University of South Carolina Libraries
CHOP DESTROYERS. T?e Winged Enemies or Hie Farmers. Time Will Hrlng th* Cure. With the opening of spring aud the planting of tuc annual crops tho far mer again conies face to face with the serious problem-how to save the crop that his labor has started. Foes con front him on every side and only when he lies down at uight does he feel se cure from the ravages of the birds. Tho department of agriculture has made a careful study of thc common birds of tho country with a view to ascertaining which ones were most de structive to grain and suggesting a remedy to the troubled farmer, in ?he East the problem is perhaps a j more serious one than in thc great fields of the West, where thousands of acres aro planted and where the loss of a small percentage is not so keenly felt as in the East, where thc crop is smaller. But cv cry w ii en; the annoy ance is felt and in many places it ap proaches the degree of a calamity. A prominent professor of the department of agriculture, in discussing the ques tion, Haid: "Aside from its importance as a principal source of the food supply thc immense financial value of thc grain crop of thc United States is 6ueh that great interest is felt in all sec tions regarding tho ravages caused it by destructive birds. lu some places where these birds breed in vast num bera their depredations becomo seri ous. Tho total valuo of thc gratti product of the United States is, io round numbers, $1,000,000,000 per an fc?i?. Any agency which reduces this valuo by even 1 per cent involves a loss of $10,000,000, a sum sufficient ly large to startle a thoughtful person. Several species of binjg arc accused of a share in this destruction, but the common crow is porhaps most 'fra queotly mentioned, in this oonnoction, asd blackbirda have at limos niado ,suoh depreciations SB to cause appre hension. "Tho redwing and yellowhcad blackbirds usually nest near the wa ter, and for thia reason thc prairie ponds of tho upper Mississippi Yalloy afford such favorable breeding ground thai te? regioP become the th?alr? J ?f Ikm gf9&te9fc sotiyitios, ft jg tQC j gathoring placo o? tho ?inmenso flocks jthat have often stru?k. terror to tho .heart of tho fataler tn their" countless hosts settled upon his fields. Tho besting period is May and Juno, and by the end of tho latter month the young are on the wing. Grain ripens at this time and the old birds lead their young to the placo of food sup ply. Tho molting season that follows leaves tl.o birds in an exhausted con dition, and under these circumstances the abundant food supply oomes to thom like manna from Heaven to the wandering Israelites. TRANSFORMATION OF Tl!fi PBAIBIES. "It is highly probable that tho changing of tho original prairies into fields of grain bas contributed to thc increase of blackbirds by furnishing them with a sure food supply whon it 43 rnost peeked. It d?cs no$ neces sarily folio* thai thfcBd bird? ufo wholly harmful to tho interests of I man, but uieroly showns that it is pos sible to have too many of them. In States where there are fewer little damage ia done. After repeated in vestigations of the food habits of these birds it has been learned that they subsist largely upon insects, and when this is considered in connection with the fact that many of tho species feed largely upon tho seeds of troublesome weeds, taere is reason to believe that they really subserve a useful purpose in the economy of nature and become harmful only when their num bers multiplies out of proportion to their environment. "The common orow has long been known as a 'thief of tho corn fields,' having been so namod by tho aborigi nal inhabitants. Tho groatest damage is dono in the spring, whon the birds pull up tho sprouted grain. Dry cora 5 cents Eight cents a pound is v/hat a young woman paid for twelve pounds of ?esh. She was thin and weak and paid on? dollar for a bottle of Scott's Emulsion, and by tak ing regular doses had gained twelve pounds in weight before the bottle was finished. Eight cents a pound is cheap for such valuable ma terial. Some pay more, some less, some get nothing for their money. You get your money's worth when you buy Scott's Emulsion. We will send you a little free. # . SCOTT_& BOWNE, CHEMISTS, / 409 Pearl Street, New York, .qoc. and $*.oo ; all druggists. ta ?lot palatable to the crow, bu! that that has been sweetened by thc process of germination is a favorite food aud eagerly sought. In the earlier day?, when crows wero more numerous and cornfields lesa so /tho farmers had a constant struggle during the first two or three weeks after tho corn appeared above thc ground to save it from thc crows. Varioua devices, in the shape of scarecrows, were designed to fright en away thc marauders, but most of them were only indifferently success ful. More recently the plan of coat 4ng the seed with tar has been ex tensively used, and in an experiment made by tho department not a single kernel of tarred corn was disturbed, while rows of untarred seed imme diately adjoining were almost entirely destroyed. It has becu asserted that crows pull up corn for tho sake of the grub that may be found about tho roots and not for thc kernel, but care ful investigation has disapproved this assertion. They do eat the sprouted kernel, although they also devour the grubs unearthed at thc same time, but thc result to tho farmer is thc same, and it is poor consolation to know that if tho corn had not been eaten by the crow it would have been killed by thc grub. THE FOOD OF THE CHOWS. "Examinations made on the stom ! ach a of U09 crows show that about 2(J per cent of the food for the year con sists of grain, of which corn consti tutes more than 21 per cent, thc greatest quantity beiog eaten .during the three winter months. All of this must bo either wasto grain picked up in tho fields or roads or stolen from cribs or shooks. A good deal is taken in tho three fall months, when corn is soft, and May, the month of sprout ing corn, shows a slight inorcasc over the other months. Only small quan tities of other grains aro taken. On tup other ban?!, the loss of grain is shown by tho ejEannuatiops to bo moro than offset by thc destruction of insects, these constituting more (bau 1?5 p?r cent of thc crow's "yearly diet, and the larger part of thom aro nox ious. Add the mice, rabbits and oth er harmful mammals destroyed and the result shows a total of about 25 pei P00!1 ?? tno f??d to consist of an.i? mala whose uestivWUon la b?B?fi?Ul to thc farmer. With tho well known propensity ?f tho crow for searching highway and byW?yfl, stuck yards and pastures, it must bo admitted that at least one-half of the grain eaton is waste, the consumption of whioh en tails no loss. The remainder of tho crow's diet, consists of wild fruit, Qceds and various animal substances, and from this point of view it is evi dent that what grain he takes is well paid for by the insects destroyed. "The crow blackbird is one of the m-dt abundant species of troublesome birds, and when a Hook of them at tacks a field the result is usually dis- - astrous. These birds aro fond of grain and, being of good sizo and abundant, havo the power to do great harm. The examination of more than two thousand of their stomachs has shown that grain forms 45 per cent of tho food of thc year, and of this amount dorn constitutes 35 per cont. Hundreds of communications havo boen reeeivc', by the department of agriculture testifying to their de structiveness1, yet many ot these ac knowledge that the birds eat ' large quantities of insoots, especially dur ing tho breeding season, and that many insects aro fed to tho young. But'.whilo this ia a demonstrated fact, it would bo difficult to oonvinoe tho farmer that the good they do at one season compensates him for his loss at another and there is little doubt that in some parts of the oountry these birds are too numerous for the farmer to realizo tho best results from ' their services. "All of tho other species of black birds ara addicted to similar food and it behooves the grain grower to pre pare for them before his crop is de stroyed or badly injured. Tho com mon turtlo doves live almost entirely on gruin and do most harm in tho spring, when they feed in newly sown fields. This bird is, however, less plentiful than formerly and large flocks arc seldom seen. TRYINQ TO FIND A REMEDY. "Unfortunately it ia much easier to point out the ovil than to prescribe the oure. Tho experiments made by tho department show conclusively that'birds do not subsist on grain alone, even at times whon it is possi ble for them to obtain it, nor ia the greatest amount of