REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. CIX 



main north and south instead of east and west; and, except in the coast 

 region and the northern part of the State, all but one are pushed up 

 into the mountains. The valleys of the coast ranges, in retreating from 

 the sea toward the interior, receive less and less fog and more and 

 more heat and sunshine, affording in their individual climatic pecu- 

 liarities conditions favorable for the growth of widely different agri- 

 cultural and horticultural crops. Thus, while some are cool enough 

 for apples, cherries, and the sugar beet, others are warm enough for 

 almonds, citrus fruits, and raisin grapes. The hottest parts of the 

 State, as well known, lie in the deserts east of the mountains, where, 

 through the instrumentality of this Department, the date palm seems 

 destined to become an important and profitable crop. 



DESTRUCTION OF PRAIRIE DOGS. 



On our great plains, which stretch from Montana and the Dakotas 

 southward far into Texas, one of the chief enemies to agriculture and 

 stock raising is a large ground squirrel known as the prairie dog. 

 This animal appears to be increasing rapidly, owing to the destruction 

 of its natural enemies, chiefly coyotes, badgers, ferrets, hawks, owls, 

 and eagles. It is destructive not only to grain, alfalfa, and other cul- 

 tivated crops, but also to the native bunch grass; and ranchmen com- 

 plain that on certain grazing lands over which its colonies have spread 

 during the past few years its mounds are so numerous and its con- 

 sumption of herbage is so great that only half as many cattle can be 

 pastured as formerly. In response to persistent complaints and 

 urgent requests for remedies, the Biological Survey has prepared and 

 distributed a circular of directions for the destruction of prairie dogs, 

 and is now conducting field experiments in the Dakotas, Nebraska, 

 Kansas, and Texas with a view to the discovery of remedial measures 

 cheap enough for general use on the ranch lands of the plains. 



SOME USEFUL AND NOXIOUS BIRDS. 



In southern California it has been discovered that two species of 

 birds, the Bullock oriole and the California least tit, feed extensively 

 on the destructive olive scale, an insect injurious to both olive and 

 orange trees, and that the common Western goldfinch feeds on green 

 plant lice. On the other hand, some birds, particularly the house 

 finch or "linnet," are bitterly complained of as enemies of the fruit 

 grower. The relations of birds to fruit culture in California are so 

 xmportant that the assistant in charge of this subjeet was sent to the 

 principal fruit-growing areas of the State, where important investi- 

 gations were made, the results of which are now being prepared for 

 publication. 



In Texas it has been found that the large blackbirds, locally known 



