548 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XLIV. 



be supposed to include the earth-ioorm, wliich, although it in some degree 

 disfigures the meadows by turning up small portions of the soil, yet these 

 " worm-casts," as they are called, produce a valuable addition of fresh 

 earth as a coating to the surface ; and, when bush-harrowed to form a top- 

 dressing, materially promote the vegetation of the grass. Both gardeners 

 and farmers, indeed, dislike them : the former, because they render their 

 walks unsightly ; and the latter, because they are thought to eat the young 

 corn. These men would, however, find that, were the earth without worms, 

 it would soon become cold, hard-bound, and void of fermentation — conse- 

 quently steril ; and it has been truly observed, by the eminent naturalist 

 from whom this remark is drawn, " that the most insignificant insects and 

 reptiles are of much more consequence, and have much more influence in 

 the economy of nature, than the incurious are aware of. Their minuteness 

 renders earth-worms less an object of attention, but tlieir numbers and 

 fecundity, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of 

 nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm*." 



BIRDS. 



Swarms of birds, particularly in the spring season, when berries are 

 scarce and the sowing of Lent crops is going forward, take their share in 

 attacking the seed, and commit further depredations upon the young corn 

 and clover when just springing above the ground ; pigeons will hardly 

 leave a pea, and rooks will even grub up whole drills of potato-cuttings 

 with their long bills; while, during winter, sparrows, chaffinches, and other 

 small feathered tribes, nestle in the corn-stacks, and, during harvest, 

 commit constant depredations on the ripened grain. Against this no other 

 precaution can be used, but to have boys with fowling-pieces in the field 

 to frighten them away until the young plants are strong enough to defend 

 themselves ; for scare-crows do little service : they should, however, be on 

 their post before daylight, for the dawn no sooner breaks than tlie animals 

 commence their depredations. It may, however, be doubtful whether the 

 common practice of destroying the sparrows by parochial premiums, or the 

 plunder of their nests is prudent ; for they, and other small birds, come in 

 aid of the farmer's industry, and compensate largely for the corn which they 

 consume, by the immense number of grubs which they devour. 



It has, indeed, been recommended to poison the rooks by placing barley, 

 steeped in a solution of arsenic, on the newly-taken-out dunghills; and, as 

 they will eat it with avidity, their lives will be the forfeit of their temerity. 

 This, however, can only be successfully practised in winter, for it will 

 not entice tliem in wheat seed-time, when other food is plentiful ; and we 

 confess that we coincide in the opinion of those naturalists who attribute the 

 dislike of farmers rather to prejudice than fact ; for they live more upon the 

 insects found in the earth than uj)on grain. In a dry spring, indeed, when 

 worms are scarce, they will dig out the newly-set potatoes ; but, if we look 

 round the country, we shall find that in land in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of those antiquated mansions where rookeries have been for ages established, 

 the crops are not less plentiful, and the ground is perhaps cleaner than in 

 places situated at a distance t. 



* White's Natural Histoiy of Selborne. 



I " In the year 1825 our fields were so completely overrun with the wild mustard, 

 that, for six weeks, there was not a blade of corn to lie seen, and every barley field was 

 covered as with gold ; but on the Earl of Traquair's fields around the rookery there was 

 scarcely a single plant of the noxious weed to be seen." Quart. Jouru, of Agric. vol. i., 

 p. 640. 



" It is but simple justice to these often-censured birds to mention the service ihey 



