The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915. THE SPARROW AND THE WHEAT

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 February 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915. THE SPARROW AND THE WHEAT

1 hat, li<!vin and Shannon lands can be used with profit for wheat growing is ;i postulate; but a few examples n proog of such capacity have been adduced in the last few years. None the less, there <tre a few adverse conditions to be met before any great number of farmers will be likely to make the venture. The chief of these is the the small-bird nuisance, for

which the Horowlienua County Council it> blameworthy in a marked degree. Certainly there is a yearly purchase made of the eggs of sparrows, blackbirds and thrushes, but the failure or the council to make proper provision fur the purchase of the heads of small birds causes a lack of application on the part of collectors. Further, this spasmodic effort put forth by the council each summer is not the main need ; a systematic poisoning in winter is the great desideratum. If this were done regularly with poisoned wheat of tested efficacy the widespread prevalence of small birds would be abated in a year or two's time, whereas it grows greater every year under present conditions. Every farmer who (grows even a few oats and vegetables can affirm the truth of this. One cause is the shelter and encouragement given to sparrows by the various fowl farms in this district, whereon these- "passersby are to be seen with a beak in every mash tin and an eye on the neighbouring oat patch. Each poultryman would scatter poison, yn his own interest, if it were provided by the administrative body, and we think that to do so would be a good step on ■he part of the County Council, irrespective of whether the fowl farms were situated in the towns or in the county's ridings. Provided this were done, and the poisoning carried on altera a t-vvefy and systematically with the purchase of birds' heads and eggs, the growing of wheat with profit for the farmer and benefit for the whole community would be placed a good deal nearer the practicablo stage than it is now.