188 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



j\ram' people who have put up l)ir(l liouses, followiug the 

 directions contained in these leatlets, have been very success- 

 ful in attracting birds. Mr. Edward L. Parker writes that 

 while two men were balancing a bird house on a pole and 

 setting it up six tree swallows appeared, and one of them 

 went into the house before the pole had been set firmly into 

 the ground. Several of these birds nested in the bird houses 

 which he put up. His son, Mr. James G. Parker, sends me 

 a photograph of some flowerpots nailed to a board wliich was 

 fastened upon one of the trees. A hole was knocked in the 

 bottom of each flowerpot to allow the entrance of the birds, 

 and in the spring of 1911 all were occupied by tree swallows 

 or bluebirds. This is unusual, but it indicates a way in 

 which any one may attract birds with very little expense, 



!Mr. R. L. Shewell of Milton was anxious to secure a family 

 of bluebirds. He built a box according to my directions and 

 nailed it on to a post on his fence. A pair of bluebirds took 

 it and reared a brood. A reproduction of a photograph of 

 this box with the bluebird on it is introduced here to show 

 the situation and shape of the box. The entrance hole is IV2 

 inches in diameter. 



Mrs. E. O. Marshall, secretary of the Massachusetts State 

 Grange Committee on the Protection of Wild Birds, has sent 

 out to many people the following circular letter, which has 

 had much influence for good: — 



To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. 



We are glad to inform you what sjiort we are liavins; with birds, 

 as you might get more or less enjoyment in some such way. 



Some people have noticed that too many birds pass on, at migrat- 

 ing time, leaving strangely few to nest on their grounds. 



In driving through the country, especially after the leaves arc 

 off in autumn, you may notice many nosts in some localities where 

 the food supply does not seem to be better than where nests are 

 scarce. Just notice nests. Make a nest census on your grounds 

 every year. It is educational and also sport. 



Birds want mfe places to nest. Von Bcrlepsch says that hirds look 

 long and earnestly for safe nesting places. Tliey also must have 

 a near food supply. 



With us. the summer of 1910 was disappointing. The hole-nest- 

 ing birds did not seem to approve our nesting boxes, and the open- 

 nesting birds did not stay to build nests. 



