566 
THE RURAL NRW-YORKHR 
August 8 
uralisms * 
► 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
Tttk Birt) Plaoue. —As the earliest 
strawberries paled and flushed to ripe¬ 
ness the robins and catbirds descended 
in force, selecting as usual the best 
fruits first, but later became so numer¬ 
ous as seriously to reduce all market¬ 
able sizes. Close covering was needed 
to save fair samples of certain new trial 
varieties. Juneberries and early cher¬ 
ries came next. There was a splendid 
crop of the former of both tree and bush 
kinds. The cherries were comparative¬ 
ly scarce, but just as acceptable to the 
birds. Not a ripe fruit of either species 
was secured except where bagged or 
netted for seed saving. Currants and 
gooseberries followed as a side issue, 
the destruction of the red varieties be¬ 
ing almost complete before sufficiently 
ripened for use. 
Birds Stay With Us.— In previous 
years the fruit-eating birds have scat¬ 
tered as the later strawberries and cher¬ 
ries came on. The demand for insect food 
to raise the second brood of nestlings 
has always before saved the bramble 
berries from serious depredations, but 
this season there was only a brief inter¬ 
mission as the blackcap and early red 
raspberries colored up. The usual toll 
of choice fruits taken from these varie- 
tias was not grudged, as good pickings 
could be had by getting out early in the 
morning. Before the crop was gathered, 
however, the birds came back, bringing 
their families of fiedglings, together 
with a great concourse of relatives and 
friends, and made short work of the re¬ 
maining 1 ‘aspberries, a fine lot of dew¬ 
berries and all the blackberries and 
wineherries to date. Not a berry is al¬ 
lowed to get to the edible stage from 
(he human standpoint, but is promptly 
snatched off. Where pickings of 15 to 25 
quarts should be had daily not a good 
ripe fruit can be found. Since the days 
we explored “pokeberry clearings” in 
the Pennsylvania timber forests we have 
never seen such a persistent and clam¬ 
orous gathering of berry eaters. 
They “Take the Bakery.”— Grapes 
and apples have not yet reached a stage 
inviting to the birds, but we are con¬ 
cerned lest they may be attacked in due 
.course. Thei-e are practically no peaches, 
pears or plums this year to succeed the 
berries. The only fruits so far ignored 
by the feathered pirates are mulberries, 
Strawberry-raspberries, and the Elseag- 
nus fruits, all of which were in good 
quantity. The failure of the usual crop 
of roadside cherries and the local clear¬ 
ing up of waste lands and bramble 
thickets may account in part for the 
unusual destructiveness of the birds this 
particular season, but each successive 
year brings a noticeable increase in the 
birds infesting fruit gardens, until we 
may conservatively say that robins and 
catbirds not only form a greater men¬ 
ace to horticulture than the European 
sparrow, but are likely to cause more 
loss to the grower in the long run than 
the vagaries of our climate, insect 
pests and fungus diseases combined, as 
our present experience shows that tney 
are capable of appropriating the entire 
crop before full maturity instead of a 
reasonable fraction, as is so often urged. 
Too Much Protection. —The Au¬ 
dubon Society and associated bird-lov¬ 
ers have done grand work in furthering 
the legal protection of all harmless 
birds, but have gone too far in taking 
away the inherent right of the gardener 
to protect, his crop from species having 
natural or acquired predatory traits. It 
is now a serious infraction of the law to 
kill or destroy the nests of robins, cat¬ 
birds, thrushes, cedarbirds and other de¬ 
structive birds in almost every State of 
Ihe Union under any circumstances, and 
the fruit grower has absolutely no legal 
means of defense that is at all practic¬ 
able. lie should be allowed at least to 
rid his fruit garden of individual pests 
that prey on his products. It is not 
pleasant to think of killing birds, but 
in some localities they must be thinned 
if fruit is to be grown at all. To shoot 
robins or wild-cats for the mere lust of 
slaughter is alike reprehensible in 
schoolboy or President, but we may be 
compelled in self-defense to war on un¬ 
duly protected destructive birds as we 
do on Potato beetles and Codling moths. 
The trouble is due to misinformation 
regarding the life history of these birds 
under our present conditions of semi¬ 
domestication. The European sparrow 
has ceased to become especially trouble¬ 
some in most places since the mantles of 
sentiment and protection have been 
withdrawn, and he may be dealt with 
according to discretion. The gardening 
fraternity has generally a kindly feel¬ 
ing toward bird life, and may be trust¬ 
ed to distinguish real friends from ene¬ 
mies as they come under daily observa¬ 
tion among cultivated crops. 
Do Birds Chanoe Their Habits?— 
Many instances are recorded of altera¬ 
tions in the habits of native birds as af¬ 
fected by the rapid and dense settle¬ 
ment of localities. Species that were 
formerly able to glean their living in 
woodlands and pastures, often with ap¬ 
parent benefit to the farmer, have be¬ 
come annoying habitants of the orchard 
and garden, and seem disposed further 
to curtail their insect diet in favor of 
the fruits now so abundantly cultivated. 
