REPORT OF MR. FRANCIS H. APPLETON.
543
Those gentlemen, who took part in the discussion on this subject, were constituted a committee to present a proposal the following day, and, after long discussion, they united on the following:—
“ The International Congress of Proprietors of Land and Forest, resolves: that the Imperial and Royal Austrian Government shall be requested to provide for the protection of birds useful to the farmer, by means of international treaties with all the European States, in accordance with the following provisions: 1. The capture and
destruction of birds living upon insects are unconditionally forbidden. 2. It is desirable that a special catalogue of birds to be protected should be prepared by an international commission of experts. 2. The capture of those birds living principally on grain is allowed, except in the closed time, lasting from the first of March to the fifteenth of September. 4. The capture of birds with snares and traps, of whatever sort, as also by the use of bird-lime, is entirely forbidden. 5. The removal of the eggs and young, or the destruction of the nests of all birds, except those of harmful varieties, is forbidden; the preparation of a catalogue of these harmful birds shall also be conducted bj* the commission mentioned above. 6. The sale of live or dead insect-eating birds is forbidden at all times, as also the sale of all varieties of birds during the close time; this prohibition includes also, the sale of the nests of the birds mentioned. 7. Exceptions to the above mentioned provisions can be permitted at all times for purely scientific purposes.”
These proposals were accepted by a large majority.
Upon the discussion of the subject of the second day, "In what way is it best for nationalities to unite in methods of collecting agricultural and forestry statistics, and what particular branches of statistics should be collected in common, for the purpose of comparison,” the ministerial counsellor, Ur. J. R. Lorenz, made an exhaustive and concise address, which was received with general favor. Among other things, he strongly advised, in general, "in all cases, the use of the metrical system of weights and measures.”
In Europe, the basis of successful farming is,a careful system of keeping farm statistics and accounts, and it would be impossible for our agriculturists to over-value such systems.
On this subject, Dr. Meitzen, private governmental coun-