Other Papers. 265 



The manner in which their use can best benefit the fruit grower, 

 the condition of his surroundings will determine. The wants of 

 the soil, and climatic changes must be to him a daily study of dili- 

 gent care. 



BIRDS m HORTICULTUEE. 



BY CLARK IliVIXE, OREGOlSr. 



[This paper was lost and was not found in time to take its 

 place in the last days proceedings of the society, and hence appears 

 here. — Secretary.] 



One of the most interesting papers read at the recent annual 

 meetina: of the Missouri State Horticultural Society, at St. Joe, 

 was '-'Birds in Horticulture," by Clark Irvine, of Oregon, Holt 

 county. 



When that great source of all life and light and motion we 

 know of has returned far enough from its winter solstice to dispel 

 and beat back the invader of the north, unlocking all the multi- 

 tudes of streams, lakes, veins of water in earth or air, to re-animate 

 our landscapes and vegetation, and bringing airs from the sweet 

 south stealing and giving odors — countless myriads of little voices 

 set all the air a singing with their glad calls, songs and warblings. 

 Of all tha harbingers of summer with its promises of golden har- 

 vests and luscious fruits and long mellow days these little songsters 

 are the most delightsome, and impart to every conscious heart some 

 of that gladness with which their beautiful little bodies seem fairly 

 bursting. 



It is only within a few years, comparatively, that their real im- 

 portance in the economy of nature has been estimated. 



Ignorance in its overbearing self-confidence despises the little. 

 The longer we live and learn the more strongly are we convinced of 

 the truth of certain proverbial expressions we habitually repeat, 

 without really appreciating their literal and immense truth. Thus 

 we repeat with Shakespeare, "Naught so vile upon this earth doth 

 live, but to the earth some special good doth give.^' And we say, 

 '"'Oyes, it's true, ' certainly it's true," and think it sounds very 

 nice, and mean that it is true in some measure, whereas it is ex- 

 actly, literally and importantly true. So true that it may well be 

 suspected were the least and most unimportant thing exterminated, 

 the results might, in time, be tremendous. 