It is rare in this locality to see a robin 
at work in the meadows in the old way, 
but in the fruit garden they gather in 
(^veys. The catbird always was a sly 
and cunning thief, but the schoolboy 
prejudice against his peculiar cry quite 
effectually suppressed undue increase. 
He is graceful in form and a most agree¬ 
able vocalist when not caterwauling, but 
his appetite for choice cultivated ber¬ 
ries is insistent and continuous. A pair 
or two about a farmhouse may well be 
tolerated, but their indefinite increase is 
to be deplored. The Brown thrush is a 
delightful songster and an inveterate 
berry eater. He comes to the garden 
early and stays late, while his capacity 
for appropriating the finest fruits al¬ 
most passes comprehension. He is, how¬ 
ever, wary in nesting habits, and is not 
likely to increase with undue rapidity 
like the robins and catbirds. 
A Bird That Keeps Hls Head. —The 
species thus far enumerated all consume 
insects when fruit is not to be had, and 
are especially active when feeding their 
young. 1^1 moderate numbers they will 
be tolerated in the future as in the past, 
but if the first two increase at the pres¬ 
ent rate they will put an end to fruit 
growing in many places. The Golden¬ 
winged woodpecker or highholder—the 
“flicker” of Pennsylvania woodlands— 
seems to be an exception in resisting 
the modifying influences of civilization. 
These large and handsome woodpeckers 
were formerly much hunted for food, as 
the flesh of the young is of tolerable 
quality, but since the enforcement of 
protective bird laws they have become 
more numerous and confiding. They 
are fond of fruits, especially cherries, 
and will make an astonishing number 
of visits daily to favorite trees when in 
fruit, but do not forget their appetite 
for insects at the same time, as they 
may be constantly seen on the ground 
digging out grubs with a few strokes of 
their sturdy bills, from the toughest sod 
or baked hardpan by the roadsides, as 
well as hammering out borers from thi 
decaying limbs of trees. The robin, on 
the other hand, camps right out in your 
berry patch and stays as long as the 
fruit lasts. When he goes there is lit¬ 
tle left for the grower. 
In Concdijsion.—The R. N.-Y. would 
like definite information as to whether 
birds are generally more destructive to 
fruits this season than before. Much 
has been printed in former years about 
this really important matter, and the 
concensus of opinion seemed to be that 
certain of our native birds were learn¬ 
ing new tricks of destruction and were 
becoming serious pests of the fruit 
grower. Doubtless our statements will 
be criticised as a great outcry over the 
loss of a few hundred quarts of berries, 
but if the Rural Grounds’ experience is 
duplicated all over the country or even 
in a considerable number of places it 
may show the necessity of demanding 
legislation that will enable a grower et 
fectually to protect his crops, w. v. f. 
REPORTS ON CRIMSON CLOVER. 
When you first recommended Crimson 
clover I took your advice and sowed one 
bushel as an experiment. Since then I have 
sown all my available land to it every 
year. It is great. Were it not for Crimson 
clover I would not now be in this business. 
It improves the land and reduces the ma¬ 
nure and fertilizer bills. Tell your readers 
to kill the Dog grass before sowing clover. 
I did not know about it when I began using 
clover, and now I have so much Dog grass 
that I must stop sowing clover and take 
a year or two to kill the weed. I sow from 
10 to 20 pounds per acre, according to the 
location. It very seldom winter-kills and 
has been a very good friend to me. Tell 
your readers to sow all they can of it. 
Cranston, R. I. c. m. k. 
I began sowing Crimson clover about 
15 years ago and have sown it largely 
ever since with but few failures. Its cul¬ 
ture has increased gradually in this section, 
and now there are large areas sown in 
Mercer, Monmouth, Burlington and other 
South Jersey sections. It is sown mainly 
as a green crop for plowing under, and 
nearly all who use it are satisfied with the 
results, especially for orchards. It does 
well on all high ioamy soils, but it is use¬ 
less to sow it on heavy retentive .soil that 
is inclined to be wet, and heave it out in 
the Winter. It is best to sow as early as 
possible after the middle of July. It is 
useless to sow it after September 1, and 
that is too late unless all conditions are 
favorable. It makes first-class hay when 
weather permits curing, but as it has to 
be cut in May it is often difficult to cure 
it. I have sown it on light sandy soils and 
had a good covering. It should be sown 
not much later than August 1 in orchard 
so as to get a good top in the Fall to plow 
under early in the Spring. If left too late 
and drought comes it is often a detriment 
to peach orchards. We sow 10 to 12 quarts 
to the acre and it should be covered lightly 
with harrow, weeder or something, as it 
is not often it will come sown on the sur¬ 
face. On soils too light and poor for it to 
succeed cow peas are best. 
Mercer Co., N. J. chas. black. 
The wheat here yields from six bushels 
or less to 20 per acre. I am glad that mine 
is rye and the hogs are harvesting it. 
