AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 



307 



It is a well known fact that the alarming- increase of worms 

 and insects in making ravages upon our fruit-trees and fruit, 

 not only paralyzes the efforts and disheartens the hopes of 

 the cultivator, but threatens total destruction to many of the 

 most delicious kinds. So extensive are their ravages that 

 but very few of our apricots and plums ever ripen without 

 premature decay from the worm generated by the beetles 

 which surround our trees in the twilight of the evening in 

 great numbers when the fruit is quite young. And when 

 the produce of our apple, pear, or peach trees is small, but 

 few of these escape the same fate. 



I attribute the rapid and alarming ijicrease of these worms 

 and insects tvholly to the diminution of those birds which 

 fall a prey to our sportsmen, which are known to feed upon 

 them, and for whose subsistence these insects were apparent- 

 ly created. 



In addition to the important usefulness of these birds, their 

 musical notes in the twilight of the morning are peculiarly 

 delightful; awaking the cultivator to the sublime contem- 

 plation and enjoyment of all the infinite beauties of creation. 



In vain will be all our toil and labor, in vain the united 

 efforts of horticultural societies for increasing and perfecting 

 the cultivation of the most delicious varieties of fruits, unless 

 we can increase, or at least cease to diminish these useful and 

 melodious birds. 



If we have a statute in this commonwealth providing for 

 the protection of these birds, let us unite our efforts to arrest 

 this wanton destruction of them by enforcing the penalties of 

 the law in every instance of its violation. Our Horticultural 

 society can scarcely do a greater service in promoting the 

 objects of its organization, than by making a spontaneous 

 and vigorous effort to this effect. 



If there be no statute for the protection of these invalua- 

 ble creatures, I would earnestly, yet respectfully, suggest to 

 the Horticultural society the propriety and even necessity of 

 their petitioning our legislature at their next session for 

 such an act. 



It is a common practice with these sportsmen through the 

 summer to range the groves and orchards in this vicinity, 

 almost every pleasant day, and more numerously on holidays, 

 and to shoot every bird that comes within their reach. 



It is not however a small nor an easy task for one indi- 

 vidual to get their names, residence, and the evidence neces- 

 sary for their conviction ; but it requires the united efforts 



