138 TRUCK FARMING 



such a number of broods that they are busy during the greater 

 part of the year carrying and feeding them insects; especially 

 is this so here in the South where Winter interferes but little 

 with their brooding season. 



I think, judging by their number, that every wren in the 

 United States winters in South Florida. I have seen these little 

 fellows by the hundreds throughout our pine woods and fields 

 fn the Winter season. 



Robins also make this their home, besides many other north- 

 ern birds, during the Winter, and as this is the season of the 

 year that we grow our vegetables, they are a very useful and 

 necessary adjunct to our success. We should, therefore, do all 

 we can to encourage them to stay near our vegetable gardens. 

 Shrubs and trees, such as are apt to attract birds, should be 

 planted, or if already at hand, should not be destroyed. Elders 

 often feed large numbers of birds and the small wild fig grown 

 upon what is locally known as the wild rubber tree, is greatly 

 sought after by all kinds of birds. Dog-wood and wild grapes 

 also have a tendency to draw them from outlying districts. Prob- 

 ably nothing surpasses the mulberry for alluring birds for this 

 purpose. There are a number of early bearing varieties of mul- 

 berries that can be planted and many of our tropical fruits, such 

 as the mango and Surinam cherry, are much sought after by 

 these little friends. Woe be to the man who is so avaricious as to 

 shoot a bird which pilfers a few of his fruits ! Every time 

 he kills one to save a few cents worth of fruit he is virtually 

 destroying dollars. I was once tempted to shoot a lark that was 

 caught pecking holes in half grown tomatoes ; upon examining his 

 stomach I found the heads of thirty-six cut worms therein. I have 

 never shot a lark since that day nor permitted one to be killed 

 on my place by any one else. 



