00 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



But onr report has assumed more the form of an appeal in behalf of our 

 friends. In conclusion, then, we would recommend that the birds be protect- 

 ed. If an attack is made upon one species, the whole class accepts it as a gen- 

 eral declaration of a war of extermination. Rather than attack any, let us 

 plant hedges and groves to encourage the timid kinds which are fast disap- 

 pearing from the more thickly settled parts of the country. With all the 

 modern facilities, what more interesting study for the young than Ornitholo- 

 gy? It is undoubtedly quite as good a discipline for the mind and far more 

 useful to the young horticulturist than the study of ancient languages. We 

 would recommend its study as an additional protection to birds and to our hor- 

 ticultural interests. While we should protect the birds as a class, we think ex- 

 perience has shown that the pugnacious character of the English sparrow ren- 

 ders him an undesirable settler. Our domestic birds, more peaceable in their 

 nature, incline to leave him the whole field, and we think his introduction to 

 this country no improvement on nature's plan. It would seem to be better to 

 encourage by every means an increase of our native tribes. 



GEORGE T. FISH, Chairman. 



Mr. Maxwell asked if any one could explain why the robins went south last 

 fall before the Delaware grapes were ripe, contrary to their usual custom. 



Mr. Hooker suggested they came to Rochester, Mr. Younglove thought they 

 all emigrated to Vine Valley, and Mr. Sylvester was sure a large delegation was 

 sent to Lyons. 



Mr. Craine of Lockport said he thought the robin was a poor insect de- 

 stroyer. A few wrens and phcebe birds would destroy more insects than a 

 thousand robins, the latter waging war principally on angle worms and other 

 harmless varieties. 



Mr. Thomas said that too much care could not be exercised in regard to the 

 recommending or commending any kind of bird or even insect. It was very 

 difficult to discriminate between those beneficial and prejudicial to fruit in- 

 terests. 



Dr. Sylvester — The report alluded to English sparrows. This bird has the 

 reputation of destroying fruit as well as insects: is there any person here who 

 knows that it destroys fruit ? 



Mr. Fish — Robins destroy angle worms early in the spring, but afterwards 

 feed upon others. W^e know that birds destroy both predaceons and destruc- 

 tive insects. 



Mr. Craine had watched robins and observed that they ate angle worms in 

 spring, and by the time it was too warm and dry for them, fruit began to 

 ripen, and they fed upon that the remainder of the season. The King Bird 

 destroys a great many insects, but it also destroys bees. 



DISCUSSIONS. 



The reports being all in, the discussion of the various topics presented was 

 taken up. The first subject was as follows: 



" IIo7o can the fertility of large orchards he most economicaUij maintained f^ 



Mr. Oliver Chapin of East Bloomfield has plowed in weeds of all kinds, 

 including thistles and quack, but has now seeded down. He plowed four inches 

 in depth; trees have made good growth, but have not generally borne well. 

 Trees from twelve to twenty years old, principally Baldwins. Soil gravelly 

 loam, with a stilfer subsoil. 



Mr. H. E. Hooker of Rochester said the fertility of small orchards could 