grain eaten at har? vest time, but during the- winter months when other feed is scarce and waste kernels can be picked up in the fields. Many birds of the esme spe cies have been shot at the same time in a grain, field and, while some h?d; their st om nebo filled with grain, oth ers were only partly filled and still others were wholly filled with other food. So many oases of thia kind havo occurred that it seems practical ly certain that few birds willingly subsist exclusively upon any one kind of gr.v.n for a considerable length of time. With many species this ie in mr.rkcd contrast to their fondness for thc seeds of certain useless plants, upon whioh nt some seasons they sub sist almost entirely. This shows that ibero ave too roany bird? of the saaio species gathered together in a limited area. . "An attempt to exterminate this species would not only be ill advised, but hopeless. States have offered bounties for their destruction without perceptibly thinning their ranks. TARRING: THE SEEDS. '.The department of agriculture ad vises tho planter of grain to check mate the crows that pull up tho sprouting corn by thoroughly tarring tho seed. If properly done this neither injures its vitality nor pre vents tho use of machinery in plant ing. "There ia, howevc, some hope for the future, though perhaps a distant one. Increased density of popula tion will broaden the area of cultiva lion,, and this in timo must lead to thc draining of thc marshes and ponds, thus turning over to cultivation much laud that has hereto "ore been worse than waste, since it has served as a breeding ground for tho biron that have destroyed -the crop?. With a breeding place mor? restricted it must follow that tho number of birds must' surely decrease and in time the proper equilibrium will bo restored. In tho meantime it behooves thc farmer to apply such remedies as the exigencies of the case suggest, and where these gregarious species aro over-abundant it might be well to exempt them from the general protective laws in order that each land-holder may be free to protect himself as best he can." Out of the Wrong Bottle. Here's a story John W. Gates tells: "Did you hear about ThompkioB and hi wife? No. Well, Thompkios' wife had a cough, so she told hits to get her a bottle of cough medicine. When he was buying it the druggist remarked incidentally that ho had some of the best hair restorer that over gladdened the head, of a, bald beaded. fcan. Thompkins is bald headed, but ho pretended he didn't hear. Ho bought a ci ?ar w\ tallad politics with two or three of the boye for awhile and just before he left for home ho said kind of careless to the druggist; ' old man, got any stuff that's good for the hair-make it-er-sort of grow, you know?" "Ob, yea," said the druggist. "Well/' said Thompkins, "guoss I'll take a bottle My brother-in-law is a sort of a dude and likes such things." The two bottles were about the same size, but that wasn't tho drug gist's fault. Thompkins opened them both when ho got home. That night after he had undressed he happened to think that it might be a good thing to try a little of the hair restorer. IE the dark he got hold of his wife't cough medicine and he plastered it al! ovor his bald head. It was good soc sticky and it hung right on. Mrs Thompkins had a violent fit of cough ing during the night and in feeling around the oloset for her medioioi got hold of the hair restorer. Sh? took a big dose and thou hollowed : "Firer1 Thompkjns awoke with a yell Theta had been a little slit in th pillow case and ho had rolle? aroum with his sticky head until h til he had made a great hole in th caso and had all the feathers wort! montioniug flaring out from his orani um so that he looked Uko the bat shee in an Irish folklike tale. H carno rushing to Mrs. Thompkins' ac sistance. She thought it was tb evil one taking a half-holiday au again hollered, this time louder tba ever: "Fire! Police 1" The hired girl ran out into the nigl with nothing on but a sweater and pair of rubber boots and turned in s alarm. It cost Thompkins $16.50 to make all right with tho firemen, but he sa: tho experience was cheap at the prie as the cough mixture started his he growing again. Incidentally his wif< cough has disappeared.