18 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1890. 



Hellebore, Pyrethrum, or patent trap, endowed with the super- 

 human wit to discriminate where man confesses himself at fault ! 

 What we do not know, — what we do not care or are too lazy to 

 learn, — who shall tell us ? Canker-worm, caterpillar, or codlin- 

 raoth, in more or less aggravated alternation, abide with us 

 always. The ground is strewn with twigs, even limbs, from the 

 massive Oaks that would otherwise, in perfect symmetry, endure, 

 as it were, forever. The once superb Elm of Massachusetts is 

 foul with tent and web-worm ; its foliage curled and yellow from 

 waste by myriads of aphides. And now a new and insidious foe 

 threatens mortal injury to that noblest of all forest trees of the 

 temperate zone, — Acer Saccharinum^ — the Rock, or Sugar, 

 Maple. 



Again, — are those swarms of birds that now, in early October, 

 make their homes upon our Bartlett and Washington Pear trees ; 

 or in our vineyards; the beneficent agencies that the sentiment- 

 alist asserts ? For, with reason or not, it. must be noted that 

 their visits are ever to the fairest, brightest-colored pears ; the 

 clearest, thinnest-skinned grapes. Are they to be encouraged, or 

 held in check ? The flocks of the sparrow are countless. Our 

 old friend ! Turdus migrator-ius, — thrives mightily under the 

 fostering wing of legislation. Of assumption, without facts, we 

 have more than enough. Of birds, — inevitable result from that 

 assumption of their beneficial agency, — is there not a woeful ex- 

 cess ! The naturalist of tender years is allowed to shoot his little 

 gun ; and, of course, is sure to find that predestined early worm. 

 The farmer and orchardist is forbidden to use fire-arms and is 

 warned to distrust his own eyesight when he sees beaks busy and 

 crops (of the birds !) swollen to very repletion. We have literally 

 exterminated our wild birds, of predaceous instinct and habit, 

 and for reward can roll up our grass-sward like a carpet. The 

 crow, and crow black-bird are shot at sight ; or, if rendered too 

 wary to approach within range, that very excess of caution pre- 

 cludes their natural usefulness. What few birds survive whose 

 instinct prompts them to get a living by beak and claw, from 

 worm or beetle, are protected in a brief existence, only that they 

 may fall a surer prey to the legalized pot-hunter or "sportsman." 

 Would the quail or grouse, the plover or woodcock be of more 



