QUESTIONS 411 



Tarring Seed. One of the safest and best ways of tarring corn 

 and yet not affecting its use in a planter is one originating in Massa- 

 chusetts. "Put one-fourth to one-half bushel of corn in a half- 

 barrel tub; pour in a pailful of hot water, or as much as is neces- 

 sary to well cover the corn; dip a stick in gas tar and stir this 

 briskly in the corn; repeat until the corn is entirely black; pour 

 off on burlap sacks; spread in the sun and stir two or three times 

 during the day. If this work is done in the morning and the 

 day is sunny, the corn will be ready for the planter the next day 

 without any other care." A machine will easily handle corn 

 treated in this way. Another way is as follows: "Put corn in a 

 fertilizer sack; pour thinned tar on the corn; tie the sack; let the 

 boys tumble the sack about; add ashes or land plaster; tumble 

 some more and it is ready for the planter." The gas tar may be 

 diluted with linseed oil or gasoline. 



Scarecrows. If scarecrows are used, they should be changed 

 occasionally. Forbes, in "Useful Birds and Their Protection," 

 advises the use of a barrel hung on a leaning pole. 



It has been found that white twine about the edges of a corn 

 field, strung on high poles, and hung with strips of tin and white 

 rags, one about every thirty feet, is fairly effective in keeping crows 

 away from a planted field. If, in addition to this, a few dead 

 crows are suspended from high poles in different parts of the 

 field, the combination of white twine and bright tin shining in the 

 sun and the dead crows as a warning to would-be evil doers works 

 so well that the farmer may rest assured it will be many days before 

 his field is touched by these marauders. This remedy, or the 

 twine alone, is in quite general use to-day. 



Shooting. If one is a good shot with a rifle, and can "pick 

 off" a crow or two at long range, the birds keep away from a 

 field so protected. Even if not hit, they seem to realize that it 

 is dangerous ground. Any birds killed should be hung up in the 

 field. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Enumerate the relations of birds to agriculture. 



2. What is the scientific name of the class, and the names of two leading 



orders? 



3. Name ten families of birds in the Order Passeres that are important from 



the standpoint of the agriculturist and orchardist. 



4. Give in detail the habits, good or bad, of the following: Robin, wood 



warbler, kingbird, wren, blackbird, chickadee, downy woodpecker. 



