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PROTECT THE BIRDS. 



There is one more subject connected with the cultivation of 

 crops, which is a practical part of forestry not yet referred to, 

 namely, that forests and all trees are the home of insect-eating 

 birds. And when we consider how destructive we find many 

 insects in our fields we ought to remember that the birds are 

 very largely our defenders from that sort of enemy, and that 

 we in return should consider that they depend upon us to pro- 

 tect their homes, and to afford them the opportunity of building 

 their nests in trees in the neighborhood of our cultivated 

 fields. 



A study of birds and insects is also an interesting occupa- 

 tion for the evenings with the family, and is, in several foreign 

 countries, considered a necessary part of school education for 

 everyone. 



SOUR FODDER AND ENSILAGE. 



As the subject of ensilage is attracting much attention among 

 us at this time I may be able to add a few words of interest. 

 An article upon the subject was printed in our Transactions 

 for 1873, based upon what I saw in Austria-Hungary at the 

 time of the Vienna Exposition. The process of curing corn 

 fodder, &c., as carried on there is known as sour-fodder, and 

 differs from the French process, which is the one adopted in 

 this country and which is too generally known to need our at- 

 tention now. The Hungarian, as well as the French, method is 

 approved by distinguished scientific men, and I saw it upon an 

 extensive farm which was conducted upon principles coinciding 

 with the teachings of the Agricultural College at Altenburg. The 

 fodder was fed to a herd of milch cows, about fifty if my memory 

 serves me right, and I saw that they ate it with a real relish. 



