IX 



BIRDS AND THE FRUIT-FARM 



ALL migratory birds are now under the protec- 

 tion of the people of the United States by 

 the Lane law, which after many years of agitation 

 was at last passed by Congress. All who are 

 interested in fniit-growing must choose between 

 the destruction or the preservation of their or- 

 chards and vineyards. For years the Government, 

 State or Federal, has labored to teach fruit-growers 

 all over the country how to fight destructive insects 

 and fungi; the battle has raged fiercely. But we 

 have come to the parting of the ways. Despite 

 all efforts to combat the evil by cultivation, and 

 specially by spraying, the alternative remains, 

 * ' Fruit or no fruit ? * ' Which shall we take ? 



Recent years have brought more worms, insects, 

 fungi, pests of all kinds into fruit sections of 

 the country than were ever before known. For 

 the first time many have begun to understand the 

 story of the locusts of Egypt and the ten plagues. 

 Never before have insect and fungous enemies of 

 fruit done so much damage. In the Valley it was 



more than half a million dollars for one year. 



272 



