1906.] BIRDS ABOUT OUR FARM HOMES. IQT 



trees, shrubs, and vines. It should be near a small swamp, a 

 meadow, or large stream, which should also be sheltered by 

 woods or hills upon its north side. It should have a great di- 

 versity of wild vegetation, including a variety of fruit-bearing- 

 trees, shrubs and vines. If the place be situated in a broad 

 river valley, it is likely to be visited by many migrating birds. 



Were I selecting a place with special reference to its fit- 

 ness to maintain bird life, I should prefer to have a large 

 portion of the land wooded. If there are too many trees, they 

 can be cut in much less time than it takes to grow them, and 

 those trees, shrubs and vines, especially attractive to desirable 

 birds, can be left. There should be an orchard with some trees 

 going to decay, thus furnishing homes for woodpeckers and 

 cavities for such birds as nest in them. There should also be 

 an old field, much pasture and mowing land, with cleared land 

 enough besides for garden and cornfield. As this is a brief 

 description of many New England farms, one need not go 

 far to find such a place. 



The cultivated cherries are well known to be among the 

 most attractive of bird foods, and those who have enough 

 cherries for themselves and the birds are fortunate. Those 

 not well provided with cherries may protect their fruit by 

 planting the Russian mulberry or shadberry, for these fruits 

 ripen as early as the earliest cherries and appear to be preferred 

 by the birds. The greatest difficulty encountered in culti- 

 vating the shadberry, is that the birds get all the fruit. Since 

 I first learned, by my own experience in Medford, that birds 

 prefer mulberries to cherries, I have found that many farm- 

 ers and fruit growers have had a similar experience. 



We may protect our fruit in this manner, but how shall 

 we get the best results from the presence of the birds? At 

 present birds are not often numerous enough to do more than 

 reduce somewhat the numbers of injurious insects. Birds have 

 abundant choice of insect food and are not compelled to make 

 a close search for their prey. Now if we can attract more 

 birds to our orchards than would ordinarily come there, and 

 keep them there, especially in winter, by supplying them with 

 a little inexpensive food to tide them over the storms, they 

 will search the trees so thoroughly that few insects will es- 

 cape. If we wish to secure the greatest good possible from 

 birds at points threatened with insect attack, we must maintain. 



