542 TRA^'SACTIONS OF THE AMERICA ^' INSTITUTE. 



that the birds are one of the Hnks in tlie cliain of creation, 

 just as necessary as any other link, for the harmonious work 

 of the whole. There is a check and counter-check everywhere. 

 Take out the birds, and insects would preponderate. Hun- 

 dreds of instances could 1)6 given where the experiment has 

 been tried. Now, what can be done to prevent the wanton 

 destruction of agents so valuable ? In New Jersey we have a law 

 ample for the protection of the birds, if enforced. Most other States, 

 I believe, have similar laws. But your markets show how little they 

 are regarded. This Club may do something. By giving proper 

 information we may show the people how much it is to their interest 

 to spare the birds, and thus create a public sentiment stronger than 

 law for their protection. True, some of them will help themselves 

 to our cherries, and an oriole will occasionally sip nectar from our 

 grapes. Not only boys, but even men, have been known to shoot 

 them for making so free. Let me implore both men and boys to 

 shoot no more birds from such a motive. Remember they work 

 for you seven days in the week, and charge you nothing but this occa- 

 sional indulgence. 



Club-footed Cabbages. 



Mr. C. A. Dunning, of Denton, Md. — I see that Mr. P. T. Quinn 

 is troubled with " club root " in his cabbage, and tempts with lucre 

 any " man, woman or child," who will tell him how to prevent it. 

 Now I will give him a sure remedy, and accept his $100 (with a copy 

 of his " Pear Culture for Profit," as part payment). If he will give 

 his ground fifty bushels of shell lime per acre, every five or six years, 

 or whenever his cabbage begins to "club," he will have no trouble 

 with it, and can raise it on the same ground two or twenty years in 

 succession, if he wishes to. I have cabbage this year on ground that 

 has been in cabljage thirty years in succession, and it has been limed 

 but once in that time, but begins to need it again, lie should apply 

 the lime this fall or winter, after he takes his crops off, and next spring- 

 prepare his ground as he has always done. If next summer he is 

 troubled with club root, I have wasted my stamp ; if he is not, I will 

 accept his stamps. 



Mrs. Jerusha Sutton, Ottawa, Putnam county Ohio. — I accept Mr. 

 Quinn's proposition, and give tlie following mochis 02)erandi: Pre- 

 pare the ground in the fall with a light coat of well rotted barn 

 manure, and a coat of well leached wood ashes (say one inch thick) ; 

 spade deep in the spring, then set the plants, and then give the land 



