11 
tainable. It has been observed that it is in years of drought that the fruit and 
especially grapes, suffer most; in such seasons water should be supplied where the 
birds can use it. 
Birds have different tastes from men, as a rule they prefer bitter, sour or in¬ 
sipid fruit. We should never destroy such species as the wild-cherry, wild-grape, 
elder, hackberry, juneberry, mullberry, dogwood, virginia-creeper. buckthorn, su¬ 
mach, bitt’er-sweet, and others. I believe by encouraging such plants we are ap¬ 
proaching a solution of the problem, that will preserve for our own benefit both 
the cultivated fruit and the birds. 
Realizing their importance to the agricultural interests of our state the legis¬ 
lature has recently enacted laws for the better protection of the birds, which are on 
the whole well conceived and ought to do much good. Yet we know that no law 
dealing with such a subject will or can be enforced without strong popular senti¬ 
ment to support it. This can only come with a knowledge of the habits and the 
value of the birds; a greater diffusion of this knowledge among our people is most 
earnestly to be desired. Through the numerous agencies for education at work 
within our state this can and must be done. 
But I would be doing a great injustice to my subject were I to limit the bene¬ 
ficial influence of the birds to the field and garden. No common drudges are they, 
sullenly working for a daily wage, but they come brightly clad and with joyous 
voices to their appointed task. With man alone they share that wonderful power 
of song, their speed and grace of movement fill us with admiring envy, the exqusite 
colors and texture of their plumage are unequaled among created things ; they ap¬ 
peal to our best aesthetic sense. And in their lives we see beings gifted with a high 
order of intelligence, teaching us love, courage, constancy, maternal care, devotion 
to duty. There is not one of us but may learn a lesson from the birds. So when 
winter comes, and the crops are gathered in, and the little workers wing their way 
toward their southern homes, let us bid them farewell, not only as good and faith¬ 
ful servants worthy of their hire, but as true and helpful friends, admired and loved, 
who have brought wealth, health, joy and beauty into the lovely land of Illinois 
