Show 1 f r ft vi horticulture DO BIRDS HELP THE FARMER when permitted to labor they thoroughly police both earth and air As objects of human care and interest birds occupy a place filled by ro other living thing and the various movements to protect and foster them would be fully justified were there no other than esthetic only the thoughtless and the ignorant still hold that the graceful forms and beautiful plumage of these master pieces of nature serve their highest purpose when worn on a hat for a useful insect eater kentucky war wari i bier brief season to be then cast aside and forgotten the plumage dimmed and faded the beautiful songs quenched forever while by no means insensible to the higher value of birds the farmer who la asked to aid in measures tor their protection is entitled to inquire as to the practical purpose they sub serve and how far they may be ex pecked to return his outlay of time trouble and expense since most birds eat insects ana since many eat practically nothing else it is their insect eating habits that chiefly invite inquiry for so ac five and persistent are birds in the pursuit 0 insects that they constitute their most important enemies when birds are permitted to labor undisturbed they thoroughly police both earth and air the thrushes sparrows larks and wrens search the surface of the earth for insects and the larvae or bunt aifong the leaves and peer under logs and refuse tor them thus each family plays its part in the never ending warfare and the number of insects annually con fumed by the combined hosts s sim ply incalculable it Is well that this Is so for so vast Is the number of insects and so great is the quantity of vegetation required for their sub sl stence that the existence of every forest conservatory conservators Conserva tors nuthatch green thing would be threatened were it not for birds and other agents dally designed to keep them in check while birds are not numerous in the bence that insects are they exist in fair numbers everywhere or would were it not tor the interference of man and so rapid la the digestion of birds and so perfect their tive powers that to satisfy the appe alte of even a small bird great num bers of insects are needed much of this food la hidden and must be searched for much of it Is active and must be vigorously pursued hence only by the expenditure of much time and labor do birds procure their dally food with birds the struggle for existence Is peculiarly a struggle for subsistence shelter Is obtained with comparative ease and it climatic conditions are not to their liking they migrate to other regions when by reason ot favorable condl tlona insects have multiplied and be come unusually abundant birds eat more than at ordinary times hence the importance of their service during insect invasions it la not however at such periods that their k f te are most valuable it Is per activity in destroying insects every dav at all seasons and in e cry stage of growth the long steady pull rather than tho lc effort that tends to in sect irruptions and to keep the balance true PEAR TREES ARE profitable some useful information to be used IH planting and for good returns the soli best ada to the growth ot the pear la a clayey loam a very light soil not being to longevity nor to fine growth or much fruitfulness and a very beav soli retarding growth and stunting the trees every wa no matter how desirable the soil may be otherwise unless well draped the trees will not thrive pears grow over a wide rane ot climate however fiut the best results are obtained in rather moderate ell mate when a tree gets stunt fed the first or second year no amount of caru and attention seems to enable it ta re gain the lost growth time can usually be gained by not plowing the entire tract ot land at once but thoroughly plow and work up strips for the tree rows say six or eight furrows wide the intervening space being worked up bater or hen there lg more time the standard varieties be planted about 25 feet apart each way and the dwarf 12 feet apart each way some growers plant alternate rows of dwarf and standard varieties most people prefer to have them kept in separate fields however dig holes at the proper distance about a foot deep and large enough to contain the roots nicely without cramping have a halt barrel or tub of good rich mud near at hand and when the broken or crushed roots are removed with a sharp knife dip the trees into the tub covering the roots with this mud and in this way ansur ing the earth clinging to the roots some good rich soil should be sprinkled in the bottom of the hole then set he tree in spreading the riots nicely and then shovel the soil in carefully settling the tree from glnn to time and in this way have the soil well down among the roots when the hole Is about two thirds full press do firmly with the beet and then fill up and complete the lob FIGHT THE INSECT PESTS for the little white fly use tobacco soap according to directions on the package for rose bugs in the evening pi ice two or three ounces of chips to be had of the druggist in a pall and fill with boiling water two or three gallons according to size ot tha pall let stand until next morning then apply the liquid to the plant with a garden syringe getting the tea on all sides of the foliage and stems it the tea Is applied hand hot it will be more effective A strong soap suds made of any good white soap if applied quite warm Is discouraging to the bug pop ul atlon and Is especially good for the green louse or aphis red spiders affect the outdoor as well as the indoor plants and are usually found on the under ald of the foliage causing the leaves to turn brown and to curl at the edges it badly affected strip the leaves from the plant and burn them cultivating the orchard cultivation of the orchard is main ly for conserving the soli moisture if cultivation is begun early in the sea son and continued till midsummer growth of wood will be stimulated and tault developed less moisture in late summer and early fall Is desired so that wood will properly develop and harden to be able to stand the cold of the following winter arrange to cultivate the orchard early in the summer and have the soil in good fix for sowing to rye or other crops toward the last of the summer the cover crop will afford some good win ter pasture will keep hilly land from washing and may be plowed under the following season for green ina and the formation of humus cowpeas in orchard in the young bearing orchards sow cowpeas one bushel to the acre these are excellent fertilizing plants and furnish lots ot teed tor hogs and sheep and at the same time all fallen tault will bo taken up and many in sects avoided or if you want a good winter mulch let the vines remain on ahe ground when they can be plowed under and enrich the soil sow early if hinted for feed time for pruning most flowering shrubs bloom on wood of the previous seasons growth hence these shrubs should be after the flowering season prune currant and gooseberry bushes in the spring cutting out all dead canes and many of the old canes to induce of growth and larger fruit orchard pest vatch for the little slugs slimy fellows that are likely to be on pear or cherry leaves now ane dry destt it thrown in the trees will kill every slug it covers or almo almot t any of the regulation orchard saraya will exterminate this pest prune the deap tree prune the pear tree some la out with a new theory lie says never prune the pear tree non sense it is not pruned enough less wood better fruit ai A i |