THE ECONOMIC ASPECT— BIRDS, FORESTRY 

 AND AGRICULTURE 



In the past, much emphasis has been laid on the senti- 

 mental reasons why we should protect and foster bird 

 life, but we are getting nearer to a sane, economic 

 basis of the value of birds to both forestry and agri- 

 culture. 



Many birds are a great aid to the farmer in eating 

 insects. Anyone who has seen the robins and bronze 

 grackles eat cutworms on a newly-plowed field can 

 appreciate what labor savers these birds are for the 

 agriculturist. The destruction of the leopard moths 

 and other borers in trees by various woodpeckers is 

 an important topic which well deserves careful study. 

 The Town of Brookline has already undertaken a cam- 

 paign to increase the number of woodpeckers within 

 her borders in order to supplement the work of the 

 Town Forestry Department and save her trees from 

 destruction by borers. 



In "Useful Birds and Their Protection," by Mr. 

 Edward Howe Forbush, much authentic information 

 on this topic can be obtained.* This book has been 

 pronounced the best work of its kind and has already 

 been translated into foreign languages. It has been 

 circulated all over the United States. Mr. Ford, the 

 automobile manufacturer, is in the habit of ordering 

 fifty copies of this book at a time and distributing them 

 among his friends and workmen on his bird preserve. 



We feel that an interesting exhibition could be held 

 called "The Birds and Insects." Who will carry for- 

 ward our suggestion ?f Let us hear from you. 



* The Massachusetts State Forester (6 Beacon St., Boston), issues 

 private mailing cards — the Gypsy Moth, the Browntail Moth, the Calo- 

 soma Beetles — with illustrations and descriptions. These cards show 

 these pests in different stages, and also the parasitic beetle which is the 

 enemy of the gypsy moth. These cards were included in the exhibition. 



f Since this report was started the Brookline Bird Club has carried 

 out this suggestion in a very interesting manner. 



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