238 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



recently been undertaken in this country, and the results so far are too 

 meagre to form a fixed basis of action. Prof. Forbes, of our State, is at 

 work on this matter, and will doubtless soon furnish our horticulturists 

 much valuable information ; he has already given a very valuable install- 

 ment of facts ascertained. Let us hope that he may receive that encour- 

 agement and aid in this important work which will induce him to continue 

 it. Leaving this test in the hands of those more able to apply it than I 

 am, I shall devote the few pages I contribute chiefly to the tests of obser- 

 vation and experiment, as these are more patent and more satisfactory 

 than any others. 



But, before attempting a demonstration, it is always proper to agree 

 as to the definition of the chief terms used in the proposition ; therefore, 

 in this case, it is proper to have some agreement as to what is meant by 

 the terms " dene^a'a/" and " h/jurious," as applied to birds. 



Mr. A., who makes growing grapes a specialty, looking at Ihe matter 

 from his standpoint, is willing, perhaps, to decide that all birds that do 

 not trouble the vineyard are beneficial, at least he is firmly of the opinion 

 that all grape-eating birds are worthy only of slaughter. 



Mr. B., who delights in his cherries, is perhaps willing to befriend 

 the birds, if you will aid in destroying the cherry-birds, cat-birds, orioles, 

 jays, and a few others. And thus it goes on to the end of the alphabet. 



As an illustration, let me quote a few lines from the Transactions of 

 1868: 



"Mr. Huggins read the following extract from a letter of Mr. 

 Minier : ' I have written a few thoughts on the birds. Alas ! poor things, 

 when the Alton Horticultural Society gets after them. They will find 

 friends, however, in the State Society — especially Dr. Warder and " The 

 Douglas." ' 



" The Douglas, though * tender and true ' to birds, was not present, 

 and Dr. Warder, owing either to having had his grapes eaten the past 

 season, or to the presence of a good many members of that Ornithologi- 

 cal K. K. K., the Alton Horticultural Society, did not make so good a 

 fight as he was capable of. * * * 



" Mr. Hull — We must distinguish between birds. Our Alton Horti- 

 cultural Society likes birds as a whole, but dislikes some. There are 

 injurious and useful birds, just as there are injurious and useful insects. 

 And they increase, but the birds do not keep up the balance. The lady- 

 bug as a cannibal is more useful than the birds. I would kill the jay, 

 cat-bird, cherry-bird, oriole, sapsucker and red-headed woodpecker. 



•' Mr. Wier — I can get along with all except the cat-bird, thrush and 

 jay. I can keep birds off my grapes, but not off my cherries." 



And so on through the discussion. But, by turning back to the 

 Transactions of the previous year, we find Mr. Dunlap coming bravely to 

 the rescue, with an experience indicating clearly the value of his feathered 

 friends, and telling the Society that he does not permit any boy with 

 deadly gun to kill or maim anj of his birds. 



Such are the views of this subject as seen from individual stand- 

 points ; but when our horticulturists meet together as the representatives 



