256 ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



to farmers economically as well as being a delight with 

 their songs and calls. Birds deserve the protection and 

 care of farmers. It is encouraging that we are beginning 

 to realize the importance of birds, and that their wanton 

 slaughter by boys, hunters and those seeking them to 

 adorn ladies' hats, is being discouraged, and in many states 

 laws have been passed to protect them. 



Know Birds. — Every boy and girl should learn to know 

 birds. A few birds are really harmful and should be des- 

 troyed, but only a few. Many suspected by casual ob- 

 servers of being harmful have, on close study, proved to 

 be helpful. Even hawks and owls, which have too often 

 been condemned, are generally worthy of protection. The 

 only safe policy is either to know birds, so as to be sure 

 that the ones killed are really harmful, or else assume that 

 all birds are useful. Write to the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C, for Farmers' Bulletins Nos. 

 509, 513, 621 and 630. These bulletins will give much 

 useful information about birds and how to attract and pro- 

 tect them. Write also to the Secretary of the National 

 Association of Audubon Societies, at 1974 Broadway, New 

 York, N. Y., for further information. 



Attract birds to your homes by providing them with 

 water, suitable houses, by supplying some of the winter 

 birds with food during severe weather, by protecting them 

 from cats, and by growing groves and shelter belts. There 

 are few things more pleasant than to waken in the morning 

 with the air literally filled with the music of birds. It is 

 even more pleasant, if you know that some effort of yours 

 has helped to make it possible for them to live and thrive 

 in your neighborhood. It not only is pleasant, but it pays. 



BEES 



Importance of Bees. — The total honey crop of the 

 country is not large; that is, it does not represent nearly 

 so much wealthy as the wheat crop or dairy products, but 

 nearly everyone likes honey, and honey is said to be one 

 of the most wholesome sweets. While there are not a great 

 many who derive large incomes or make a business of keep- 

 ing bees, it is believed that more should keep them. Bee- 



