Monthly Bulletin 3 



the next morning sees another blossom a little farther along the stalk, and 

 this blooming is constant for weeks. This is especially true if there are 

 goldfinches about, for the birds are eager for the ripening seeds that are 

 scattered along the flower spike beneath the renewed blossoms. They 

 swing and sing there and their rich gold contrasting with the soft blue of 

 the blossoms makes a fine garden decoration. Eating the immature seeds 

 causes the plant to put forth more effort for renewed bloom and thus the 

 goldfinches not only decorate but prolong the season of decoration. Nor 

 is the chicory ornamental only. Its young shoots add a special tang to a 

 salad and its roots, dried and ground, are a well-known substitute for coffee. 

 The flower stem is really rather scraggly and is not to be recommended as 

 a specimen plant for the front lawn, but it is at once ornamental and useful 

 when tucked away in nooks of the back garden. 



One of the most useful annuals that one can plant for the birds is 

 the Russian sunflower. Its enormous heads are full of big seeds of which 

 birds are very fond. Unlike the chicory its seeds ripen all together, and 

 while the plant in early bloom is a stately and picturesque thing, its later 

 appearance as the seeds begin to ripen is not so satisfactory. The great 

 heads bow with their weight of bird food and autumn ripening makes the 

 sunflower row rather unsightly. For this reason it should certainly occupy 

 the back yard. A more sightly plant, branching, with many small heads 

 and growing in good soil six or seven feet tall is the Helianthus cucumeri- 

 folius. This is a simflower, too, and it is reported on good authority that 

 the goldfinches are fonder of the seeds of this than of any other species. 

 Sunflowers are easily and quickly raised from seed by even the most inex- 

 perienced gardener. 



Hemp is another plant easily raised in the ordinary backyard garden. 

 It grows five or six feet tall in good soil, its fern-like foliage and graceful 

 shape making it rather ornamental. The flowers are greenish plumy tufts at 

 the branch tips. The seeds are numerous and much loved by the birds. 



An annual which is easily planted and whose seeds are attractive to 

 many species of birds is the Japanese millet. 



The New England Nurseries, of Bedford, Massachusetts, get out a 

 list of plants which are useful in planting for the birds. "Bird-Lore" has 

 published such a list, compiled in a very able manner by Frederic H. Ken- 

 nard. This list is particularly valuable, as Mr. Kennard is not only an or- 

 nithologist of high repute but also a specialist in landscape architecture. 

 The most readily available information on this subject is the excellent 

 pamphlet, "Circular No. 49" compiled by Mr. E. H. Forbush, State Orni- 

 thologist. It contains twenty pages of very informative matter and may be 

 obtained either at this ofiBce or of the State Board of Agriculture, Room 136 

 State House, Boston. 



