3o8 An American Fruit- Farm 



the rate; the greater the risk, the higher the rate. 

 Bird-protection means a high rate of interest and 

 no risk. Fruit-growers must risk their all for an 

 income. A little care and labor invested in bird- 

 protection always brings a handsome return for 

 the trouble. Strange to say, many farmers and 

 fruit-growers do not believe this. Because they 

 are unbelievers in this sort of investment, they 

 and the world at large are losers. There is an 

 ancient saying that none are so blind as they who 

 will not see. 



The first step is to let the birds alone. Give 

 them the freedom of the farm. Protect them by 

 keeping hands off, and see to it that other people 

 do likewise. If necessary one can appeal to the 

 law of the State, and if there be no State law, 

 appeal can be made to Federal law. 



The second step is to encourage birds. Make 

 the fruit-farm a bird-sanctuary. Avoid needless 

 alarms. Kill cats, but in aiming at the cat be sure 

 not to kill the bird. No pothunters; no birds 

 killed out of season; no insectivorous birds killed 

 at all. Build bird-houses. A tin can will make a 

 bird-house, or a little spare time with boards, a 

 box, hammer, saw, and nails will result in a bird- 

 house and ten per cent, on the labor expended. 

 Birds really pay ten and one half per cent.! 



A bird-house duly erected will possibly (not 

 certainly) tempt some birds to stay with you. 

 Perhaps your reputation among birds is bad "for 

 peace and good order"; you may possibly be on 



