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may be surprised, perhaps, to see that most farmers grow 

 them abundantly. Most of the fields where corn, potatoes 

 and other crops have been grown are so covered with weeds 

 at that season that in many places it is difficult to see the crop 

 from a distance. No doubt these rank growths are a compli- 

 ment to the soil, but they are no compliment to the cultivation. 

 The fields of Massachusetts are not alone in this condition. 

 Let the farmers of other States speak for themselves. In truth, 

 there are more weed seeds for the birds than birds to take care 

 of them. Where the hay fields and meadows are closely and 

 often cropped, fewer weeds have a chance to mature their 

 seed; but even there some low-growing plants are left, which 

 survive the cutting, and weeds come in. Where weeds are 

 allowed to grow unhindered all through the fall months, birds 

 cannot be expected to destroy them all. 



In our garden we attempted to keep the weeds in subjection. 

 This in 1900 was almost an impossibility. In 1901 it was a 

 serious task, and necessitated frequent weeding or hoeing all 

 summer and into the fall. In 1902 the labor was much lightened, 

 and this was in part due to the birds. All farmers know that, 

 while hoed crops in the main may be kept nearly free from 

 weeds, it is impossible to weed a squash or melon patch without 

 injuring the plants. Such crops invariably foul the land. It 

 is also very difficult to keep all fences and borders of fields 

 clear of weeds. We depended mainly on the birds to take care 

 of such weed seeds as were left in the squash or melon patch or 

 along the borders, and they did their work well. 



The first year, birds were not numerous enough to destroy 

 all the weed seed; the second year, there was hardly enough 

 seed to gather an increased number of birds. A small patch 

 of Japanese barnyard grass was planted north of the garden. 

 The seed of this millet proved very attractive to birds, but it 

 was not molested except by goldfinches and an occasional 

 English sparrow until the seed began to fall. The millet was 

 then reaped and the seed saved, but not until a great quantity 

 of it had fallen to the ground. 



All the fall and winter this seed proved a great attraction 

 to the birds. Sparrows were almost constantly feeding in the 

 vicinity, and the seed seemed to be relished by all of them. 



