180 THE FLORIST AND. 
disturbed till about a fortnight before gathering, at which time th^y are 
removed, in order to give the fruit color and to complete the ripening, "just 
as peaches and grapes are unleafed a short time before gathering them." 
M. Delaville concludes by assuring the public that by this simple method 
his Yfhole crop of Pears is very fine, instead of a third or more being un- 
marketable, as is often the case. 
The effect of these precautions should certainly be tried here, now that 
Pears are getting into the condition when paper cornets are first applied. 
Qard. Chron. 
SPARE THE BIRDS. 
Summer is here, and with its pleasures will come the daily nuisance to 
those who dwell amid rural scenes, of hearing the " soft notes of the shot 
gun." Every one who has paid attention to the matter, knows that even 
crows and black-birds are productive of more good than harm, and that the 
vast increase of late years of destructive insects, is owin^ almost entirely 
to the wanton destruction of birds, which are not even legitimate game. 
In Japan the birds are regarded as sacred, and never under any pre- 
tence are they permitted to be destroyed. During the stay of the expe- 
dition at Japan, a number of officers started on a gunning excursion. No 
sooner did the people observe the cruel slaughtering of their favorites, 
than a number of them waited upon the Commodore, and remonstrated 
against the conduct of the officers. There was no more bird shooting in 
Japan by American officers after that ; and when the treaty between the 
two countries was concluded, one express condition of it. was, that the birds 
should always be protected. What a commentary upon the inhuman prac- 
tice of our shooting gentry, who are as eager in the pursuit of a tom-tit as 
of an eagle, and indiscriminately shoot everything in the form of a bird, 
which has the misfortune to come within reach of their murderous weapons. 
On the top of the tombstones in Japan, a small cavity or trough is 
chiseled, which the priests every morning fill with fresh water for the use of 
the birds. Enlightened America should imitate these beautiful customs of 
the barbarous Japanese, if not by providing fresh water for the feathered 
warblers, at least by protecting them from the worthless louts, who so ruth- 
lessly destroy them. Unless something is done, and that speedily, our in- 
sectivorous birds will be wholly exterminated, and then farewell to fruit 
growing.^ A thousand plans have been suggested for the destruction of the 
curculio, all of which have proved worthless. We have one which we know 
to be vaioWihlQ— protect the birds. — Daily Paper. 
