352 
DEC. 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
.farm ®qjius, 
THE BIRD AND FRUIT QUESTION. 
BY PB0FE8S0B W. 3. BEAL. 
Fob many years wo have seen eloquent pleas 
without number, for the preservation of the 
birds. “ Spare the birds ; plant trees and en¬ 
courage them to come and nest about your 
grounds.” Such advice has been often repeated 
in lectures and newspapers. 
Most birds are beautiful and attractive, and if 
they behaved suitably would win the respect of, 
and be admired by everybody. Sentiment is all 
on the side of the birds. Without question, 
birds, as a whole, do vastly more good than 
injury on the garden and farm ; but wo do not 
think it follows that every bird in every neigh¬ 
borhood is greatly to be desired, While one 
man Bays he cannot get any cherries because the 
robbine and cedar-birds take them, another 
says, “ Plant more trees and raise fruit enough 
for the birds.” The dofender of every bird—all 
birds regardless of habits—tells us how many 
cut-worms a robin will eat in a day, and how 
many she earries to her young. Ho says, “ if 
the robins are killed we shall be overrun with 
insects.” 
All animals are on a strife for a living, or at 
war with each other. They proy upon one 
another and thus prevent any undue multiplica¬ 
tion of species. Occasionally, by the agency of 
man or some other means, some epccics become 
very troublesome on account of vast numbers. 
If robins were removed entirely for a few years, 
and cut-worms and other insects became very 
numerous, no doubt some other birds or ether 
enemies to tbo insects would multiply with great 
rapidity nd be realty to do the benetieent work 
now attributed so largely to the robins. We 
grant that the robin does much good, and all will 
concede that she docs some harm. Wo have 
yot to learn that robins eat any injurious insects 
that are not also eaten by other birds which are 
loss troublesome to the fruit-grower. 
Robins and other birds are numerous in some 
portions of our State where cut-worms have been 
very annoying—unusually so for several years 
in succession. Robins are not a sure remedy 
for making cut-worms scarce. On the grounds 
of the Michigan Agricultural College there are 
many trees and shrubs, and no one is allowed to 
trouble the birds. These bocomo very tame, and 
nest and multiply in great numbers ; but I may 
safely sav that wo havo insects here in great 
numbers, of all the povailing sorts which are 
noxiouB to farmers. I now give some testimony 
from reliable sources, in four other localities in 
remote portions of our State. 
South Havou is situated on tbo Lako Shore in 
the western part of the State. It is compara 
lively new, but largely devoted to (be raising of 
fruit. Mi - . L, 11. Dailey, Jr., has boon a do¬ 
fender of the birds. No ouo in that neighbor¬ 
hood raises as much as one hundred bushels of 
cherries, yet nearly every one iu the village and 
country raises them more or lesH. All the sweet 
arid early cherries uro greedily taken by the 
birds, tbo most common of which arc the cedar- 
bird, oat-bird, and robin. The cedar-bird is by 
far the most troublesome. Every yoar thoy ap¬ 
pear at about the same time and iu great num¬ 
bers. The people know of no way to got rid of 
them except, by llre-arms ; but this Mr. Bailey 
thinks does more harm than good, by driving 
other harmless birds away. Scare-crows do no 
good. Ho would advise raising more fruit and 
lotting tbo owners get what, they can. Birds 
have not troubled grapes in South Haven. 
Mr. If. E. Owen lives in the city of Adrian, in 
tho southern portion of the Stato. lie had for 
some time been an active member of a local Hor¬ 
ticultural Society. Tho most troublesome birds 
there, iu city and vicinity, are cedar-birds, 
robins, and orioles ; the latter of which nest in 
lurgo numbers iu the numerous elms in the city 
and neighborhood. Thoy “go for" the sweet 
cherries without much distinction, ami in some 
soasons have taken grapes. One Sunday, iu 
about eight hours, the robius took about 500 
pounds of grapes. There are no large cherry 
orhards or vineyards about Adrian, but on tbo 
whole, there iB a large amount of fruit raised. 
Planting enough for tho birds, to use an ex¬ 
pressive phrase, “ has played out.” The people 
who save their fruit, shoot the birds, hang birds 
iu tho trees, or cover the grapevines with mos¬ 
quito netting. 
Mr. H. Dale Adams, of Kalamazoo County, 
has for some yoars raised about 150 bushels of 
cherries, annually. This yoar there were no birds 
to make any trouble, but usually thoy are very 
thick, aud he shoots them. Tho birds are the 
worst on black cherries. One year tho birds 
came iu such (looks that 50 to 100 bushels of 
cherries were taken almost at once. He laughs 
at the idea of planting enough for the birds, 
aud thinks it very unreasonable. He does not 
think it ean bo done. 
