106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



W. L. McAtee of the Biological Survey, Department of Agri- 

 culture, at Washington, confirmed this and identified the other 

 fragments as those of the seed of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisii- 

 folia). The contents of these two stomachs seemed to show 

 that the birds were eating far more weed seeds than buds, but 

 Mr, Bowdish wrote that they were numerous in that section 

 of New Jersey, and were mischievous in bud destruction at 

 times. It is well known that this species destroys both buds 

 and blossoms of fruit trees, but probably in its usual numbers 

 this only results in a wholesome thinning. Some damage may 

 have been done in New Jersey, but recent information proves 

 that the peach crop in that region has been the heaviest in 

 years. 



Crow (?) 



The experience that follows is so unusual and its results so 

 unique and unlocked for that it is presented without drawing 

 any conclusion or offering any opinion. 



Last year I received a complaint from D. M. Rogers, who 

 is in charge of the government work on the gypsy moth, that 

 some kind of a bird was injuring and destroying his young 

 fruit trees. He has an orchard of about 35 acres in Billerica. 



I went there and examined the trees, but as the injury had 

 ceased for the year, concluded that nothing could be done then, 

 and asked him to notify me whenever it began again. Early 

 in May he said that the trouble had begun. I went there and 

 stayed one day looking over the trees and examining all the 

 surroundings, and concluded that there was no possible cause 

 for it except woodchucks, as there was a woodchuck's hole near 

 almost ever}^ injured tree. The bark had been gnawed about 

 the trunks. Each tree had been surrounded with cellar wire 

 netting to prevent mice from gnawing the bark, and the animal, 

 whatever it was, had climbed up on the netting and gnawed the 

 bark above it. I advised the use of carbon disulphide; poison 

 was also used, and apparently this disposed of nearly all the 

 woodchucks. 



On May 27, however, he called again, saying that the injury 

 continued, and that whatever made the trouble had eaten the 

 leaves of the plum and cherry trees, particularly the plum 

 trees, sometimes even going out to the ends of the branches. 



