350 EXPERIMENT STATTOIS: RECORD. 



" Instead of hampering breeders by restrictions, ;is at present, State laws 

 should be so modified as to encourage the raising of deer, elk, and other ani- 

 mals as a source of profit to the individual and to the State. 



" Safeguards against the destruction and sale of wild deer in place of domes- 

 ticated deer are not difficult to enforce. For this purpose a system of licensing 

 private parks, and of tagging deer or carcasses sold or shipped, so that they 

 may be easily identified, is recommended. 



" It is believed that with favorable legislation much otherwise waste land in 

 the United States may be utilized for the production of venison so as to yield 

 profitable returns, and also that this excellent and nutritious meat, instead of 

 being denied to 99 per cent of the population of the country, may become as 

 common and as cheap in our markets as mutton." 



Silver fox farming, W. H. Osgood (U. .S'. Drpt. Afir., Farmers' Bui. 328, pp. 

 5-22, figs. 10). — The Biological Survey of this Department has made a study 

 of the silver or silver-black fox raising and here furnishes information as to 

 the possibilities of their propagation and the best methods of conducting the 

 business. The history of silver fox breeding and the area suited for fox 

 farming, with the character of location and space required, and equipment nec- 

 essary, life history, and habits are considered. 



"The number of persons now engaged in the business is relatively small, 

 and the work is still experimental, yet many of the initial difficulties already 

 have been overcome. Numerous minor failures seem explainable in large 

 measure, and are offset by several conspicuous successes. It is therefore prob- 

 able that under proper management fox raising will be developed into a profita- 

 ble industry, and it is perhaps not too much to expect that a domestic breed 

 of foxes will be produced. Only time can show how far such expectations will 

 be realized, but present indications must be regarded as very encouraging." 



A study of the food habits of birds, W. Leisewitz ( VerJunidl. OniHhoL 

 Geselh Bayern, 7 {1906), pp. 265-21' .j) .—X detailed account is presented of the 

 nature of the food found in the stomachs of various species of hawks and owls 

 including Butco hnteo, Arcliibutco lagopus, Astur paUimharius, Asio otus, etc. 

 These birds wei-e found to feed upon hare, rabbits, pheasants, grouse, mice, 

 marmots, moles, small bii'ds, and to a less extent insects and frogs. On the 

 whole it is believed that their feeding habits make these birds of some eco- 

 nomic importance to the farmer. 



Bird preservation. Spraying', H. A. Surface {ZooL Bui. Penn. Dept. Agr., 

 5 (1908), yos. 10, pp. 299-828, pis. .'/, figs. 8; 11, pp. 329-360).— An account is 

 given of the preparation and erection of nesting boxes and of the economic 

 value and food habits of birds, together with a brief report of a study of the 

 economic relations of birds during the year. 



Popular notes are also given on the methods of preparing and applying 

 various insecticides in the control of injurious iusects. 



Beport of the entomologists, C. H. and H. T. Fernald and J. N. Summers 

 (Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1901:, pp. 151-155). — It is stated that the resistance 

 of cucumbers when fumigated with hydrocyanic-acid gas has been determined. 

 The leopard moth {Zcuzera pyrina) has appeared arouud Boston and the brown- 

 tail moth has continued to spread over the State. The elm-leaf beetle is again 

 becoming a serious pest. A "blight" of onions d;.e to thrips caused a large 

 loss in the Connecticut River Valley. A marked decrease was noted in the 

 abundance of root maggots and cutworms, while the spruce gall louse, squash 

 bug, and several kinds of caterpillars were unusually abundant. 



Insects of 1907, R. H. Pettit {Michigan Sta. Bui. 251, pp. 113-123, figs. 

 12). — Anaphothrips striatus was the source of considerable injury to oats. This 



