PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 89 



kept on special servjpp as snake and vermin destroyers ; a large brigade is on 

 duty watching for mice in the open fields by night, returning to the forest during 

 the day. In this way owls and hawks earn that living which human kind denies 

 them, but shoot upon all occasions. 



In return the forest affords shelter for the birds ; their nests are built among 

 the branches, hidden by leafy canopies from the intrusion of numerous enemies 

 and sheltered from storms. 



It is natural for all animal kind to seek seclusion at times ; nesting places 

 are sought safe from view; only in the thick woods can perfect security be 

 found. Here insects abound, berries, fruits, nuts and oily seeds are in profu- 

 sion ; happy is their lot. Small birds without forest have little chance for their 

 lives, where animals of the cat tribe or birds of prey have every advantage. 



Quail are invaluable on farms, each one being worth more than its weight in 

 gold as a bug destroyer. An agricultural authority says that the past wet season 

 has been unfavorable for them, and unless protected this winter they will not be 

 able to produce their usual broods next year. 



There are no two subjects more closely related than are Ornithology and 

 Arboriculture. Were the birds to be exterminated from any cause, the forests 

 would not survive a year : there could be no trees, for the insect enemies would de- 

 stroy them in a very brief period. Agriculture would become a hazardous occupa- 

 tion because of the enormous increase of insects and vermin. 



With the disappearance of the forests bird food is insufficient ; they are driven 

 to the fields and slaughtered. The balance in nature being destroyed, insects 

 increase immoderately, and are driven to feed upon orchard and domestic trees in 

 cur gardens. So additional burdens are placed upon the husbandman who un- 

 wittingly contributes to his own misfortunes. 



Fifty years ago the San Jose scale, codling moth, wooly aphis, plum curculio 

 and a host of pests now so common, were not known, or gave so little trouble 

 as not to attract attention, while fruits of all kinds were abundant where there 

 were trees. 



Surely no one can imagine that these pests were created during the past half 

 century ; not all of them were imported from countries which had centuries ago 

 cleared away the forests. No! They were intended to be kept in subjection to 

 nature's laws, which invariably preserve a balance. 



