State Reports 319 



and faithful, and we feel that as far as a knowledge of bird life is concerned 

 the children are better informed than their parents. Our farmers, also, are 

 learning to know their good friends, the birds, and last year a number of 

 them fed the birds during the winter, one case being reported of a farmer 

 who drove seven miles with food. 



" Through the kindness of the editor of BiRD-LORE, a list of its subscribers 

 in Illinois was sent to the secretary of our Society, when the rather surpris- 

 ing fact was discovered that only about one-third of the subscribers were 

 members of our Society. It seems as if any one who reads BiRD-LoRE should 

 be convinced of the necessity of lending a helping hand to their state 

 Society. 



"The receipts of the Society for the year have been $410.68, — the 

 expenses, $345.76." 



President Deane, of the Illinois Society, has just issued an admirable 

 letter to the Farmers' Institute of Illinois, a copy of which is herewith pre- 

 sented, with the suggestion that every Audubon Society takes the same 

 method of urging farmers to join in the movement to protect their best 

 friends, the birds: 



"Dear Sir: The directors of the Illinois Audubon Society, appreciating 

 the value of bird-life to the farmers of the state, respectfully urge that the 

 very important subject of Bird Protection be included in your program of 

 lectures to be delivered at the Farmers' Institute meetings in your county 

 for the coming season. 



"The farmer is one of the principal personages to instruct as to the use- 

 fulness of the birds which live and breed about him, and that are such an im- 

 portant adjunct to the successful raising of his crops ; and it is important that 

 he should realize that by feeding the birds in winter and protecting them at 

 all seasons, he is caring for the best workmen he can employ. While the 

 limited number of our directory does not admit of sending speakers through 

 the different counties, we feel sure that there are many located throughout 

 the state who are competent to speak intelligently on the subject and who 

 would gladly ofifer their services." 



Iowa. — This is one of the few densely populated agricultural states 

 where the citizens have not yet demanded the adoption of the Model Law. 

 An attempt was made to pass it at the Legislative session in 1904, but 

 without success. The effort will be repeated at the coming session, which 

 commences early in January, igo6. It seems almost incredible that in a 

 state where the farming interests are so vast but little interest is taken 

 in a matter of such vital importance. Special educational work will be done 

 by the National Association before the next Legislature convenes, in order 

 to create an interest in bird protection and a consequent demand for the 

 passage of the Model Law. Iowa has 34,574,337 acres of farm land, which 



