12 Introductory 



We are told, for instance, by the Rev. F. Morris, that 

 out of 504 grains of rape planted as an experinient, 

 200 were eaten or injured. And how many even of 

 these would have escaped if ' nature's militia,' the 

 army of birds, had withdrawn their services ? Very 

 few, probably, for the farmer has not yet invented any 

 satisfactory substitute, and if he be wise he will cer- 

 tainly welcome them in his fields, and be glad that 

 they do not limit their care to the wild crops of the 

 farm. 



But when the crop has escaped these serious 

 perils and dangers, what then ? Even then the 

 farmer will not in many cases have any harvest, 

 unless nature again comes to his help and lends him a 

 fresh set of workers different from any hitherto em- 

 ployed in his service. This is especially true of the 

 fruit-farmer and the market-gardener. The orchards 

 and gardens may be a mass of blossom, but if they 

 are left to themselves at this critical time there will be 

 few apples, strawberries or raspberries, and absolutely 

 no melons or cucumbers, no matter how favourable the 

 weather may be. And the same holds good with 

 regard to many another crop. Help is needed if they 

 are to bring their fruit to maturity, and this help the 

 grower is, generally speaking, quite unable to give. 

 That is to say, he may be able to give it here and there 

 in a few instances, but he would be powerless in an 

 orchard, and would not be able to afford the time 

 necessary to do the delicate work required in a single 

 strawberry bed. Again, therefore, he must look to 

 Nature's labourers for assistance. 



Take the following example, for instance: Tn his 



