January, 1911 
are taken away and placed in pens by themselves until 
ready to liberate. 
Great care has to be exercised in the rearing of these 
young fowls. At first they are fed on maggots, and the 
grubs have to be propagated on the farm. They are also 
fed on milk curds. 
Brooders with outside runs are used and the former 
are moved every day in order that strict sanitary rules 
may be observed. ‘The birds, both young and old, are given 
fresh water daily, and plenty of it. But the California climate 
_~= Group of pheasants in a pen 
Eucalyptus trees on left 
Bird tarm on night. 
is very favorable to bird life and it is expected that the work 
of stocking the State will go rapidly on. 
Possibly a few farmers and gardeners will get the idea 
that so many wild birds will be a menace to their crops, 
but when the benefits to be derived by the farmers and 
fruit growers at large, in the way of insect-pest control, 
are weighed against the possible damage, it will be found 
that the latter becomes comparatively insignificant. 
This truth has been no clearer shown than by a paper 
read by W. R. McIntosh, of Fresno, during the session 
of a recent fruit-growers’ convention. Among other things, 
Mr. McIntosh set forth that: 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 7 
An old hen mothering wild turkeys 
‘‘Nowhere in the material universe do we find a more 
interesting and beautiful law of balance and harmony than 
formerly existed in the lives of insects and wild birds. In- 
sects are justly regarded everywhere as the enemies of 
agriculture. ‘Their destroyers—the birds—must therefore 
be the farmers’ best friends. So long as nature held 
undisputed sway our friends kept our enemies in check, 
and small damage resulted to growing crops, and the hus- 
bandman was fairly secure in his calling. 
In the destruction of the home of wild birds—the for- 
View showing arrangement of pheasant pens 
Hens used for hatching game birds 
ests—by ax and fire, and the wanton and cruel slaughter of 
birds in the name of sport, the relations and harmony of 
nature have been undermined.” 
The accomplishment of this scheme to restore the 
economic value of wild birds, will of course be harder to 
perform if the needed conservation in the matter of forestry 
is allowed to lapse into indifference, or to spread its present 
rate of havoc. The farm’s establishment is more than a 
hint to the law givers of the fast increasing State of Cali- 
fornia, that carelessness can be amended in various direc- 
tions, whether it be in that of pastime of agriculture or of 
breeding of song birds. 
