THE USEFUL CHAFFINCH

Patea Mail, 16 May 1941, Page 4

THE USEFUL CHAFFINCH

'The short staccato song of Mr. Chaffinch in Spring and Summer must ho well known to New Zealanders in many districts, because the bird has spread widely through the Noxlth and South islands. It is a useful liuch, for its diet consists mainly of insects, grubs and soft weeds such as dandelion, thistle, duckweed and groundsel. Its beak is not strong enough to cope math wheat, oats and- other hard grain. EROSION It is mentioned in “Forest and Bird” that what is regarded as a valuable suggestion has been made to the Forest and Bird Protection Society relative to the Government's intention !to introduce a Bill dealing with erosion. Writing to the Society, Major J,. E. Kirk points out that in South Africa, where the ravages of erosion are being tackled by the Government, a colour iihu has been produced showing how rapidly much of the country is becoming a “dust .bowl” through .neglect, over ploughing, over grazing, erosion, drift sand, veldt fires and other evils while there are amazing scenes to show how quickly, relatively, such deterioration can bo checked and fertility restore by proper veldt management, the introduction of pastures, re.uToies.ation aml other measures. One farmer member of Parliament who witnessed the screening said that it was the (incst object lesson on the subject over produced in this country, and urged that means should be found tQ screen the films to farmers in every part of 'South Africa. “Erosion is one of New Zealand’s deadliest enemies,” writes Major Kirk, “but its potential dangers are so little heeded 'that such a Him dealing with conditions in the Dominion would bo of inestimable value in arousing the people to action at times other than those when floods, blocked highways and broken bridges bring the subject homo to them. ”