The English Sparrow (Passer Domesticus) in North America Volume 1-2; Especially in Its Relations to Agriculture (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ... I have seen a row of choice grapes of various kinds entirely ruined by the Sparrow, and find that they are committing depredations on all the vines in this neighborhood. (September 4, 1885.) South Woodstock (country). Mrs. G. S. F. Stoddard: I have not observed it to feed upon grapes or other fruit. (January, 1886.) Stratford. Robt. W. Cnrtiss: I have seen it eat sweet corn when in the milk. It tears open the husk when in that condition, and, besides what it eats, it lets the weather and dampness in upon the ear, which is apt to mold, though to no very great extent. (February 6 and October 11, 1886). District Of Columbia.--Washington. William Saunders, superintendent of gardens and grounds, U. S. Department of Agriculture: Small fruits do not seem to be damaged much here in the city. As the boys prevent any of our grapes from ripening, I do not know how the Sparrows would affect that fruit. (April 13, 1887.) Washington. Michael Dnrkin, gardener at the Navy Yard: It is very destructive to fruit. This season it took all the cherries from the trees on the grounds, so that not a single one remained. Early grapes, against the wall of the grounds, were attacked as soon as they began to ripen, and we obtained none fit for use. It also attacked the tops of peas as they came through the ground, as well as the tops of sprouting carrots and beets. (August 22, 1887. Present about fifteen years.) Washington. Hawkins Taylor: The cat-bird and other birds eat my cherries and other fruits, greatly to my disgust, but I am sure the Sparrows have never touched a cherry, grape, or berry, and there are swarms of them about all the time, and no other birds; and if the Sparrows do not eat my grapes and fruits, why do they eat other people's grapes and fruits? (May 18, 1887.) Geok...