THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



565 



Our Native Birds' Protectorate 



Under the Direction of the Committees on Bird Preservation and Propagation. 



National Association of Gardeners, L. H. Jensen, St. Louis, Mo., Chairman. 



American Association of Park Superintendents, Hermann Merkel, New York, Chairman. 



BIRD PROTECTION FOR EDUCATION AND 



PLEASURE. 



By L. p. Jensen,* Missouri. 



John Evelyn, in hi.s introduction to his "Kalcndariuni 

 Hortensc or the Gard'ners Ahnanac," published in 

 London, 1664, says : 



"There is not amongst Men a more laborious life 

 than is that of a good Gard'ners ; but a labour full of 

 tranquillity, and satisfaction ; Natural and Instructive, 

 and such as (if any) contributes to Piety and Con- 

 templation, Experience, Health and Longaevity. In 

 sum, a condition it is, furnish'd with the most innocent, 

 laudable and purest of earthly felicities." 



1 believe this applies in equal measure to the gar- 

 dener of today, partictdarly to the one who takes full 

 advantage of the various studies required to make 

 him efficient in his profession. The daily contact with 

 nature prevents monoton)-, and the many new prob- 

 lems in the various lines of study, which constantly 

 appear, to be solved must make our profession a 

 labor of pleasure. An efficient gardener must keep 

 his mind and eye always open to the constantly chang- 

 ing conditions and surroundings. 



He must not only know the plants which he grows, 

 cultivates or utilizes in his designs, but he must also 

 know their requirements as to soil, moisture, light, 

 heat and cold, the diseases which affect them, the in- 

 sects which prey upon them, and those which are bene- 

 ficial. He must know the form and height of plants 

 at their maturity, whether their growth is rapid or 

 slow, their flowering and fruiting period, and the 

 color, texture and form of their foliage, etc. 



He should combine the knowledge of a botanist, an 

 engineer, a chemist, an entomologist and an orni- 

 thologist before he may be considered an efficient 

 all-around gardener. 



In the pursuit of these studies he is brought out in 

 the open, healthful air and sunshine, his factdties of 

 observation are becoming more and more keen as he 

 progresses, and the pleasure of new discoveries mul- 

 tiplies and adds to his eagerness for more knowledge. 



I believe that if all gardeners could be made to 

 realize and see the many pleastires that might be 

 derived through the pursuance of these studies, es- 

 sential to our profession, the standard of oin- jm-q- 

 ficiency might be raised materially. 



To convince you of how much real fun and pleasure 

 there is to be derived out of just one small part of 

 the gardener's study and work, I will lake just a few 

 moments of your time to again call your attention 

 to the subject of bird study and protection. 



While the work of protection and propagation of 

 our native birds is a work of national importance, and 

 a work which is given considerable attention by the 

 national government, many state and national or- 

 ganizations, Audubon societies and numerous indi- 

 viduals throughout the country for its economic im- 

 portance, it is at the same time a work which each 

 individual gardener shoidd engage in for the pleasure 

 and enjoyment which he might derive therefrom. 



I know of very few jiersons who do not admire the 

 beautiful plumage of the cardinal, bluebird or oriole. 



or who do not enjoy the wonderful melody of the 

 bobolink, meadow-lark or mocking-bird. Have you 

 ever tried to induce the birds to make their home and 

 rear their broods in your garden or near 3'our home? 

 Do you realize the fun and the pleasure that you and 

 your family and friends might derive from getting 

 better acquainted with our feathered friends? If not, 

 then just try, and you will be richly rewarded. 



Now is the time of the year when time might be 

 found for the making of boxes and houses needed to 

 induce many of these valuable and interesting friends 

 to come and stay with you next summer. 



Send for a copy of Farmers' Bulletin No. 609, "Bird 

 Houses and How to Build Them," published and dis- 

 tributed by the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, Washington, D. C, and get busy making 

 homes and shelters for the blue-bird, robin, chickadee, 

 tufted titmouse, nuthatch, wrens, dipper, swallows, 

 martins, song .sparrow, house finch, phoebe, flycatcher, 

 flicker, woodpeckers, etc. If you have children, get 

 them interested, let them make and hang their own 

 boxes according to instructions given in this bulletin. 

 Make and put up food shelves at once for the winter 

 birds, supply these shelves with seeds, grain and suet, 

 and be sure to have an abundant supply of fresh water 

 in shallow basins for the birds to bathe and drink. 

 See to it that these receptacles are placed so that 

 cats will have no opportunity to kill the birds, or 

 better, kill the cat if he disturbs the birds. In early 

 spring, place bits of twine, wool and feathers where 

 the birds may find and tise them for building their 

 nests. 



Having thus prepared yourself for their arrival, 

 and in the meantime derived a lot of jileasure in the 

 good work of preparation, you are ready to receive 

 your guests. The birds will quickly perceive the ad- 

 vantage of accepting A'our hospitalit}-, as the neces- 

 sities for their propagation are at hand. You will 

 watch with interest their bns}^ work of making their 

 nests, and when the eggs are hatched and the feeding 

 of their youngsters becomes an arduous performance 

 for the birds you will soon observe, and with a great 

 deal of pleasure I am sure, what a wonderful amount 

 of noxious insects are devoured by a nestful of yoimg 

 birds in a given time. And while you are having no 

 end of fun and gaining valuable first hand information 

 on the life history of birds, the birds are protecting 

 your plants from destruction by insects. 



As your interest in the birds increases you will begin 

 to relate your experiences and your fun to your neigh- 

 bors and friends, and your children will induce other 

 children to take up the work, and the boy who for- 

 merly got the Ijirds with a gun will take pleasure in 

 protecting them from thrir enemies. 



While preparing for the coming of the birds next 

 spring yoti should write to the secretary of the Na- 

 tional Association of Audubon .Societies, 1974 Broad- 

 way, New York City, who will be glad to advise you 

 as to what literature to procure for helping you in 

 your study. 



After studying the life of the birds near your home 

 and having through this experiment become an ardent 

 champion for their protection, you will begin to give 



