No. 4.] BIRDS AS PROTECTORS OF ORCHARDS. 361 



were found in the stomachs of the few birds which were 

 examined. 



It is hardly safe to draw conclusions from observations so 

 limited in their scope, but we may infer from what was 

 observed that the egg-eating birds are of the greatest value 

 to the farmer, as they feed almost entirely on injurious in- 

 sects and their eggs, and are present all winter when other 

 birds are absent. The summer birds which attack the larvae 

 are valuable also if they can be so protected and fostered as 

 to become sufficiently numerous to do the work required. 

 It is evident also that a diversity of plants, which encourages 

 diversified insect life and assures an abundance of fruits and 

 seeds, as an attraction to birds, will insure their presence. In 

 this connection I wish particularly to note the fact that the 

 mulberry-trees, which ripen their berries in June, proved 

 to be a protection to the cultivated cherries, as the fruit- 

 eating birds seemed to prefer them to the cherries, perhaps 

 because they ripen somewhat earlier. 



I believe it would be wise for the farmer to plant rows of 

 these trees near his orchard, and it is possible that the early 

 June berry or shad berry (Amelanchier canadensis) might 

 also be useful in this respect. It is a handsome shrub or 

 tree, flowering early in the season, and would be attractive 

 at a time when other trees and shrubs are not in blooin. 



At the present time, July 23, 1895, the trees in the 

 orchard appear to be in good condition. They have not 

 suffered from the slight pruning of their foliage which was 

 effected by the few caterpillars and canker-worms which 

 survived for a part of the season. The fruit is well set, and 

 it now remains to be seen whether the birds will have any 

 considerable effect in preventing the ravages of the codling 

 moth. No other orchard in the neighborhood will produce 

 any fruit this season, with one exception. The nearest 

 orchard, situated directly opposite on the estate across the 

 way, has not been ravaged by the canker-worms. This 

 exemption is due principally to the efforts of the owner, 

 who has 1 landed his trees with tarred paper and has used 

 tree ink faithfully and well upon the paper. He has also 

 taken pains to clear the nests of the tent caterpillar from 



