Elementary principles of agriculture Elementary principles of agriculture : a text book for the common schools . elementaryprinci02ferg Year: 1913 CHAPTER XXV WILD BIRDS AND OTHER INSECT- EATING ANIMALS 249. Most Birds Benefit the Farmer, because their food consists very largely of harmful insects, weed seeds, mice, etc. Some birds eat the grain or do much damage to the fruit, but without the birds, the insects would be far more destructive. In 1753, Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend:—'In New England they once thought blackbirds useless, and mischievous to the corn. They made efforts to de
Elementary principles of agriculture Elementary principles of agriculture : a text book for the common schools . elementaryprinci02ferg Year: 1913 CHAPTER XXV WILD BIRDS AND OTHER INSECT- EATING ANIMALS 249. Most Birds Benefit the Farmer, because their food consists very largely of harmful insects, weed seeds, mice, etc. Some birds eat the grain or do much damage to the fruit, but without the birds, the insects would be far more destructive. In 1753, Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend:—'In New England they once thought blackbirds useless, and mischievous to the corn. They made efforts to destroy them. The consequence was, the blackbirds diminished, but a kind of worm which de- voured their grass, and which the blackbirds used to feed upon, increased prodigiously; then, finding their loss in grass greater than their gain in corn, they wished again for the blackbirds.' 250. Birds Like Insect Food Best. Every one has noticed how the field-larks, and other birds, fly into the newly plowed furrow. They are not looking for freshly planted seeds as some sup- pose, but for worms and in- sects which the plow uncovers. They prefer insects, but will eat weed or grain seeds if in- sects are scarce. In summer the field-lark (or 'meadow- lark,' as he is most often called in the North) eats insects Fig. 115. Food of the meadow- lark by months. (180)
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