PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 69 



strawberries by this process upon poor soil, without manure. I am satis- 

 fied that surface soil stirring is the most important of all modes of cultiva- 

 tion. But in a strawberry bed you must be careful not to dig deep. 



There is no process that can be applied to the cultivation of cabbage and 

 cauliflower equal to stirring the surface every day. 



Mr. Carpenter. — I fully agree with Mr. Fuller. I have found great 

 advantages by constantly stirring the soil. 



Adjourned. 



JOHN W. CHAMBERS, Secretary. 



May 12, 1862. 

 Prof. J. A. Nash in the chair. 



Benefits of Birds to Farmers. 



Wm. S. Carpenter said that he wished to call the attention of farmers at 

 this time to the subject of birds and their benefits, particularly swallows, 

 which, as a general thing, have been driven from barns because those of 

 modern date are built so tight that the birds cannot get inside to build 

 their nests. Sometimes they are allowed a sort of precarious chance under 

 the eaves, but they do not multiply as they did in olden time when allowed 

 free access to the interior. 



It is stated that a swallow devours several hundred insects a day, which 

 are its sole food, and if so they ought to be encouraged by all farmers. 



Alpha Brown, Eaton, Madison county, sends the following communica- 

 tion, dated May 1, 1862 : 



" I notice the Farmers' Club frequently discusses insect-destroying birds; 

 but there is one I consider worth to the farmer a half dozen of others that 

 are held in high repute. I mean the crow. When a boy I was kept with 

 gun in hand to watch the corn field and keep the crows off, and have killed 

 more than any man ought to before learning their habits. First, if crows 

 can get worms or soft food of meat kind, they will not eat grain; but if 

 hunger compels they will eat corn, young turkeys, and lambs' eyes, and 

 take goslins, or anything to keep from starving. For twenty years I have 

 kept them from pulling corn, simply by feeding them corn sown broadcast 

 on my corn field; just enough, so there is feed at all times. Last year I 

 planted two acres, and drilled in one for fodder. It was sward ground, 

 where the worms had destroyed the grass, and the gray worms were so 

 thick we frequently hauled out five or six in a hoeful of dirt, and my men 

 said the worms would eat up the corn. As soon as we harrowed, and the 

 soil was opened, a few crows came one night to pick up worms, and I kept 

 them undisturbed, sowing a pint of corn every few days to keep them in food, 

 and by the time the corn was up they had exterminated the worms so they 

 cut but few spears of corn. 



" I think they destroy more worms than any bird we have; I have watched 

 them for over forty years to learn their habits, and for over twenty years 

 have never been troubled with their pulling corn, and my experience has 

 led me to this conclusion: if the crows can find worms enough to eat they 

 will not eat corn, and if short of food they will not pull corn if they find it 



