82 State Horticultural Society. 



all conditions for the presence of Nightingales were given and where 

 no interference from man was possible, none were present. Inquiry 

 brought the answer that no cat was allowed in the park, but that the 

 owner kept several dachshunds — German terriers — and allowed them to 

 roam in the park. No ground-builder could raise a brood, all disap- 

 peared. We see the causes for the decline of bird life aie manifold, but 

 the most important of all is the change of former conditions of the 

 heavily wooded regions into the present cultivated land, and with the 

 last remnants of virgin forest many species of birds must disappear. To 

 a certain degree some will adapt themselves to the new conditions, some 

 w'Al not. Adaptation with many is a slow process. It took ages to form 

 the present nesting habits, and to change them will be a matter of long 

 time with a great loss of hfe. 



A bird which is used to build in the shelter of the deep forest cannot, 

 even if it should try, possibly find the necessary conditions in a clear- 

 ing, thinned wood, or park-like grove. The consequence will be that- 

 most any attempt at reproduction will be frustrated, the species will 

 become scarcer and scarcer, and finally disappear entirely from the local- 

 ity. Many of our woodland birds nest in cavities in the forest: the tit- 

 mice and chickadees find old woodpeckers' holes or rotten stumps in 

 which they can carve their own holes. In our orchards they find no 

 such places, though they would find enough insects and their eggs and 

 larvae. If we would provide them with suitable nesting sites, they 

 could be induced to remain in our fruit and ornamental gardens and 

 would be a great help in the warfare against insect pests. 



Fortunately there is still some of the glorious primeval forest left 

 in our State, and the object of this paper is a plea for the preservation 

 of some of it. Once gone, the primeval forest can never be re-established 

 again, and its unique plant and animal life will be lost forever. But, 

 if individuals or societies who do not have to see that every dollar in- 

 vested brings returns in cold cash, but who, from patriotic, humane and 

 aesthetic reasons, like to do something for posterity, will take hold of 

 such pieces of forest, favorably situated, they would benefit mankind 

 as much as by founding libraries and donating universities. Such forests 

 should be spared from the axe entirely; also from the fire; no grazing 

 animal of any kind should be allowed in it; no cat or dog; no hunter 

 and no vandal ; strong fences should protect it and efficient guards should 

 police it; but the gates should be open to the public during daytime. 

 Driveways and footpaths should cross it, with benches at intervals, and 

 possibly a sheltering roof for visitors in case of rain. Such veritable 

 forest parks would be of immeasurable benefit to all nature lovers and 



