are
nailed in place, another piece of plank,
a, is nailed to it with a slot, cut In It for
a 3x4-lnch scantling, c, or a round
straight pole four inches through. This
pole or scantling should have a hole
bored in each end so a phi may slide
through it nnd the upright plank, a, to
keep the pole, c, in place. The polo can
then be raised or lowered to suit the
size of a hog. In the polo live-eighths-inch
holes should bo bored 7, Si,, JO and
liyu inches apart, in which is placed a
oue-half-iuch iron rod (d), two feet
long, pointed and driven slightly in the
plank on the front sido of tho trough.
These rods never become loose in my
trough, but when they are to be shift
ed, as tho hog's size requires, two or
three slight taps with a hammer loosen
them and they can be driven into the
next width of place. My trough is 10
feet long. About 30 inches of one end ia
partitioned off and kept filled witli wa
ter, but has the rods In front so the hogs
cannot get into it in hot weather. The
rods are driven into the trough about
one inch from tho edge as at o and are
pointed from iyt Inches back. The
front edge of the trough, f, is rounded
so that It will not chafe the hogs.
Marsdeu Smith, in Farm and Home.
RATIONS FOR HORSES.
Stnrvntloii AMvnyn .Spoil the Shnnc of
u Groivluu: Aniinul.
We talk about the loss of the horso
business from one cause or another,
but the most mischief comes from the
want of proper food, says au exchange.
This means loss to the horse and
greater loss to the farmer. A good per
cent, of the horses seen on the streets
of nny town show insufficient or un
balanced food supply. Horses that
have been ill-fed when young are al
most invariably small, long-legged,
light-carcassed and nnrrow-chested.
Some of them have a great deal of
energy, but all are soon exhausted, un
fit for protracted exertion. Grown-up
horses, when much reduced by defi
cient nourishment, require more food
to put them into working order than
would have kept them for two or three
months la the condition they require
to possess when going into work.
When a horse is starved, besides losing
strength and flesh, his bowels get full
of worms nnd his skin covered with
lice. Very often he takes mnnge, and
sometimes he does not moult, or tho
hair falls out suddenly nnd entirely
oft. leaving the skin nearly bald for a
long time. The skin of an ill-fed horse
is always rigid, sticking to the ribs,
nnd their hair dull, staring, soft, dead
like. If not famished to death thoy re
cover strength and animation with
good and sufllcient feeding, but star
vation always spoils the shape of a
growing horse.
POINTS FOR STOCKMEN.
Don't keep more horses than you
need.
The offspring from a mature sow ia
stronger than from a young one.
Swine need bulk in their feed.
Don't feed on concentrated foods alone.
Pork is one of the very best of meats
If swine are properly fed and cared
for.
The selection and steady use of tho
best of even common scrub stock will
lead to improvement.
Sows eat their pigs because their sys
tems are out of condition, the result of
improper feeding and bad management.
It is dangerous to inbreed swine. If
there are family defects they will ap
pear in the oll'spring in an exaggerated
form.
On the whole, tho horses would bo
bettor off, and so would tho owner, if
the whip-making industry were abol
iEl.ed. There is too much talk and not enough
action in the matter of reviving in
terest in the Morgan horse. The Mor
gan will revive itself if given half a
chance.
Sell half the scrub herd, if necessary,
and buy a thoroughbred bull. If cattle
must rough it take the Hereford, Polled
Angus or (Jalloway. If well cared for
the .shorthorn Is a prize. Wustcru
Plowman.
HUMOROUS.
Hicks "Have n good time out rid
ing this cuMiing?" Wicks (neophyte)
"Not so good n time us the people who
were watching me." Boston Tran
script. "lie Is one of the leading lawyers of
the town." "(lets pretty big fees, eh?"
"I should say so. Why, it is almost as
cheap to buy the grand jury ns to hire
him." Truth.
"Are you one of the striking min
ers?" asked the woman nt the door.
"Yes, mum. I'm what dey call a pion
eer. I struck 30 years ago and I've never
give In yet." Detroit Free Press.
Not Spiritual Methods. "Even a
fly can do good by gettlngn man nwnko
in time to attend church." "Yes, but It
doesn't put him in the proper frame of
mind to go there." Chicago Record.