Mr. Geohok Pabmelke of Traverse County, 
finds the birds very troublesome on early cher¬ 
ries. This year he probably killed 300 birds— 
mostly cedar-birds, and a few blue-jays. The 
robins are not so bad. The late cherries were 
not touched, as the birds probably found an 
abundance of wild raspberries all over the coun¬ 
try. Mr. Pabhflee is one of our most promi¬ 
nent fruit-growers of the State, and was at one 
time President of the State Pomological Society. 
Judge J. G. Ramhdell, of the same County, 
is no less widely known as a grower of fine 
fruits. lie has quite a large orchard of early 
chorries in hoaring, but can hardly get any for 
hiniBelf; at least any which are ripe and tit to 
eat. There are no w ild berries at the time of 
early cherries. He shoots tho birds, but thinks 
it costs him more than the cherries are worth. 
Ho is going to let the trees go down. 
I havo heal’d people say that birds took only 
the wormy chorries, but 1 think not , as long as 
they can get sound fruit. The cedar-bird de¬ 
vours bees, sometimes in large quantities. I 
have seen one take a dozen bees in live minutes, 
as lie sat near tbo hive. Some of our worst in¬ 
sects are the codling moth, plum ouronlio, and 
peach-tree borer The apple moth hides iu the 
day time ; the larva is in tho apple, except 
while In tho chrysalis and is sometimes taken by 
birds. The plum cureulio is not much troubled 
by birds. Human efforts, mostly with wires aud 
jack-knives, keep down the peach-tree borer. 
After studying llit* subject for ten years or more, 
and reading all I could got on this subject, and 
making some close observations in the field and 
garden, I am convinced that tho cedar-bird 
does ns more harm than good , aud that the 
fruit-growers Of our State would be glad to be 
rid of him. If tho birds are bad, watch the fruit, 
and if necessary kill them. As shown above, 
the same bird is not equally troublesome in all 
seasons, or in all localities. We hope the cham¬ 
pions of birds will treat the subject fairly and not 
bo too sweeping in tbeir assertions. The robin 
the oriole, tho cat-bird, and perhaps others for 
certain localities, could bo better spared than 
not by our growers of small fruits. 
merciful man is merciful to his boast,” and a 
farmer—save the name !—who will allow his cat¬ 
tle to wallow in the barn-yard, without suitable 
shelter, should be punished as Bsitou, and the 
law direct. Give them warm, well ventilated 
stables, ricks in the yi rds, instead of continuing 
tho old plan of throwing the hay or other fodder 
about on manure heaps, to be trodden under 
foot and half wasted, plenty of pure water, and 
salt as well in winter as summer. The increase 
of your profits will more than pay expenses, and 
beside, your conscience will be made easier. know- 
ing that the dumb, but faithful animals, are 
comfortably provided for. 
NOTES FROM MAPLEWOOD FARM. 
BY HKCTOB BEBTBAM. 
Neakly every one who has apples, is engaged 
in making cider, aud great quantities of poor 
apples are converted into the refreshing bever¬ 
age. KenrcoIy any one uses good apples for 
oider ; yet in our opinion, they are the ones that 
should bo used. Tbo rotten, wormy, worthless 
fruit Dial many farmers reserve to furnish 
winter supply of eider, are scarcely lit, to food 
swine; still wo see them drinking the juice fresh 
from the press, and smacking their lips, they 
annouuoo it “ first-rate.” Lot any person who 
desires a barrel, or twenty barrels, of flue cider, 
cider fit for a king to drink, select the desired 
quantity of first-quality fruit, and grind them, 
keeping them free from dirt and other inpuri¬ 
ties. After grinding, let the pinnace stand twen¬ 
ty-four hours before pressing; it will improve 
the quality and increase the quantity ; then rack 
it into good, new, sweet barrels, aud you will 
have eider next harvest—provided you do not 
use it all before—that you will not be ashamed to 
offer your friends, and that will not intoxicate 
your children. 
A few days ago, w - e drove some distance from 
home on business, and were surprised to find 
many men engaged in that delightful pastime, 
“ working on the roadand a shocking road we 
found it. How is it that men will ho so blind to 
their own interests as to repair (?) highways at 
this season of the year ? It looks to us like 
time and money thrown away. They do not get 
in passable condition before freezing weather, 
and are a perfect mortar-bed again in the spring. 
Many farmers, however, seem to consider the 
condition of their roads a Rulijeot of minor im¬ 
portance, and will endeavor, liy every means, to 
avoid working the full amount of their tax. For 
whose benefit are the highways calculated, gen¬ 
tlemen ? 
