SECRETARY'S REPORT. 103 



cedars, sweet ferns, wild cherry, arc also found. This may be 

 questioned by some ; to such I would advise that they would 

 examine their droppings, which may be abundantly found on 

 walls, and they will find that the germ of the seed is not killed 

 in passing them. Most of the pastures in the south-east part of 

 this county" (Essex,) are full of ledges, or very stony, at least, 

 so much so, that it is a very serious undertaking to plough them; 

 Mowing only aggravates the disease, causing the roots to sprout 

 at their termini, which greatly aid the spreading of these plants, 

 whose seeds have been scattered by birds." This correspondent 

 continues in the same strain ; attempts to argue that the depre- 

 ciation of pasture land in- value forty per cent., and the apprecia- 

 tion of mowing lands over one hundred per cent., and the rise 

 of butter, &c., in the same proportion, is owing to the labors of 

 this l)ird. "We will see shortly how far this gentleman is justified 

 in his position. In passing from his letter I would call attention 

 to the fact, that while asserting that the robin scatters broadcast 

 the seeds of nbxious plants, he does not say that he performs a 

 like office for the valuable ones ; and is it not singular that 

 the digestive organs of the bird should be able to make this 

 discrimination, for I have never yet met with any of the plants 

 of the valuable fruits which must have been transplanted, 

 if the gentleman's theory is correct, from our gardens and 

 orchards* through the bird, and I doubt if any well authenticated 

 instance can be found of such. 1 have one more letter in a 

 similar strain, but more abusive. It was published in the 

 " Prairie Farmer " for Oct. 14, 18G5. The following extract 

 bears on the present sulyect. He says, in comparing the robin 

 with the blue jay : • 



" I could not affirm, in any court of justice, that I ever saw a 

 blue jay touch berry or grape. Not so as to corn. Indeed, in 

 my first farming experience, I caught, tried, condemned and 

 executed twenty of them in one morning. I remember the 

 slaughter with shame, and meekly submitted to the almost 

 deafening protest of a hundred survivors. They are now wel- 

 come to their corn, for from year's end to year's end, they abide 

 in the grove around the house, not leaving, like the robin, when 

 they can no longer stuff" themselves on my choicest fruits. At 

 all hours of the day I see them visiting every leaf for insects. 

 In the winter, they forsake us not, like their fellows ; and, when 