"They say people in this country
spend more money on bicycles than on
bread." "That's queer; bloyclcsean'tbe
eaten." "I know; but then people can't
show oft with a loaf of bread." Chica
go Record.
A Consistent Woman. Mrs. OI1
foyle "Mrs. Bargain Hunter is a thor
oughly consistent woman." Mrs. KIN
dutT "Is she?" Mrs. Oilfoyle "Ycb;
she is. She hn marked her five o'clock
teas down to 4:67." Puck.
"Do you always say your prayers nt
bedtime, Mary?" asked the Sunday
school teacher affectionately. "No,
miss, not regular, I don't," wiir the re
ply. "Why, Mary, are you not nfraid to
go to sleep at night without nsking a
blessing?" "Not when I sleep in the
middle I ain't, miss." Household
Words.
CONVICT'S SELF-DENIAL.
Snvcil Tohiicco He Hccc lvcil In 1'rlMon
to Sell for IIIn Family.
Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue
llyun had a queer caller the other day.
He was a middle-aged man nnd carried
n heavy valise. He said the valine con
tained tobacco, which he was anxious to
sell, so he could give the money to his
family. He was afraid he might be
breaking the law and asked Mr. Ryan
for advice. The latter asked his caller
where ho got the tobacco, and tho man
3iiid:
"For several years I have been a con
vict in the penitentiary at Michigan
City. I was sent up from Indianapolis,
and my wife and children still live here.
My wife poor woman is in poverty,
u ml my children are not big enough to
do for themselves. I have been looking
DUt for overu year to this trip home, t
knew that my family had no money and
that they were sulTorin', so I just
thought of a plan to help them out when
got home. You know that every con
vict is allowed tobacco at regular times.
If I do say it myself and it has caused
me an awful lot of suirerln' I havo
denied myself my tobacco and hid away
the plugs as they came into me, so that
1 could sell them when I got out to re
lieve my wife and little ones. The to
bacco that I have been saving so long
is in that valise. There is not a plug
in there thut Isn't, as good as tho day I
got It. I have wrapped them up In tin
foil, so they have kept moist and pre
served their flavor. Now, I want to ben
law-abiding man from this day on, and
want to know how I can sell this to
bacco without violatln' the law, just
for the benefit of my wife and children,
who need it so bad, the Lord knows,
after these years of neglect."
There were tears in the man's eyes
when he had concluded his story, and
there was a suspicious moisture about
the deputy's eyes.
"Before you can sell this tobacco,"
said the deputy, "you will have to givo
a bond with acceptable Hiirety for $2,000,
and you will have to put a six-cent gov
ernment stamp on each plug."
The man's head dropped and ho
looked sick at heart. Thut would mean
the failure of his merciful enterprise.
"Ordinarily that would be the case,"
said Mr. Ilynu, "but I tell you, my man,
I don't think that the government
would get after you if you would dis
pose of this to your friends."
A great weight seemed lifted off of tho
man's mind as he dried his eyes, lifted
his valise and trudged oft with it down
the stuirs into the street. Indianapolis
News.
Not lit Oooil Form.
A couple of styllshry-lressed young
women met on Market street yester
day, shook hands, kissed, inquired after
each other's health and proceeded to
gossip. Suddenly one paused, and,
staring at tho other in surprise, asked:
"What in the world makes you loolc
so thin?"
"Thin? Why, I weigh more than I
ever did."
"But you look as slim as a rail."
The slender girl reflected a moment,
then blushed furiously.
"Oh, lot me get off the street. Imust
be a fright," she exclaimed. "I left my
hips at home on a chair." San Francis
co Post.
.Vntiirnl AilviliittiiffM.
Teacher What kind of a bird did
Noah send out of the ark?
Small Boy A dove.
"I am surprised to find that the
smallest boy in the class is the only
one to know."
"Please, teacher, his father keeps n
bird store." N. Y. World.
Home AkiiIii.
flavin Hello! Back from the sea
shore so soon?
I Bailey Yes, T want to pet a little rest
before returning to work-Up-to-Date.
