1883.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



223 



as could be with no time for play ! It does seem a 

 hard hfe, yet if the bee could only spare a moment 

 to think, it might have some satisfaction in know- 

 ing that it made other people work as well as itself. 

 At least Professor Cook has to work. Only think 

 of a book of this kind going through ten editions 

 since 1876. Professor Cook has worked hard to 

 keep abreast of all knowledge on bee-keeping. It 

 is no wonder the book sells so well. 



Forestry. — The Journal of Forestry has 

 changed its title to simply Forestry, a commenda- 

 ble relorm. Long names are abominable, espec- 

 ially to the hard worked editor, who is always 

 anxious to give full credit to an exchange. 

 Mr. Francis George Heath has become its editor, 

 though its publishers stilt continue to be William 

 Rider & Son, London. Forest culture, as usually 

 treated, is a dry subject ; but treated as Forestry 

 treats it becomes as juicy and enjoyable as a plate of 

 strawberries smothered in cream. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



To Intelligent Correspondents. — All com- 

 munications relating to advertisements, subscrip- 

 tions, or other business, must be addressed to the 

 publisher, 814 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. 



All referring to the reading matter of the maga- 

 zine must be mailed to the editor, Germantown, Pa. 



No express packages for the editor received un- 

 less prepaid ; and marked "Paid through to Ger- 

 mantown, Pa." 



The English Sparrow — "Crow-foot," — 

 What is the latest conclusion in regard to the 

 English sparrow? Is it a grain eater, or an insect- 

 ivorous bird? As a few of them have appeared in 

 our vicinity, I am the more anxious to make up 

 my mind concerning this bird." 



[We have only to repeat what we have said 

 before, that modern ornithology shows few, if any, 

 birds are either strictly graminivorous or strictly 

 insectivorous. Take for instance the common 

 yellow bird, one of the worst depredators on 

 seeds in the summer time, feeds wholly on 

 small insects in the early part of the season. 

 The various kinds of aphis are especially welcome 

 to the yellow bird in spring time. The English 

 sparrow is no exception. It will eat anything 

 whatever that is most conveniently at hand. 

 It does not propose to starve when there are few 

 insects to be had, and it rejoices on a flesh diet 

 when seeds are scarce. You can form your own 



conclusions from these facts. It increases very 

 rapidly. If it gets in. your grain fields and among 

 your fruits, the facts may endanger your reputa- 

 tion as a meek and mild mannered man. There is 

 however always this consolation, that no bird can 

 live out in our northern climate, when the ground 

 is covered for weeks with snow. So the English 

 sparrow must keep to the large towns for protec- 

 tion. It has been of immense use in some towns. 

 American birds are too shy. They avoid close 

 contact with humanity. The English sparrow re- 

 mains among men. This is its only advantage. 

 It will aid in clearing out insects from cities, when 

 other birds will not. But it will do damage as well 

 as be useful ; and j ust which of the two it will prove 

 must depend on each person's experience. Every 

 person should be left free to protect, or to encour- 

 age it as he may see fit. — Ed. G. M.] 



Frauds. — Mr. A. Dohles, Waterloo, New York, 

 writes: "This morning I was visited by a man who 

 represented himself to be a writer for the Garden- 

 ers' Monthly. He sat down in my room, wrote 

 a lengthy article on my business, and after he had 

 finished he offered me as many copies as I wished 

 for ten cents a copy, which would have the article 

 in it which he wrote up. He also offered me the 

 magazine for one year for only one dollar. As 

 the individual looked very doubtful, I required of 

 him a certificate from you, which he could not 

 show; therefore I declined his kind offer, and told 

 him I would pay on receipt of the papers. If I 

 am not very much mistaken he is a mis-representa- 

 tive of your journal, and collects funds under false 

 pretences. He came from Auburn and, I think, is 

 traveling West to try his profession. I should like 

 to hear from you about this matter, as I think he 

 ought to be stopped if he does crooked business. 



[The publisher has sent his thanks directly to 

 Mr. Dohles, and we publish the letter for the 

 benefit of others. There is one rule which no one 

 should ever forget, namely, though a publisher or 

 a nurseryman, or a business man of any kind may 

 send out canvassers for names, or orders, he never 

 expects any person to pay money to a stranger, or 

 indeed to any one, stranger or not, before he has 

 the goods. Any unknown fellow therefore, who 

 goes tramping around the country and asks money 

 before the goods are delivered, is invariably a fraud. 

 The only matter of surprise is that people should 

 be found wiUing to pay money to any stranger 

 before they have the goods. We are unable to 

 help any one who does such things as these. — Ed, 

 G. M.] 