--New Yo Press. Strong Grounds. A Christian Scientist, while wal ing in the country, oarae across small boy sitting under an apple ti doubled up with pain. - "My little man," he said, "what the matter ?" "? ate some green apples," moan the boy, "and oh,, how I aohp." "You don't ache," answered t follower df Mrs. Eddy; "you ot ihiok so." The boy looked up in astoniahmi at such a statement, and thet. repli in.a most positive manner : "That's all right; youmey'thi so, but I've got inside informatioi -Philadelphia Ledger. To Cure a Cold la One Day Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tabb All druggists: ref ur d the money il fails to oure. E. W. Grove's: sig -ture is on ouch box. Price 25o. - A model of Solomon's tempi: cost $100,000 will be ono of the i tures of the St. Louis fair. It wil tosdo from models, paintings and signs based on tho thorough study Jewish ' archaeologists. Yellowstone Park. Gardiner, Moot , April 24.-The pr cs j dc lit thin afternoon, returned his tour. Before going lie partici pated in tlic laying of the cornerstone of the new gate Ht the northern en trance to Yellowstone p&rk. The cere mony was perf'jrnr.'d according to the Masonic ritual and was in charge of the grand officers of the State of Mon tana. The president rode down from the post, accompanied by Maj Pit chener, und was escorted to the gaily decorated stand, where he delivered an address. The president began his address by thanking the people and thc soldiers for his enjoyable two weeks' holiday and then spoke of the natural wonders of the park. '"''he Yellowstone Park," he ?aid, "is something unique in this world, us far as I know. Nowhere else in any civilized country is^there to be found such a tract of veritable wonderland, made accessible to all visitors, where at the same time uot only the scenery of the wilderness, but the wild crea tures of the park are scrupulously preserved as they are here, the only chango being that these samo wild creatures have been so carefully pro tected as to show literally astounding tam<;uess. Tho crcatiou and preserva tion of such a natural playground ic tho midst of our people as' a whole, is a credit to the nation, but above all, a credit to Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. It has been preserved with wise foresight. The scheme of Ttft preservation is noteworthy in its es sential democraoy. This park was created and now is administered for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Tho government must con tinue to appropriate for it, and espe cially in the direction of completing and perfecting an excejjpnt system of driveways." After referring to tho importance of forest preservation and expressing hie astonishment at the la*g$ number of wild uuimals in tho park, thc president said: "I wish very much that the gov ernment could pro?id.e for an ?xpprj, 'mental breeding station of Gross breeds betweon buffalo and tho com mon cattle. If tb eba cross-breeds could bc successfully perpetuated, we could have animals whioh Wotold pic duce a robo quito as gocAl VLS ihe old buffalo winch 20 yeats ago every man was familiar; animals moreover which would be so hardy that I think they would have a distinct commercial im portance." At thc conclusion of the ceremonies the president's train pulled out for Livingston. - ? 'mm - Those who become tired at a 40 mibute sermon can sit three hours in a theatre. ._. _ Free From 8upor?tltIou. ' Supers, '.iousl" she exclaimed very scornfully; ''oot a bit of it. I have too much HtMise for that. Of coarse there aro samo little thiogs portend iog goud or bad luck that occasionally claim my attention, but' superstition is ouly thu failing of the weak. I-" "Wait a ur. nu to. There's a pia on the sidewalk." "There! Now, I have it. Do you know every time I have ecen t> pin and failed to piok ii up Reginald and I j have quarreled? Strange, isn't it? I ( 1 wouldn't dare to pass one now. "But wo were speaking of supcrsti I tions. I've beard it said tbt-.t every I body is superstitious to a greater or ! less extent, but I don't believe it. i Do you? Of cjurse I knew you didn't. I Bi , you do find superstition in the straugest places. I cuco knew a girl who actually believed io ghosts. Keel sensible girl TO other respects, too. j Funny wasn't it? I used to tell her that she would have to get over her superstitious or she'd be th^ laughing stock of