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BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Fig. 25. — Martin house. 



tive to insect pests. Martins formerly were abundant locally 

 in Massachusetts, but after the introduction of the English 



sparrow the number of 

 martins and the localities 

 frequented by them dimin- 

 ished rapidly until 1904, 

 when cold June storms 

 nearly exterminated the 

 species in Massachusetts. 

 Since then their num- 

 bers have increased very 

 slowly, as few people now 

 put up martin houses, and 

 English sparrows or other 

 birds keep the martins 

 from settling in some of 

 those that have been 

 erected. Martins, unlike most native hole-nesting birds, prefer 

 tofnest in large colonies. Hence martin houses usually are 

 made with many compartments. The Indians 

 hung many hollowed gourds for the martins on 

 the poles of their wigwams or on some dead tree 

 near by. Some of the southern people still use 

 gourds to attract martins. Often several gourds 

 are hung from a crosspiece on a tall pole (Fig. 

 26), and these collections of gourds are popular 

 with the martins. Only the larger gourds should 

 be used for them. If a round entrance hole is 

 made it should be about 2| inches in diameter, 

 as the martin likes to have the entrance large 

 enough to admit the light as he enters. 



Poles for martins should be at least 10 or 12 feet 

 high. Such poles are sufficient if placed in quiet 

 places, not too near trees or dwellings, or where 

 noisy, quick-moving children or dogs are at play; 

 but if there is much noise and disturbance, a 

 pole 20 feet or more in height may be necessary, fiq. 26. — Gourds 

 No pole is likely to be too high for martins. ''>^^^'^'''- 

 They seem to prefer a height of 20 or 30 feet. These birds fre- 

 quently have nested in quiet places among trees and quite 



