Helpful and Harmful Iowa Birds

Forty million dollars is the estimated loss annually to the United States on account of weeds, according to Prof. Beal, member of the Department of Agriculture. That a generous share of this loss belongs to Iowa we must all admit, for Iowa is a great agricultural state. Since such is the case it would not seem at all strange if Iowa people should take steps to make this loss as small as possible

The Crow

The crow is the most harmful bird. He feeds on carrion and also carries hog cholera by feeding on the dead hogs. He commences feeding at the ear arid there takes his fill, then flies from one farm to another and so carries the disease. Loss from hog cholera three years ago was ninety-nine thousand and nine hundred and ninety hogs; two years ago it amounted to one hundred forty-seven thousand six hundred and seventy. The crow will carry the foot and mouth disease in the same way and also destroys the newborn sheep in the pasture by picking out their eyes

How a Tree Grows

Professor Ebermeier of Munich, Germany says: When the leaves take carbonic acid from the air they break it up and force its carbon into new chemical compounds which are then stored away as new material in the tree. The forest is the most highly organized portion of the vegetable kingdom. No man can really know the forest without feeling the gentle influence of one of the kindest and strongest parts of nature. It is the most helpful friend of man