84 The Ottawa Naturalist. [Oct. 



The above list contains most of the plants that' are specially 

 suitable for the purpose, but while endeavoring to procure 

 as many of them as possible, the planter will of course use largely 

 the shrubs that happen to be most available, employing also 

 such wild perennials as golden rod, aster, etc. 



Old stumps will prove an attractive addition to the reserve 

 and will be an attraction to the chickadees in the nesting season. 

 If these birds can be induced to locate there, they may be easily 

 held for the whole year by a little feeding in winter, and no bird 

 is more useful in the orchard than this species. 



For the first few years there will be no place in this plot 

 where robins can rest. This lack will seldom be very notice- 

 able, as most farms have already some old trees in which they 

 may nest, but, if there is absolutely no opportunity for them the 

 need may be easily supplied, by a piece of 2 x 4 scantling driven 

 into the ground, with two cross pieces near the top, forming a 

 suitable nest foundation, the whole to be covered with a collection 

 of dead vines, etc., leaving space for the birds to enter. If some 

 wild cucumber is planted at the base of this, it will cover the 

 post after a few weeks of growth. 



A few nesting boxes stuck up on posts or on large trees 

 would serve to attract bluebirds, tree swallows and house wrens, 

 but care must be taken to keep down the English sparrows by 

 means of trap and gun, or else these native species that nest in 

 cavities will be unduly harassed and prevented from breeding. 



It is well worth, while to put up on a pole a house for the 

 Purple Martin. If these birds can be induced to come, they 

 will form a verj' important addition to the ranks of insect 

 destroyers. 



On May 24, 1Q13, I saw a little home-made Martin house 

 on a pole in a farm yard about 2 5 miles north-west of London, 

 and it had three or four pairs of Martins domesticated in it. 

 What one farmer has accomplished, another may do. 



Red squirrels should be persistentl)' destroyed. These 

 animals are second only to the domestic cat as bird exterminators, 

 and will devour every available brood of nestlings unless they 

 are prevented. 



A path winding through the jungle wotdd be no detriment 

 and may often be a convenience. It should go near the trees, 

 and as these will prevent any thick growth coming l)eneath them, 

 wild flowers can be added to the collection when they are partly 



grown. 



