The Audubon Societies 243 



past by renouncing forever the traffic in bird's plumage and by substituting for 

 it one which will bring hope as well as financial return to thousands who 

 need our assistance? 



One further matter is urgent, and that is the training of nature-study 

 teachers. Aside from the fact that many teachers have gone into government or 

 relief service, there is an increasing need for well- trained instructors in nature- 

 study. More than ever, the appeal of Nature comes now as a source of stable, 

 safe, and sure comfort. In our present overwrought condition, everyone needs 

 the cheer and healthful influences of outdoor life and associations. 



It will be wise, therefore, to make provision for this need by assisting teachers 

 to take special training in bird- and nature- study work. Realizing this need, 

 many of our summer schools are offering uncurtailed courses, in the face of 

 large deficits. Will our State Audubon Societies not take up this matter and 

 find out ways to enable teachers to attend these schools? 



This suggestion has been made before. It should not be overlooked. 



A. H. W. 



JUNIOR AUDUBON WORK 



For Teachers and Pupils 



Exercise XXXIX: Correlated with Home Gardening, Civics, History 



and Field Observation 



In a quaint old volume entitled 'Annals of Salem,' there are many references 

 to the difficulties of getting a sufficient supply of food raised to save the pioneer 

 population from distress in the early days when our country comprised but a 

 thin fringe of seaboard colonies along the bleak Atlantic. Governor Endicott 

 wrote to Governor Winthrop in 1631 with reference to dismissing Court until 

 the "corn be set": "Men's labour is precious here in corn setting time, the 

 Plantation being yet so weak." 



Corn became so scarce, owing to insect pests, frosts, and droughts, that 

 "many families in most towns had none to eat, but were forced to live of clams, 

 cataos, dry fish, etc." In those early days the raising of wheat was an 

 experiment, although the annalist observes that Massachusetts promised to 

 become a wheat-growing colony. Then, as now, in times of food-shortage, 

 "human selfishness was on the alert for gain, and benevolence cast into the back- 

 ground," for the ignoble profiteer was not an uncommon member of society. 



Gray squirrels were said to "devour the corn exceedingly," but no mention 

 seems to be made of Crows. Some of the farmers dug trenches around their 

 fields to protect the corn, and more especially, wheat and barley, from ravages 

 of cankerworms. Under date of July 30, 1770, cankerworms were extensively 

 destructive, even penetrating houses, rooms, and beds. "To hinder this an- 

 noyance, houses were tarred." Several decades earher, the Bishop of Lausanne 