A fine timo, these pleasant Autumn days, for 
clearing up bush patches, fence corners, and 
the like, and tho hundred and oue little jobs 
that go towards making things snug and com¬ 
fortable for winter. Every good farmer will 
havo a sulfijiont quantity of fuel prepared and 
under cover, to last uutil spring opens, preclud¬ 
ing tho possibility of having to hitch up the 
horse aud wade through the snow* to the wood- 
lot, iu Order to procure a “drag” to keep the 
family from freezing. If a person is negligent 
in Hub respect, every heavy fall of snow during 
tho winter is sure to find him unprepared for it. 
Cattle should be well cared for duriug the cold 
fall rains. We believe that stock of all kinds, 
espccialy cattle, and sheep, suffer more now 
than during any other season of the year. “A 
Many of our neighbors’ cherry trees aro becom¬ 
ing knotty, and dying. A lady narrated iu our 
hoaring, a few evenings since, her experience 
with a tree of the same description. A largo 
tree, of the ootumon red variety, stood be¬ 
side the kitchen door. The body anil limbs 
woro knotty and rough, tho fruit scanty and 
worthless ; the dead leaves in fall were contin¬ 
ually drifting over the porch and walk; in fact, 
in the good house-wife’s eyes, the tree was sim¬ 
ply a nuisance, and she importuned her husband 
to remove it. He refused to do this, however, 
and she determined to kill the tree. First, a 
barrel of beef brine was poured about tho roots, 
and this was followed by boiling suds, every 
wash-day. The result was satisfactory, but far 
from that anticipated. Tho following season, 
the tree was loaded with superior fruit, aud was 
free from all knots, or other defects. The enor- 
mouB crop and changed appearance of the tree 
might not have been attributable to the applica¬ 
tion of brine and soap suds, yet we believe the 
experiment to be worthy of trial. Our own trees 
have never been troubled in that way. 
Our neighbor across the w ay constructs boxes 
iu which to store his winter apples, consisting of 
half-inch hoards, with slats nailed across for 
bottom. Handles arc cut iu tho cud pieces, and 
the boxes when completed hold just two bushels, 
are light and easily handled, and when piled in 
the cellar, one above another, there is a perfect 
circulation of air between them. Avoid keeping 
apples in a very warm cellar ; a cool dry cham¬ 
ber is a better place; just warm enough to bo 
safe from frost. 
Lay down tender vines, and cover with straw. 
Plow tbo garden in ridgeB, and in spring it 
will bo in condition for early vegetables, sooner 
than if left fiat-plow'ed. 
Steuben Co., N. Y. 
-- 
A PROJECT OF IRRIGATION. 
BY BBOFKSSOB CYBU8 THOMAS. 
It appears to be a very general opinion that 
there is yet remaining in the West an almost uu 
limited area of unoccupied public lands suitable 
for farming purposes. That there is in Eastern 
Kansas, Eaiteru Nebraska, in Iowa and Minnes¬ 
ota, a large amount of as rich aud beautiful far¬ 
ming land as the sun ever shines upon, is true ; 
but this belongs in great part to railroad com¬ 
panies. With the exception, perhaps, of Minnes¬ 
ota, the groat body of good laud in tho limits of 
sufiieiont rain-fall, has already been taken. West 
of the 100th meridian the extent of tillable land 
depends entirely upon the supply of water for 
Irrigation. Botwoen this meridian and the Sierra 
Nevada Range, there is, within the United States, 
an area of nearly one million square miles, of 
which, on an average, not more than one aero in 
thirty or twenty, at most, can bo irrigated and re¬ 
deemed by individual efforts or private re¬ 
sources. Fully one-half of the favored spots 
where water is easily obtained, has already been 
occupied. , 
It is, therefore, a matter of t he utmost impor¬ 
tance to our General Government that some ef¬ 
fort should be made to redeem, at least, a por¬ 
tion of these broad western plains from sterility 
and render them capable of producing food. 
The soil is naturally rioh in all the elements of 
fertility, except moisture,—give it a sufficient 
supply of this and every acre will yield a bounti¬ 
ful harvest if cultivated. Is It itosaiblo to do 
this ? Without at present attempting to enter 
into any extended disonssion of this question, 1 
think wo may safely assert that it is possible to 
utilize all the water that fiows dowu upon the 
plains, and perhaps even make a largo part of it 
do service more than once. 
