352 



SEEDING AND PLANTING 



appear can be economically practiced in large nurseries and is often 

 preferred to other methods. The scattering of poisoned bait along 

 the borders and over the seedbeds is practiced in some forest 

 nurseries in western United States. Although usually effective it 

 should not be practiced as it causes the destruction of large num- 

 bers of birds highly useful in destroying harmful insects. Insect- 

 eating birds should be protected and their presence in the nursery 

 encouraged by erecting suitable places in which to nest and rear their 

 young (Fig. 102). 



FIG. 102. Types of nesting boxes useful for placing in and about 

 the forest nursery. 



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If precautionary measures are taken to protect the seedbeds for 

 a few weeks immediately following germination, the greater the 

 number of birds in and about the nursery the safer it is from insect 

 depredation. Bird houses differ greatly in their construction. 

 Some birds are satisfied with almost any sort of lodging, while 

 others are more exacting. In general, wood is the best, building 

 material. A porch at the entrance is unnecessary. Dearborn l 

 gives the following as suitable dimensions of nesting boxes for 

 various species of birds. 



1 Dearborn, Ned: Bird houses and ho\v to build them. (U. S. Dept. of 

 Agr., Farmers' Bui. 609. 1914.) 



