1873.] REPORT OF SECRETARY AND LIBRARIAN. 71 



years since its first appearance, witli a mixture of Paris Green and Flour, 

 — the latter ingredient being combined to give bulk. It would appear to 

 your Secretary that Air-Slaked Lime would answer such a loui'pose, and 

 at the same time materiall}^ aid in the work of destruction. Yet it may 

 be ineffective ; since almost everything has been tried, without avail ac- 

 cording to rumor, with the sole exception of Paris Green, At best, we 

 shall unquestionably have ample opportunity to experiment in the pre- 

 mises ; and to test that tenacity of life which, in these Insect- JP'oes, is 

 reputed to be something marvellous. And, should every thing else fail, 

 we still have the assurance of the Ornithologists at the State House that 

 their " Kobin'' shall be with us even unto the end ! 



In obedience to the instructions of the Trustees a Petition, duly 

 attested and under the seal of the Coi'poration, was addressed and pre- 

 sented to the General Court at its recent protracted session, praying for 

 the concession of leave to freeholders to destroy Frugiverous Birds upon 

 their respective estates. As the phraseology of that Petition disturbed 

 the exquisite sensibilities of the most exalted branch of the Legislature, 

 your Secretary, in his own vindication, recites it verbatim, that you may 

 know at how slight a touch the nerves of those " Prurient Prudes " are 

 wont to tingle : 



To the Senate and House of Represe'titatives of Massachusetts, in Geneial 

 Court assembled : 



The Petition of the Trustees of the Worcester County Horticidtural 

 Society, a Corporation duly established by the Laws of the Common- 

 wealth for the '■'• jjuyyose of advancing the Science and encouraging and im- 

 proving the Practice of Horticulture : " 



Respectfully represents and sets forth that, in the prosecution of the 

 declaimed objects of their organization, the Members of said Society ex- 

 perience sore discouragement and hindrance from the Statutes which have 

 been cunningly devised to protect all Birds from destruction, or even 

 diminution, without reference to their habits, and whether, or not, ferae 

 naturae. And your petitioners aver that many of the species of Birds, 

 thus carefully preserved, are rapacious and wasteful, — gluttonous of 

 choice fruit which it has cost time, patience and labor to introduce into 

 this Commonwealth; and that they in no manner, as is hastily assumed, 

 compensate for their mischief by the destruction of Noxious Insects. 

 And your Petitioners further insist, (challenging disproof of a fact so 

 well established as to be notorious !) that the devastntions of Insects 

 were never so injurious to Fruit, and every form of vegetation, as during 

 the last few years within which Legislation has striven, most sedulously, 

 to guard and prolong the worthless existence of everything that had 

 wings. 



Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the Statute, not more futile in its 

 scope than contrary to public policy in its provisions, may be amended in 

 such wise as to permit Freeholders to destroy, upjon their own premises, 

 Frugivorous Birds. 



