PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 141 



barn, after putting out his bait, he went into the barn to 

 watch operations, and in a few moments some crows alighted 

 near it. One began cawing, and a flock of ten or twelve soon 

 collected around, seeming to regard it with suspicion. After 

 many motions and constant cawings, one pitched in and began 

 to eat, which was a signal for the rest to follow. In a few mo- 

 ments the first fellow began to stretch and gape. Soon his wings 

 partially fell. Others began to follow in the same way. Those 

 less greedy took fright. No. 1 keeled over on his back ; Nos. 2 

 and 3 also. Some fell twenty rods off; others fifty, and so on. 

 Eleven were picked up in that haul or on that afternoon, from 

 the effects of poison. 



" Dead crows are constantly being picked up or found in the 

 lots, supposed to be the effect of the poisoned wheat. I think it has 

 had a very salutary effect, though it may be a dangerous resort. 

 They appear to have grown shy and war}', seldom visiting the 

 baited field a second time, and when done, is supposed to be by 

 a new gang, unacquainted with the former tragedy." 



This elicited quite a discussion upon the crow question. 



Wm. S. Carpenter. — We have met with great success in our 

 neighborhood in poisoning crows with strychnine in eggs — a 

 kind of food that crows are fond of. Twine, if put up before the 

 corn is planted, has been found effectual, but if not put up until 

 after the crows have commenced, it will not answer. 



F. A. Rockwell, of Conn., inquired what would prevent black- 

 birds from pulling corn. He had tried feeding them with sowed 

 corn, and found it would not answer. 



Dr. Trimble. — If any practical farmer is here, he will confirm 

 my observation that crows do eat corn. The common blackbird 

 does not disturb corn. It is the sort known as the Stirling 

 blackbird — the one that often builds its nest in tall evergreens 

 near the house. It is of large size, and is sometimes called the 

 crow blackbird. 



THE CATTLE DISEASE. 



A letter from John G. Bergen, of Long Island, throws some 

 light upon a subject now distressing the country : 



" I regret that I Avill not be able to attend the meeting of the 

 Farmers' Club to-day. I mean to say a few words in reference 

 to the cattle disease now raging in Massachusetts and some other 

 places, called pleuro-pneumonia. It will be a good subject for 

 the Club. It is not a new disease on Long Island, as hundreds 



