508 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



powerful ylass, the observer could see them scanning the limbs and 

 branches, removing almost all of the 'fruit blossoms. Where the entire 

 buds were not removed, the central part was bitten out and the coming 

 crop of peaches destroyed. The pear and apple buds suffer enormously 

 and many a failure in our fruit croi)s is attributed to drouths, cold 

 weather, etc., when in reality this pugnacious bird is largely responsible 

 for it. 



Many letters from all over the United States indicate that the buds 

 of all varieties of fruits, of tree or vine, have been injured or destroyed 

 every year by these pests. And among all fruits that are grown, the 

 greatest concern at present is the grape. In California grape culture is 

 of gi-eat importance, and the rapidity at which these birds are increasing, 

 this immense industry of the Golden Gate State is being jeopardized, and 

 if the sparrow continues to increase in the future at the rate he has in 

 the past, the industry will be destroyed. 



Letters from grape growers from twenty-six States positively report 

 the sparrow's depredations in their vineyards. The little buds and minute 

 and growing bunches are greedily devoured, and many vines are entirely 

 stripped before the berry of the grape attains much size. After the 

 bunches are matured, the grapes are punctured and often carried away, 

 which is a serious loss to those shippers who desire compact bunches, as 

 soon the berry rots and the rest follow. There is a diversion of opinion 

 regarding the cause of these ravages. Some think he is after insects, the 

 seeds of the grape or its juices, but as he is a seed-eating bird, he relishes 

 fruit with his diet. 



In Australia grape growing has been almost abandoned on this account, 

 and must continue so until his numbers are materially reduced. 



The method of sacking the bunches will need be more extensively used 

 by individual growers than ever, especially with the more "tender and 

 attractive varieties. 



Ripe blackberries, strawljcrries, currants, gooseberries and raspberries 

 are greedily eaten in our gardens and the losses are not realized unless 

 care is taken to note the sparrow's visits. These fruits are not only eaten 

 by the adult birds, but carried to their young for food, and "often our 

 failures to get a single plate of some of these fruits is due to their constant 

 presence in our fruit bearing bushes and vines. 



Often one-third of the crop of ripe cherries on individual trees are 

 taken by birds, the sparrow taking his share, which, with loss of fruit 

 bvids in early spring by him would equal near a quarter of the croj). tlie 

 Governor Wood cherries suffering most. 



l:?ut few fruit men are seen who have not found the spari-ow pecking 

 their apples and pears, and so seriously have some of them been eaten, 

 that the fruit must be gathered before fully mature. This is the case 

 with Red Astrakan, Yellow June and Wealthy apples and Clapp's Fa- 

 vorite, Miami, Flemish Beauty and Early Catherine pears. 



