BIRDS AND THE GARDEN 



species, it will perhaps seek some slight payment for 

 its long and arduous services. It will probably be 

 satisfied with two heads of wheat per day. Is this a 

 heavy wage for a bird that has been the means of 

 saving a minimum of 5,000 stalks of wheat a day for 

 six or eight weeks ? Is this feathered labourer not 

 worthy of his hire ? 



An observant gardener, after thirty years' experience 

 in the cultivation of fruit, flowers, and vegetables, 

 says : — 



" Often and often I have known rooks and star- 

 lings charged with pulling up wantonly row after 

 row of young broad-bean plants, and it is only when 

 I have pointed out that all the plants had been 

 previously attacked with the terrible ground pest, the 

 wire-worm, that a more friendly view has been taken 

 of the mischief, or so-called mischief, done by the 

 birds. Precisely the same thing happens in corn- 

 fields, and the seedling wheat, etc., is strewn about — 

 evidence as strong as holy writ. By good cultiva- 

 tion rather than by adventitious means, allowing 

 birds a free run of the farm, and by placing water at 

 their disposal, the wise farmer or gardener will leave 

 most of the birds to carry out their natural functions, 

 which are largely for his particular benefit." 



IS 



