PAEMEES^ INSTITUTES. 509 



The larger fruits are often hollowed out so as to resemble a shell, the 

 seed and pulp being entirely eaten, and little is left of the pear or apple 

 still hanging to the tree. 



Prof. F. M. Webster, of the Purdue Experiment Station, writes: "The 

 English sparrow is destroying my apples. I have several trees in my 

 garden, and as soon as the fruit gets mellow they peck holes in it, and 

 it either drops to the ground or decays on the trees. I can hardly get a 

 single apple fit to eat." 



Peaches and plums, although not so much relished as some other fruits, 

 are atacked and large quantities rendered worthless from being punetiu'ed 

 l)y the bills of these birds. The plums, especially, on being injured in 

 the least, begin rotting on the trees. The plums growing often compactly 

 on the branches, easily communicate the rot to the uninjured fruit and the 

 loss is often heavy if not almost entire. 



For several years we endeavored to grow plums successfully, but 

 failed on account of the rotting on the trees, which doubtless was super- 

 induced by this bird. 



The palate of this bird is quite peculiar, as figs and even tomatoes are 

 not safe in his sight, and many failures in fruit crops of other kinds will 

 in time be better understood and perhaps abated, when the habits of this 

 fellow are better known, and it is clearly seen that if he is allowed to 

 continue to increase in numbers unmolested as has been done, the growing 

 of fruits will be attended with uncertainties and failures. 



There be few gardeners but have had trouble in vegetable gardening, 

 especially with protecting the young shoots as they emerge from the soil 

 in the spring. Most all of the earlier ones are eaten or mutilated, which 

 requires replanting and additional care to secure "a stand." In fact, the 

 plants are subject to his attacks during all stages of growth. 



This is the case with peas, beans, lettuce, squashes, sweet corn, 

 radishes, beets, turnips and some other vegetaltles. The heart shoots of 

 young plants are eaten out and the plants rendered useless, apparently 

 regardless of the variety of vegetable or fruit. 



Field and sweet corn both suffer enormously, the shucks on the matur- 

 ing ears being stripped back and the succulent young grains eaten and 

 destroyed. The injured ears of garden corn are rendered unsalable by 

 their distorted and blackened appearance. Many times our blackbirds and 

 crows are given the blame for the damaged ears of field corn found at 

 cribbing time, which is unjust. 



No end to the quantities of seeds consumed by this seed-eating bird in 

 the garden and field. Often the pods of the pea and the radish are torn 

 and the seed either eaten or wasted. The lettuce and turnip beds receive 

 their accustomed visits and suffer also. The growing of sun-flowers for 

 seed has been abandoned near our cities on his account, for just as soon 

 as the seeds are ripened, they are removed. 