everybody, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I think she must have been weak mentally. Don't you? "By tho way, I saw the new moon over my left shoulder last night. "What do you suppose will happen. I just know that Reginald will bring mc a box of candy when ho comes to call to night. The last time I saw the new moon over my shoulder was tho very night ho proposed. "Still, of course I shouldn't forget that I spilled some salt today. May be that will make a difference. Any way, 1*11 know what's the reason if I dou'i get the candy, and there's some satisfaction in that. Do you know when anything unusual happens I oan almost always figure right buck to what caused it? "Dut I'm mighty glad I'm not su^erslitift'^j ]{ke so many ofter;-giris I koowV' ~ The year of greatest growth in boy? 1? th? g??cp*.?cDtuj lo girls, tb* fflutUeblk Whit* girls rcauh full height in ttl'ai nficenih year, they aoquirb full weight ab the ago of twenty. Boys are stronger than girla from hirth to the eleventh year; then girls becomo superior physically to tho seventeenth year, when the tables are again turned and remain so. From Novomber to April children gr w very little and gain no weight; from April to July they gain in height; but lose in weight, and from July to November they increuse greatly in woight, But nol in height. - A husband would know a whole lot moro about his wife's figure than he does if ho were her dreosmaker. The Cr??t Rheumatic 'Cure . AND--. Spring Blood Purifier Positively eurea all diseases, arising (rom $ rh pu ri tie ? in the blood, includ ing Catarrh, Indigestion, Chronic Constipation, Kidney and Liver Troubles, etc. Every person in the land nccdo a powerful blood purifier every Spring. You need it. You want the best-thc Standard. That is RH&?MACr?E. BEWARE OP DANGEROUS SUBSTITUTES. RHEUM ACIDE benefits instead of injuring the digestive organ* aa many to-called medicines do. RHEUM ACIDE ia a powerful alterative, but old people tor children can take it with absolute safety. Price fi.oo at Druggists, or express prepaid'on receipt of price. Bobbitt Chemical Cc., ? < ? Baltimore, fid., ?. 3. A. FOE SALE BY EVANS PHARMACY. NOTHING is, more gratify ir g to an up-to date Farmer thea to have a well-equipped outfit to begin his Spiing work, nod thia, he ia*sura to get when he does his trading with .us We eau sell you PLOWS? PLOW STOCKS, SUNG LE TREES, HEEL BOLTS. . ?LB VICES, . HAMES, TRACES, COLLARS, COLLAR PABS% BACK BANDS, PLOW LINES, BRIOLES. And everything necessary to begia plowing,, except ihe Mule, ana we'cai "sight" you to a Mule trade. We still have a few Syracuse Turu Plcrws that. we are closing outsat * very low price, and can furnish you with tho Terracing Wieg. Come in and let us show you our 7-foot Perfection Trace Chain a$ 60c pair. Nothing in tho Trace line compares with this Chain. Don't you need a hog pasture ? We have tho Wire Fence for you*. BROCK HARDWARE COMPANY?! The'mirror never flattera; it 'cells ^?"^K^-.^^iS ? ?S trttth, no matter how much it may hurt the ^^?y.v. ^Sffi^^lffiFT' ? W 1 pride or how humiliating; and disagreeable - ; ^^BfflflMti ? 'Pj|% ? f. 1 the reflections. JV red, rough skin ia fatal t?^^i^ '^Hjra' | beauty, and blackheads, blotches and pimples .. Slinill 9r" 8 * are. ruinous to the complexion, and rio wonder 6UchSx5ra^{l| jilly 'Jr 1 desperate efforts are made ta hide these blemishes, and S?g5SaL xm I j'lar J^M - J cover over the defects, and some never stop to-consider <5ggffi> \1 W^/'iy'W :f the danger ia ?J$?a food^ face lotiops, 69???, salves ^^?? ypy / B and powders, but apply theta vigorously and of ten with- . -| ont regard to consequences, and many cotupl ex ions - J *, | ore ruined by the chemicals and poisons contained, in these cosmetics.' ' | Skin diseases are due to internal causes, lo humors and poisons in the :1 blood, and to attempt a cure by , exter- .". _ w 'J hal treatment is cn endless, hopeless y Bt5o"d"or^?$r^fyefW % task. Some simple wash or ointment wito a ?evere^Hett.o*ra?h. - is often beneficial when the skin io JSffit ?Ti^n^olte^alSnStm^? L 1 much inflamed or itches, but yott cant nwttlea ? felt myself cured anil have' , J depend upon local remedies for penna- fflOttf?^ ?SOTo^^ neut relief, for the blood is continually the* lino. My areneral hoalth ha? throwing off impurities which irritate g.0^.S?