THE STATE AS FARMER 53 



are the hosts of many noisome pests, and 

 neglected orchards where the trees are covered 

 with lichens and moss act as winter resorts for 

 them. There is neither an animal nor plant 

 that has not a parasite of some kind which 

 aims at living upon it. The destruction that 

 would result if no effort to combat the evil 

 were made is amazing. Fortunately, man 

 is helped in his efforts by other creatures, 

 the chief of which will always be the birds. 

 It passes belief what one small bird will 

 devour or carry to its young in a day. It is, 

 therefore, of great importance that the farmer 

 should treat with forbearance certain attacks 

 upon his crops which appear to be made by 

 birds. I say ' appear,' because many apparent 

 attacks on crops or fruit are really attacks 

 upon the insect life which is devouring the 

 incipient fruit or vegetable. Of the pests 

 on a larger scale — the vole, and even the rat — 

 the owl gives a good account. 



Of all marvels of creation the disease, 

 parasite, or organism called ' fluke ' is one 

 of the greatest. The life-history of the crea- 

 ture is a wonderful study in environments. 

 The first of these is water, without which the 



