No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 203 



to undertake such compulsory treatment of pests, and in every case 

 theowner cleaned up the premises that contained pests threateninf? 

 others, and did this as soon as he found that we were retilly in 

 earnest and backed by the law. Tlie names of persons makin*; the 

 original complaints were not published, and the owners do not know 

 now through what source the initiative was taken. Even the sur- 

 rounding neighbors do not know that such treatment was given be- 

 cause of compulsory measures under an act of Legislature, but the 

 desired results were obtained. This is a good law, and is bringing 

 results, and will be made of greater use in this State as the citizens 

 come to further understand its real value. 



(9) OTHER PRACTICAL SERVICE IN ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY. 



Economic Zoollogy is, of course, much more extensive than its 

 one branch of entomology. It pertain^ to such subjects as the de- 

 struction of obnoxious mammals, birds, rabbits and other animals, 

 •md the preservation of beneficial species. 



As the eflfects of the bouut}^ laws in destroying the enemies of 

 rodents become more apparent, the losses by rabbits, mice and rats 

 will become much more conspicuous in this State. From the stand- 

 point of economic zoology we consider it a serious mistake to place 

 a bounty ujjon such creatures as the weasels, which have their im- 

 portant functions in Nature to perform. 



Kodents are becoming so very destructive that one of the chief 

 sources of loss in the increasing number of orchards in this State, is 

 through the damage defected by rabbits and mice during the winter. 

 We have estimated and published that rodents destroy more than 

 five millions of dollars worth of property in this State annually. 

 We have undertaken a campaign against such obnoxious creatures, 

 and have given practical assistance in their extermination. 



In our experimental work, we have further proven the value of the 

 lime-sulfur wash applied to the lower branches and trunks of trees 

 to keep rabbits and mice from gnawing them during the winter time. 

 This is eifective, non-injurious to the trees and economical. The 

 poisoning and trapping of rats and mice is recommended, and it 

 is particularly urged that in the construction of buildings efforts 

 be made to render them practically proof against mice and rats, and 

 that more concreting be used for the floors of buildings; and the 

 places where rats and mice can find concealment, such as old wood 

 piles and lumber piles, be removed or raised on supports. However, 

 the fundamental means of destroying rodents is to preserve and de- 

 velop their natural enemies, such as weasels, foxes, especially the 

 gray fox, and hawks and owls. The little screech owl feeds almost 

 entirely upon rats and mice, and is one of the very best friends of 



the farmer. 



ENGLISH SPARROW 



There is no greater enemy of the small native birds, such as are 

 commonly found around the abode of mankind, than the English 

 sparrow. This introduced pest not only takes food that would be 

 eaten by poultry and native birds, but actually feeds on the eggs and 

 young of the birds themselves, and also drives away our native birds 

 of song and beauty. We have experimented with killing the Eng- 

 lish sparrows with'poison grain and found it successful. We recom- 



