No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 205 



lu addition to the building of bird boxes we have given special at- 

 tention to the publication of lists of trees, bushes, shrubs and vines 

 that could be planted to feed the birds. Much can be done along the 

 line of j)roviding food and shelter, and thus inducing them to return 

 [o their former surroundings. This is a system of very practical 

 nild life conservation. 



CATS SHOULD NOT BE DESERTED. 



It is unfortunately the custom of many persons in moving to de- 

 sert or leave behind the cats. This may be due to the absurdly 

 foolish and superstitous notion that to move the cat brings bad 

 luck. There should be a law in this State making it necessary to 

 kill superfluous cats and leave none behind when moving away from 

 any place. A cat that is left on the premises suffers from starvation, 

 and any person observing this form of cruelty is justified in bringing 

 it to the attention of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 

 Animals. Action should be taken in a very definite and consjjicuous 

 manner. A few published examples of prosecution will be good to 

 stop this evil. 



A cat that is left behind becomes half wild, and learns to feed 

 upon birds, and becomes one of the most serious menaces of our 

 native bird life. Thus, in preventing the practice of leaving cats 

 behind when moving, we are preserving the birds. 



We regret that owing to the lack of office help we are not able to 

 submit a detailed report upon the number of orchard inspections 

 made, the number of trees of each variety inspected, the acreage 

 inspected, the townships in w^hich inspection service was rendered, 

 the pests found, and the remedial measures followed. In our daily 

 reports of iusf)ectors we have very complete statistics as to the actual 

 number of fruit trees of each and every kind in each township and 

 county in the State of Pennsylvania. When the time comes tliat we 

 have enough office help to compile these statistics as a matter of 

 public information they can easily be obtained and given in a gen- 

 eral report. It is to be hoped that sufficient funds for this help, and 

 for other important possible service of this office, will be forth- 



coming. 



Respectfully submitted, 



H. A. SURFACE, 

 Economic Zoologist. 



