92 American Horticultural Society. 



A FEW THOUGHTS ON BIRDS AND FORESTS. 



IJY GEORGE W. MINIER, OK ILLINOIS. 



Among tlio many useful und self-abnegating societies of our ever be- 

 loved country, none can claim pre-eminence more justly than the American 

 Horticultural Society. And, surely, none can be expected to tiike a deejier 

 interest in every labor, subject or science which in any way relates to the 

 safety, security and advancement of pomology. Pomona, the goddess of 

 fruits, died with Grecian mythology; but her mantle dropped to earth, " a 

 sacred gift to man." 



My memory of Grecian fable is somewhat shaded by the frosts of seventy- 

 five winters; but if I'm not greatly mistaken, the goddess chose her friends 

 from among the beautiful denizens of the air. The (o//>;;-) ornis was her 

 delight, and strange it is that modern pomologists have not all worshiped at 

 her shrine. 



To say to this body of thoughtful men that insects are our worst ene- 

 mies in fruit culture would savor of folly. All know it. All admit it. Well, 

 then, our best friends are those creatures which prey u|)nn and destroy these 

 foes. Here is where the birds come in as our chief allies. Birds may live 

 without man; but man can not live without birds. This truth ought to be 

 patent to every one. It is a delightful thought that nature has adapted every 

 part of creation to a beautiful consistency. That insects are a jnirt of the 

 economy of nature no naturalist will deny. That the keeping them in check 

 is one of our local necessities is also true. 



God made the earth rich in plants, and beautiful in forests, and gra- 

 ciously granted man the privilege of laboring for his sustenance. Man is, 

 therefore, compelled to labor to smooth the rough and subdue the intract- 

 able, to foster and cherish the useful and enjoy the beautiful and the delight- 

 ful. 



Man plants and prunes, cultivates and grafts, and (may I say without ir- 

 reverence) creates new fruits and flowers? A Pippin is, at least, a manu- 

 factured article. The rude Persian crab is given to man; he takes the lui- 

 savory fruit from the hand of Dame Nature and from it manufactures the 

 Maiden's Blush, the Baldwin and Ben Davis. Myrisds of insects (creatures 

 cut into, not in twit) start to life and prey upon his labors. Our remedy is to in- 

 voke nature togive us a remedy, and, lo ! the air isalive with beautiful, helpful 

 creatures. They herald their arrival with the sweetest music, and thank 

 their Creator in songs of praise for the privilege of aiding the only creature 

 made in His image in his toil to "subdue the earth." Birds ask no protec- 

 tion. They sim{)ly demand to be let alone — not in the sense of a certain 

 exPresiilent, but merely to be permitted to rear their nestlings in trees and 

 verdure planted by the hand of nature's Gotl, and this, too, by destroying 

 man's most potent foe. Insects are more destructive than lions. Millions 

 will not i)ay the annual loss by the chinch-bug (Cimex leciidarius) only. 