Ohio. JOHN M. JAMISON. 
Stony Farms.— I know what it is to work 
on a side-hill farm, where stones were just 
far enough under the surface to hit the 
plow and throw it out, and can sympathize 
with the man behind the plow on Hope 
Farm. But the hill farm has its redeem¬ 
ing features. You can see from it for long 
distances, and also escape late frosts, the 
south sides of those stone walls make fine 
places to ripen Concord grapes on. All of 
our grapes grew on stone walls, and we 
had lots of them. j. h. b. 
Horse Owners! Use 
GOMBAULT’S 
Caustic 
Balsam 
A Safe, Sperdr, and Posltlre Cart 
The safest. Best BLISTER ever need. Takei 
tfce place of all Hnatnents for mild or severe action 
Esmoves alt Bunches or Blemishes from Horses 
and Cattle, SUPERSEDES ALL CAUTERY 
DR FIRING. Impossible to produce scar orblemis'. 
Kvctj bottle sold la warranted to give satisfaction 
Price 81.60 per bottle. Sold by druggists, or sent 
by express, charges paid, with full directions fo- 
E.s use. Send for descriptive circulars. 
THE LAWRENCE-WILLIAMS CO., Cleveland. Q. 
PARE 
CORE 
SLICE 
r in one operation by using 
GOODELL APPLE PARERS j 
I Seven styles. 6o cts. to $ 20 . \ 
Hand or power. Write for Booklet | 
t Ht 
I COQi 
CoodellCo., 70 Main St., Antrim, N.H. 
. - - - 
WET AND DRY ROT PREVENTED 
and fence posts, sills and all exposed timbers made to 
last indefinitely by the use of CONSEKVO WOOD 
PRESERVATIVE. It permeates and hardens 
wood, prevents working of wood worms, Insects, etc. 
Cost but a trifle. Write for free circular. 
SAMUEL CABOT, Mfg. Chemist, 
81 Kilby Street. Boston, Mass. 
SAN JOSE SCALE, 
And other Insects can be Controlled by Csing 
Good’s Caustic Potash Whale- 
Oil Soap No. 3. 
It also prevents Curl Leaf. Endorsed by Entomolo¬ 
gists. This Soap is a Fertilizer as well as Insecticide. 
60-lb. Kegs, $2.50; 100-lb. Kegs. $4.60; Half-Barrel, 
270 lbs., 3^c. per lb.; Barrel. 425 lbs., S^c. Large 
quantities. Special Rates. Bend for Circulars. 
JAMES GOOD, 939 N. Front St., Phlladelpbla, Pa 
66 
FUMA 
VC klllB Prairie 
^ ' Woodchucks,Gophers, 
and Grain Insects 
“The wheels of the 
gods grind slow bui 
exceedingly small.’’ 80 the weevil, but you can stop 
“Fuma Carbon Bisnlphlile”Ji5SS‘ 
EDWARB JE6. TA'SXOR, JPenm Yftifi. 1" 
THE KESSLER IS THE REST. 
PricCf 
$1 EACH. 
Discount Dozen 
Lots. 
Simple, Durable, 
Economical. 
Round, STRONG, 
Heavy. 
Lowest in price, 
highest in quali¬ 
ty. A sample best 
evidence. Reap¬ 
proved Jan. 25th, 
1903. Circulars 
sent free. Orders promptly shipped. We sell direct 
to the farmer. H. K. HK 8 SLER CO., Syracuse, N. Y. 
Rural Mail Box. 
Best for Water 
WRITE 
FOR 
PRICES 
WRITE 
FOR 
PRICES 
RALPH B. CARTER CO. 
26 Cortlandt St., New York, N. Y. 
ARMSTBONO & HcKELVY 
Pittsburgh. 
beymer-bauman 
Pittsburgh. 
DAVIS -CHAMBERS 
Pittsburgh. 
FAHNESTOCK 
Pittsburgli. 
ANCHOR 1 
> Cincinnati. 
ECKSTEIN i 
ATLANTIC 
BRADLEY 
BROOKLYN( 
JEWETT 
ULSTER 
UNION 
SOUTHERN 
SHIPMAN 
COLLIER 
MISSOURI 
RED SEAL 
SOUTHERN 
New York. 
Chicago. 
, St. Louis. 
JOHN T. LEWIS & BROS CO 
Pliiladelphia. 
MORLEY 
Cleveland. 
SALEM 
Salem, Mass. 
CORNELL 
Budalo. 
KENTUCKY 
Louisville. 
G 
ONSIDERING the cost of 
labor, of applying it, and 
its great covering capacity, 
Pure White Lead is not only the 
cheapest Paint in the first cost, 
but because of its extreme dura¬ 
bility is by far the cheapest in the 
end. 
Furthermore, no scraping or 
burning will be required when 
repainting becomes necessary. 
If interested in paint or painting, address, 
National Lead Co., 100 William Street, New York. 
