162 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Mr. N. C. Meeker. — Often, none with them. This is a subject 

 of some importance. Perhaps things are arranged as well as they 

 can be. We are told that birds prey on insects, while insects prey 

 on other insects. But there are some facts which do not place the 

 birds in a very amiable light. The horticultural society at Alton,- 

 Dlinois, have thoroughly discussed this subject, and they were 

 entirely agreed that birds do immense damage to many kinds of 

 fruit. In some seasons when their Delawares are nearly ripe, the 

 oriole will go along a trellis and peck into bunches here and there, 

 doing great mischief. Dr. Hull, of Alton, stated that he had nearly 

 lost his crops from this cause. It was estimated that the damage 

 the birds did their fruit two years ago exceeded thousands of dollars. 

 We generally understand that the birds make it impossible to raise 

 cherries around Boston. The question should be, whether we love 

 the birds much or fruit more. 



Mr. H. B. Smith. — It is against my principle to kill birds, or to 

 have them killed on my place, and when I plant I consider the 

 bu'ds. Eight years ago, I planted forty cherry trees, thinking that 

 both my family and the birds would have a plenty, but we have 

 never got a pint. I had a quarter of an acre of strawberries iu 

 hills, but the birds got them all; then I let them run broadcast, 

 and then we got a few which the birds overlooked. If it could be 

 so arranged, I would like to make an agreement with the birds, to 

 this efiect: I will plant, cultivate, pay taxes, and see to everything, 

 if they will give me half. 



Mr. R. J. Dodore. — It is true that the birds eat the first, sweetest 

 and best fruit. But when it is plentiful there is enough for both, 

 that is, on our soil, which is favorable for cherries, being the red 

 shale. I have a large sweet cherry tree, which every year bears 

 about five bushels, and the birds eat four of them, while one bushel 

 is left for us, and it is all we want. 



Mr. J. R. Sypher stated that, in his father's apple orchard, certain 

 trees were marked for family use, and no boys or men ever picked 

 an apple from them. 



The Chairman stated that he has an abundance of cherries every 

 year, on his place in Norwalk, and he has a standing reward of ten 

 dollars ofiered for the arrest of any person who would dare to kill 

 a bird on his premises. He thinks that his bountiful crop of fruit 

 is attributable to his large number of birds. 



