352 BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. [Pub. Doc. 



tree tops. Wishing to see the result of their presence, we re- 

 frained from killing them. All summer the woods resounded 

 with their cries ; gradually the small birds disappeared from 

 the neighborhood, until only a pair of chipping sparrows, 

 two pairs of song sparrows and two pairs of chickadees re- 

 mained. Finally, in early Angust, even the chickadees dis- 

 appeared. The grove, which had formerly been a great robin 

 roost in July and August, now became deserted and was 

 given up to the hawks, who occupied it until the last of 

 August, when they all departed, having decimated the bird 

 population of their immediate hunting ground. After their' 

 disappearance in late August a few robins came back to the 

 grove. The nests of these hawks are sometimes littered with 

 the legs and feathers of small birds. They seem to prefer 

 these little songsters to all other food. The effect produced 

 by them served to emphasize the comjiarative harmlessness 

 and the usefulness of the screech owl. It was a convincing 

 object lesson. 



The Means of protecting Fkuit from the Attacks of 



Birds. 

 It has been stated in several juiblications that the Rus- 

 sian mulberry is of great service in attracting birds and pro- 

 tecting valuable fruit. This tree has proved a perfect success 

 in Massachusetts, and probably it can be grown in all parts 

 of the State. Mr. Outram Bangs has succeeded in raising 

 it in Wareham, Mass., on the shore of Buzzard's Bay. He 

 planted a considerable number, but succeeded in getting only 

 two to grow and do well ; the others winter-killed and died. 

 He writes, on Nov. 15, 1908, that two trees are now in fine 

 condition and one has been in bearing for years. Birds come 

 to it in hundreds for the fruit. The fruit begins to ripen 

 near the end of June or early in July, and continues all 

 summer. The first tree came to bearing in about three years, 

 and he now has another which is doing well. It has been 

 set about three years, and he expects it to fruit next year. 

 Any one intending to set out a few cherry trees should set 

 at least one Russian mulberry also, to attract the birds away 

 from the cherries and other garden fruit. An ideal com- 



