102 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Massachusetts for a change in the open season on wild fowl. 

 The present Federal season is September 15 to January 1, and 

 the demand was for an open season from October 15 to Feb- 

 ruary 1. 



A questionnaire asking whether the recipient favored extend- 

 ing the closed season on Ruffed Grouse, and also whether he 

 favored a change in the wild-fowl season, was distributed very 

 widely from this office. The first question was answered in the 

 affirmative by a tremendous majority, but opposition to legis- 

 lation for this purpose was strong among the gunning fraternity, 

 and a bill framed to give the Conservation Commission the 

 right to establish a close season on Grouse whenever in their 

 judgment such action should become necessary was killed in 

 committee. On the question of extending the wild-fowl season 

 through January, opinion was about evenly divided. The ma- 

 jority of gunners in southeastern Massachusetts was in favor 

 of this, but in the rest of the State the majority was strongly 

 against it. No action was taken. 



Methods of protecting Sprouting Corn from Crows and 



Other Birds. 



During the spring there was considerable complaint regard- 

 ing the destruction of sprouting corn by birds, particularly 

 Crows. If corn is properly treated Crows will not pull it; while 

 in clay soil, if it is planted 4 inches deep, they cannot pull it. 

 But deep planting will delay germination somewhat. Corn 

 treated with tar is distasteful to all birds, and it can be so 

 prepared that it can be put in with a corn planter. The fol- 

 lowing receipts for tarring corn are credited to those who sent 

 them to the Board of Agriculture in former years: — 



Put one-fourth to one-half bushel of corn in a half-barrel tub; pour on a 

 pail full 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 ; repeat until the corn 

 is entirely black; pour off on to 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 only 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 harm- 