^o^\Vo<l ml^c^^ ? and clog the glands and pores of eu roimd tcpic, Youns truly, the skin, andas long as thc blood re- ?ro. Jff. J, WTSA??. . mains unhealthy, just so long will the eruptions last. To effectually and per- ' Borne- two years aao. I Buffered a, ntanently cure skin troubles the blood f?^Bm'aU?5m*orjSi?a^k? must bb purified and the system out. over ?ybody e^djte^t trotting ? thoroughly cleansed and built np. a3d ^\^^%^QlSSJS^li%iV& S. S. S., the well known blood purifier per? and haying heard oleo it had and tonic, is acknowledged superior to ggSSjWS fiSfflt ? feSr? all other remedies for this purpose. It Ai)ter txiinu tho modioine ipr some ff is the only guaranteed strictly vegeta- Jat&?y^ul^. - ?l* too*lo?'I/'7Sk ble blood remedy. It never deranges ^. SDWABD C. 1*0170, '?"$? the system or impairs the digestion . .WO Clay straet,/.?a4uoah,?*i \J - | like Potash and Arsenic and drugs of this character, but aids in the digestion and assimilation of food and improves the appetite. Being a blood purifier Sirrmi ^^nsi^ and tonic combined, the humors and poi ffjf?a*t& ^^"Hjft sons are counteracted and the blood made; V^naZT V^SQT^ rich and pure, and at the same time the t^wjr^ general health and system is rapidly bi??t;! 1 fc^ j 1 "up and good health is established, antfj C^^y K^UJ^L# this, after all, is the secret of a smooth^ ' ^?i'^ gQfi; skin and beautiful complexion. . If you have any skin trouble send for our free book, 4 * The Skin end Iff Diseases. Nochargelor medical advice, Write tia about your case. 20???? Pounds of Towers & Sullivan Mfg. Co's. Celebrated Steel Plows. The Shape? ore perfect, and the quality of steel the#(highe&t^ These Plowe are CHEAPEST because they are BES*!. You can select jost what pou want from oijir tremendous Stock. . FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS. We have the bett Distributors ever put on the market. They, ate per* fectly" marie, of very beet material. With these Distributors you will save ono au's time, and enough Guano lo pay for the Distributor in a very short time* J?low Stocks, S?Dgie Trees, Trace Chains,! Hames, Back Bands, &c. &c. &c. EVERYTHING needed by the Fm mer fbi the cultivation bf his crop an bo found in our Stork . Iware Co. Tula Establishment Haa been Selling: IN ANDERSON for moro than forty y/ar 3. During all that??tse. competitors have come and gone, but we have remained right hore. ; Wo have always sold Cheaper than uny others, and duriog thoae long years we have uot had ono dis satiffied customer. Mistakes will sometimos occur, and if at any time we found that a customer waa dissatisfied we did not' rent until w? had asado him satisfied. This policy, riginly adhered to, has mado us friends, true and last ing, amTwe can way with pride, but without boasting, -that we have the confi dence ol1 tho peopla of this section. Wo have a iarger^Stoch of Goods this season than we have eyer had, and'we, pledge you our word that wo,have never sold Furniture at as ol?so-a margin of profit as wo aro doing now*. This ia proven by tho fact thnt wo are selfing Furniture, not only alt over Anderson Uounty but in every Town in thervPiedmunt section. . Como and see UB. Your parents saved mooey by buying from us, and yon and yonr children cari save mohoy by buying here, too. We carry EVERYTHING in th? Furniture lino, CAF. TOLLY & SO^, Depot-ltreet } The Old Reliable Furnituk : Dealers W gy^^pP^I^W MadaJn^tho world, ?nd ^no lo^r B ^te^^^j^ifS^^^i^^ how can such high grade Pianos bo RB BB^I^^^^SSl^^^ so^esaonabloj Weli,^ it's thia IS ^Ml^^i i 40 per cent in tho cost ^ I am my own j j ^ ^^^^^^^^^H^H . book-koeper, eal esman ^conecto? fi^ ^ *^S?$?^% jrtal ?tbek. I do not sell tha^kma^Kyon ''T .^^?????Si;w ?'?t.um?imimnV^ ?r?tdright your credit isgood w?thm?* Tho beet U??? Organ in ibo worM ia the fi?arpenter.^, Will move to Espr-ea office december- 1st. ^^^^ M, JLV WILT.tS. [???????mi MIIIW?IWIIIHMIMIIIIII.H?III ipi in,.wii.V^^^jj^j^y^*1^1****^*!**'^y^yi^*^^^^***^^*r',*-*l^|1^^1^?I??""? iwiiuawMl : ' M^BHBHMBBSBHBB^. OFFICE-Front Booms over Farm VyC "?ha opposite out Vi I o at ratea Con? - nanoii? TeoT,h. Tho Ideal . ^f?MrYJn7jflwHi^Vw'?K'?VCTBT^ ""Platea-moro cleanly thin tho natii '^MB/amf Mf/WlBi .KKJh? ral teeth. No had mate or breath ^flJ^lJP^PHj^a^w^r from Platos of th?s kind.