290 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



with great frequency on the birds while they are feeding or hopping 

 akmg the ground ; it catches innumerable young, shortly after they 

 have left the nest and are as yet unable to fly ; it eats the little ones in 

 the nest or catches the old one as she broods by night. All extra and 

 stray cats about a house should be killed, not sent away to plague some 

 other neighborhood ; it is a mercy to the cats and a help to the birds. 



Birds need cover into which they can dart upon the sudden appear- 

 ance of a hawk, cat or other enemy. Cedar trees, honeysuckle vines, or 

 other shrubbery afford them much protection. 



If we would see birds to the best advantage in sununer we must 

 have them nesting not far away. If suitable places cto be found, many 

 birds prefer to build their nests somewhere near the homes of man. If 

 the veranda has a climbing rose the Yellow Warbler will often build in 

 it. The Thrasher will nest in the brush-heap or in the mass of vines 

 in the back lot or fence comer. By putting up a small box on a pole 

 the Bluebirds will accept the invitation of free rent and will pay you 

 handsomely for your favor by catching thousands of insects in your 

 garden. Gourds or boxes on high poles will, in many parts of the State, 

 attract colonies of Purple Martins that will drive hawks away from 

 the chickens and rid the air of many insects. 



So much good will result to the man who is kind to the birds, it is 

 a great wonder all persons do not realize the fact and profit thereby. 



INSTALLING A PRIVATE WATER SYSTEM. 



(W. B. Wallace. Bimceton, Mo.) 



Just wdiy a farmer, and especially one who is devoting much of 

 his time to the breeding of Big Boned Poland-Chinas, should be asked 

 to write an article on the installing of a private water system in a farm 

 home I do not know. However, if the addition of complete systems of 

 running water in the farm homes of many who read this report shall 

 prove as great a convenience and as satisfactory as has mine, I shall 

 be amply repaid for the little time spent in Avriting this. It is not 

 my purpose to set forth any reasons why the farmer should have run- 

 ning water in his residence. No argument is needed. To all who are 

 enjoying the use of any such system, however simple, the desirability 

 stands as a self-evident truth. 



"When I began figuring on putting water in my residence, which 

 is a large one built with heavy timbers after the style of many years 

 ago. I soon saw that I should have to overcome difficulties not to be 

 found in installing a system while the house is being built, or even in 



