56 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



and others that they eat no young turnips. The sacrifice of one 

 producing such conviction may save hundreds of liis brethren." 



The testimony of practical gardeners in favor of birds deserves 

 special consideration, because their prejudices incline them to 

 seek their destruction. Mr. Musgrave, a practical gardener, 

 who has written a treatise on the means of destroying injurious 

 insects, remarks : " It is a too common practice among garden- 

 ers, to destroy, indiscriminately, the birds that frequent their 

 grounds. This, in my opinion, is bad policy. Although some 

 birds are great enemies to certain crops, it must be a trifling 

 crop indeed that will not bear the expense of a person to watch 

 it, or a net to protect it until it is out of danger ; for the birds 

 perform a double office — eating up the vermin from the trees, 

 and the seeds of weeds and the eggs of insects from the ground. 

 I have often stood and observed the male bird, while the female 

 was sitting on the nest, fly to the spot with his bill full of 

 caterpillers to feed his mate or young ; and when the young 

 ones became so strong as to accompany their parents in quest 

 of food, tlie number of caterpillers they destroy is astonishing. 

 I can say from my own observation, that were it not for the 

 labors of birds in this direction, our trees would exhibit nothing 

 but bare stumps." Mr. Musgrave one day followed a nest of 

 young birds that had just flown, for the purpose of observing 

 the actions of the old birds. He saw them fly from branch to 

 branch, and peck the caterpillers from the curled leaves, 

 carrying them immediately to their young. It is his opinion, 

 therefore, that the gardener should protect the birds as useful 

 allies, and avail himself of their services, by means of which, 

 united with his own eflbrts, he might rid his grounds of those 

 insects which have hitherto been a constantly increasing pest. 



In 182G, insects of various kinds had become so universally 

 destructive, as to cause serious apprehensions for the safety of 

 all kinds of products. One of our horticulturists communicated 

 his opinions on this subject to the " Massachusetts Yeoman," 

 expressing his belief that the unusual number of these destroyers 

 was occasioned by the destruction and diminution of those 

 feathered tribes, which are designed by the Creator as a check 

 upon the increase of insects and worms. His neighbors 

 expressed their astonishment that every thing in his garden 

 sliould look so thrifty and flourishing, while every plant in 



