THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 411 



injury than the one we attempt to prevent. The destruction 

 of too many corn-pulling Crqws, for example, might be fol- 

 lowed by such an increase of grubs and grasshoppers that no 

 grass could be grown ; or the extermination of Hawks and 

 Owls might be succeeded by the destruction of all the young 

 fruit trees by hordes of mice. Moreover, other evils, far less 

 simple and easily traceable, might result, for the widening 

 ripples that man creates by disturbing the balance of nature 

 are likely to be felt in the most unexpected places. 



Most birds earn more of our bounty than they receive, 

 and that portion of our products which they ordinarily eat 

 may be justly looked upon as but partial payment for their 

 services. Nevertheless, the farmer must protect his prop- 

 erty from excessive injury, such as sometimes occurs when 

 the natural food supply of birds is cut short, or when too 

 many are gathered upon a small area. 



To protect Grain from Crows and Other Birds. 



The following spring measures are recommended : 



1. Tar the seed corn, as follows : "Put one-fourth to one- 

 half bushel of corn in a half-barrel tub ; pour on a pailful of 

 hot water, or as much as is necessary to well cover the corn ; 

 dip a stick in gas tar, and stir this briskly in the corn ; re- 

 peat until the corn is entirely black ; pour off onto burlap 

 (bran sacks are excellent) ; spread in the sun and stir two 

 or three times during the day. If this work is done in the 

 morning, and the day is sunny, the corn will be ready for 

 the planter the next day without any other care. The hot 

 water softens the tar so that just enough will adhere to the 

 corn, and the corn is completely glazed by the sun. This 

 is by far the quicker way of tarring corn, is harmless and 

 effectual, and I have for years planted with a machine corn 

 treated in this way." 1 



2. Scatter soaked corn often about the borders of the field. 



3. Plant the seed three or four inches deep. This is said 

 to prevent corn-pulling by Crows, and must be effectual on 

 heavy soil. 



1 Ethan Brooks, in Annual Report of the Massachusetts State Board of Agri- 

 culture, 1896, p. 294. 