I will mention hero briefiy a plan which I re¬ 
cently suggested for redeeming a large area 
along the western border of Kansas and Ne¬ 
braska aud eastern lino of Colorado, which is, 
perhaps, worthy of consideration. The plains 
here, between the Arkansas and Platte have a 
quite regular slope to the east of about six feet 
to the mile, and corresponding very nearly in alti¬ 
tude along a north and south line. These facts 
would seem to indicate the possibility of forming 
a long, narrow reservoir here, extending from one 
of tho rivers named to the other, Au earthen 
embankment thirty or forty feet high, curving 
east and woBt, as necessary to preserve tho level, 
would give a lako five or six miles wide and two 
hundred miles long, with a surface of a thousand 
or twelve hundred square miles. By throwing 
the waters of the Arkansas and Platte into this 
enclosed area,—which could be dono by dams 
and canals,—the reservoir could be supplied. 
If, as has been estimated, ten inches of water 
during the growing season, in addition to the 
rain that falls, would be sufficient to mature 
crops, then ten feet in depth drawn from the res¬ 
ervoir, would bo sufficient to irrigate from twelve 
to fourteen t housand square miles. As not more 
than half of any farm is irrigated any one sea¬ 
son, this would give a farming area of from 
twenty-four to twenty-eight thousand square 
miles. 
It is possible the porous nature of tho soil 
might present a difficulty, but the sediment de¬ 
posited would ultimately euro this. There may 
be reasons which I,—not pretending to engineer¬ 
ing knowledge—fail to see, whioh would ren¬ 
der this Hellenic impracticable ; but if it is pos¬ 
sible, then it is practicable to the Government. 
If three, or even five dollars per acre will trans¬ 
form this arid bolt into a moist and fertile area, 
it will soon repay all expense with interest. But 
the importance of the scheme is not limited 
alone by tho amount of land that can be re¬ 
deemed ; hero soon would bo formed a forest 
bolt which would naturally teud to increase the 
fertile area and tho rain precipitation, aud tho 
sections east of tho irrigated area would feel 
the beneficial effects. 
That large areas on tho Eastern continent are 
growing drier and becoming more and more arid, 
is now admitted by all, and has been well stated 
in an article recently published in tho Science 
Monthly. This effect has generally been attrib- 
uU d to the folly of man in destroying the for¬ 
ests. There is no doubt but this has very largely 
assisted in bringing about this result, but there 
is another very important factor which seems to 
have been overlooked—that iB tbo contraction of 
tbo water or evaporating surface. The draining 
of marshes and ponds, tho artificial drying up 
of the lakes aud pools in order to use the area 
for agricultural or other purposes, havo perhaps 
much store to do with this increasing arid¬ 
ity than has generally been supposed. Estimate, 
if possible, the contraction of the water surface 
in our own country, and you will have some idea 
how rapidly we aro following in the same lino of 
folly that has turned so many onco fertile areas 
of western Asia Into barren deserts. What 
would bo the effect of draining and destroying 
tho thousands of little lakes iu Minnesota? 
Soon tho western and southern part of that 
State and adjoining portions of Iowa would he 
as arid as tho plains of western Dakota. It is 
tho part of wisdom therefore to preserve, as far 
as possible, the water surface of our fertile re¬ 
gions, aud increase it in the barren sections. 
Tbo mind often runs forward into the future 
and looks with delight upon our country with a 
busy, teeming population utilizing every foot 
of Boil, and confining the streams by solid walls 
to their narrowest limits. Such a condition, 
would soon render our country almost as rainless 
as Eygpt. 
Carbondale, 111. 
tfetonom]). 
LAYING 
OUT 
THE FARM. 
One great mistake farmers usually make is in 
not giving sufficient thought and attention to 
laying out the farm, and distributing the crops 
and labor in tho host possible mariner. There 
are fow kinds of business which require such 
careful forethought and study, as planning tho 
year’B cropH on a farm in such a manner as to 
distribute the labor throughout the season as 
evenly as possible, and get the largest returns 
for the land under cultivation, and the money 
invested in labor. 
When we consider tho variety of crops whioh 
may bo raised with profit on almost any farm, 
the great number of causes which infiuence their 
growth, tho nature and condition of the soil, 
tho proBpectB of tho markets, the possibilities of 
double cropping, tbo relation of this year’s 
crops to a rotation, and the distribution of 
labor, so as not to have more at any one time 
than it is possible to do, and yet, to have enough 
at all times ; the question bocomos interesting 
and at the same timo exceedingly complex—Yet 
all these things should bo carefully considered, 
not only each by itself, but iu relatiou to eaeh 
other, and whoever overlooks one of thorn is 
likely to mako serious blunders. He may sow 
Ins seed on soil not in proper condition, and so 
fail of a good crop, or he may raise a good crop 
aud have no market, or he may be so crowded 
with work as not to be able to give it the proper 
attention at the critioal time. 
My manner of layiug out a farm is this. Iu a 
book I write tlio name of each field, and the diff¬ 
erent crops for winch the Boil by its nature and 
present condition (with tho fertilizers which I 
can put on it), is best adapted, also the timo of 
