558 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ture of many sections, and in restricted areas of our own country 

 similar conditions are occasionally reported. From the above- 

 mentioned bulletin I quote as follows: 



In summer the principal food of these mice is green vegetables and unripe seeds 

 of grain and grasses. As the season advances, ripe grain and seeds take the place of 

 the immature; and in winter bulbous and other roots are in part substituted for stems 

 and leaves. When convenient, and green vegetation is lacking, the bark of shrubs and 

 trees becomes a staple food. It is mainly in winter that apple orchards and young 

 forest trees suffer from attacks of mice. It is generally supposed that such attacks 

 are due to the absence of ordinary food ; but this is not always the case, for depreda- 

 tions often occur during mild, open winters when food abounds. Instances also of 

 summer girdling of trees are well attested. 



The common meadow mouse of the United States is one of the most prolific of 

 our species. Estimating the normal increase at six young, with four litters in a season, 

 and assuming that there were no checks upon the increase, the results would be 

 appalling. A single pair and their progeny in five seasons would amount to nearly 

 1,000,000 individuals. 



This little rascal is responsible for much of the mischief that 

 is charged to the blind mole. The field mouse often lives in. the 

 runways made by the mole and carries in grains, etc., that lead to 

 a false impression concerning the mole. 



The bulletin above quoted strongly advocates the encourage- 

 ment of hawks, owls, weasels, skunks, etc., for the purpose of 

 keeping these pests in check. The time will shortly come when 

 we will find it cheaper to protect poultry from injury by vermin- 

 proof pens, than to fight such pests as field mice and gophers, as 

 a result of our wholesale destruction of their natural enemies. It 

 is possible to save young fruit trees from injury by properly pre- 

 pared wrappers forced well into the ground. Old trees too large 

 for wrappers, however, frequently are girdled by field mice. 



SUGGESTIONS FROM GOVERNMENT BULLETIN ON BIRDS. 



The following, from "Fifty Common Birds of Farm and 

 Orchard," Farmer's Bulletin No. 513, prepared by the Bureau of 

 Biological Survey, Henry W. Henshaw, Chief United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, offers some practical information on. bird 

 protection : 



"A knowledge of his bird friends and enemies is important to 

 the farmer and orchardist in order that he may protect the kinds 

 that earn protection by their services, and may drive away or 

 destroy the others. At the present time, many kinds of useful 

 birds need direct intervention in their behalf as never before. The 

 number of insect pests, on the other hand, is all the time increas- 

 ing by leaps and bounds through importations from abroad and by 



