Xr,. 4.] BIRDS OX THE FARM. 155 



or six weeks old, when they will begin to eat the vegetables. 

 Ducklings are useful, but more destructive than chicks. 

 They are very fond of radishes, and will devour them when 

 very small. All this is not new to many farmers, but not 

 all are aware that large chickens or even full-grown fowls 

 sometimes may be used to check insect invasions in the 

 garden. If hens are kept well supplied with green food, 

 grain and water, they may be turned into the garden oc- 

 casionally, to follow plow, cultivator or wheel hoe. Thev 

 soon learn that in following such implements they will find 

 angle worms, cut worms, wire worms and other insect food, 

 and they will seldom do much injury to the garden while so 

 engaged. If they have not been liberally supplied with 

 such grain, green food and water as they need, they will 

 attack both vegetables and iruits. Most farmers know that 

 fowls will clear fields infested with grasshoppers, crickets 

 and army worms. Ducks are particularly fond of army 

 worms, and a flock of five hundred ducks ought to be able 

 to stop the progress of these destructive pests on anv farm. 

 It is said that young turkeys may be taught to eat the larva 

 of the Colorado potato beetle, and will clear the vines of 

 this pest. Some ducks eat this insect. Mr. E. H. Kern of 

 Mankato, Kan., writes that his ducks cleared the bugs firom 

 the potato field. So far as his experience goes, all ducks 

 hke these insects, and seem to otow fat bv feedinor on them.* 

 Chickens will destroy the maggots of the common house 

 fly, and thus prevent the increase of this pest. Dr. Howard, 

 chief entomologist of the United States Department of 

 Agricultm-e, tells us that these flies breed chiefly in horse 

 manure, and also in human excreta. t He tells how to pre- 

 vent their increase in vaults and manure piles by the use of 

 chloride of lime. We find that a few chickens confined 

 where they can scratch over the stable manure are eflective, 

 and less expensive than the chloride of lime. They will 

 spend much time scratching and digging over this manure, 

 looking for partially digested grain, seeds and maggots. 



* Insect Life, Vol. HI., p. 398. 



t Circular No. 35, second series. Division of Entomology, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. 



