15() BOARD OF AGKICULTrRE. [Pub. Doc. 



This scratching fines up and dries out the manure, render- 

 ing it an unfit breeding place for liies ; but if any maggots 

 appear, they are soon eaten. 



While there are some insect pests that are not eaten to 

 any extent b}' either wild birds or poultry, most of them 

 may be controlled by one or the other. Young chickens, 

 and even mature fowls, eat a great many Aveed seeds. 

 Fowls may be used to take the place, in a measure, of the 

 wild turkey, partridge, prairie chicken or heath lien, wild 

 ])igeon and quail, once plentiful in ^Massachusetts, but now 

 in one case exterminated and in the others altogether too 

 rare. The man who raises one thousand chickens, five hun- 

 dred ducks and a few turkeys each year, has under control 

 a police force suthcient to cheek any invasion of such grass, 

 grain or garden insects as poultry will eat ; but Ave must 

 still depend largely on the wild birds to hold the tree- 

 inhabiting insects in check. 



Secretary Stockwell. Have you exer known the gray 

 squirrel to steal from the birds their eggs? 



^Ir. FoRBUSH. The red squirrel is quite a thief, but the 

 gray squirrel has a better reputation. I have known the 

 o-ray to take from a bii'd's nest one or two eo'ijs, or even all. 

 I notice the birds are a ery anxious to keep squirrels away 

 from their nests, as the squirrel is considered an enemy. 



Secretai'y Stockavell. I haAC taken so much pleasure 

 in noticing the enjoyment Avhich the gray squirrel seems to 

 take in his life Avith good people that I am sorry to hear 

 this of him. I had supposed the gray squirrel did not 

 attack birds' nests, Avhile the red S([uirrel is a most per- 

 nicious pest ; and Avhenever I see a red squirrel, my first 

 inq^ulse is to get my gun and shoot him, because he is such 

 a merciless destroyer of the birds" eggs. I have gotten out 

 of my carriage AA'hen riding to stone this thief aAvay from 

 the robins' nests near the roadside. At a Jargely attended 

 meeting of farmers from all parts of the State the question 

 was asked : Does the gray squirrel attack birds' nests ? Not 

 one kneAv this for a fait, and nearly all testified to his good 

 character. 



