Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1887 — AN INJURIOUS BIRD. [ARTICLE]

AN INJURIOUS BIRD.

Mow the English Sparrow Is Talked About in the Agricultural Report. Vick’* Mnguzine. Whatever doubt in regard to the wholly injurious habits of the English sparrow (Passer domestica) may have remained in the minds of farmers and gardeners it must now be dispel'ed when the mass of facts are fully known, which have been collected by the Department of Agriculture and printed in the report of 1886, recently published. The information on this subject in the possession of the Department was obtained in answer to circulars which it had contributed in all parts of the country. Thirty-two hundred replies have been received. . V : The ravages of the English sparrow affect almost every crop produced by the farmer, fruit-grower and truck gardener, and extended over the entire year. Indeed, it is safe to say that it now exerts a more marked effect upon the agricultural interests if this country than any other species of bird, and its unprecedented increase and spread,taken in connection with the extent of its ravages in certain districts, may be regarded with grave apprehension. In the early spring it prevents the growth of a vast quantity of fruit by eating the germs from fruitbuds of trees, bushes and vines, of which the peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple, apricot, currant and grape suffer most. Bqt it is not only the buds, but the fruit itself, which is eaten or mutilated so as to make it worthless. Detailed 1 accounts are given of its de stroying lettuce, peas, beets, radishes, cabbages, cauliflower, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, plums, peaches, pears and apples. It appears to b? particularly destructive to grapes. The report reccoinmends to the legis lative bodies of the various States and Territories “the immediate repeal of all existing laws which afford protection to" the English sparrow, the enactment of laws legalizing the killing of the English sparrow at all seasons of the year, and the destruction of its nests, eggs and young,” and other legislation providing for the destruction of the birds bv persons appointed for the purpose.

A New Game for Young Ladies. Washington Post. Bean-bag parties are all the rage .in Washington and society belles are becoming very expert at the new game. At one end of the parlor or hall is placed an inclined board with a square lime in it. Standing at the other end -and the farther away from the board the more fun there is in the game—the players pitch ten bean bags toward the hole. A regular score is kept, aud if the ten bags fall into the hole it counts 100, or, ten for each bag. Another bag, double the usual size, is also provided, aud if it also is thrown into the square opening it adds twenty, making 120 the highest possible score. Should any of the bags remain on the board they count five points apiece, but for every bag that is thrown upon or falls to the floor five points are subtracted. Trie big bag or Jumbo, counts double or ten in each case. Many young society ladies have become quite expert at pitching the little bags and show excellent skill in accurately gauging the oistance and the strength necessary to be exerted. In most cases the bag 3 are made of gaily colored ticking, Jumbo being individualized by material of a different pattern, but a Jew young ladies have taken pains to have handsomely embroidered receptacles for their beans. The board te generally of* plain wood, polished, about two feet wide and three feet long and nine or ten inches high at its greatest distance from the ground. The hole is about five inches square and the smaller bags a little larger. Jumbo contains a pint of beans and the other ba>s about half that q uantity In many houses where the game is played, handsome prizes are awarded to those making the highest scores. Xhe sport k lalLnl interest ho***, bag boards are now found in every household which expect 8 to be considered up to the times. . u iL. "J-IL. f, l 1 . . L—-l—L'j) l - i Mbs. Jeff Davis objects to accepting charity from the friends and admirers of her husband.