FOOD PLANTS TO ATTRACT BIRDS AND PROTECT FRUIT. 



EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH, WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS. 



Introduction. 



The Arnold Arboretum at Boston has become noted as a 

 resort for birds. Probably the number and variety found there 

 are not exceeded in any upland locality in New England. Any 

 observing person frequenting the Arboretum can see for him- 

 self that birds are attracted there by the diversity of plants, 

 which support a great variety of insects and produce quantities 

 of fruit and seeds, thus affording birds an unusual abundance 

 and variety of animal and vegetable food. 



It would be well for the farmer and the orchardist to make 

 their home grounds especially attractive to useful birds. And 

 all who live in the country or in the suburbs, and even some 

 who reside in cities, may, if they will, utilize plants to attract 

 birds. Landscape architects and gardeners who lay out the 

 grounds of large estates often plant quantities of shrubs and 

 trees without considering what are inviting to birds. While 

 there are many flowering plants that birds like, there are many 

 also that bear highly colored and ornamental fruit on which 

 birds feed. Nearly all of these plants can be utilized in beau- 

 tif>ang country estates. There should be fruit-bearing shrub- 

 bery and vines and dense hedges or tangles of ornamental 

 fruiting plants. The coniferous trees may be best used in 

 small patches or rows as windbreaks, for large groves of such 

 trees are likely to shelter hawks, crows, squirrels and other 

 enemies of birds. 



The up-to-date fruit grower should never plant an orchard or 

 attempt to cultivate small fruit without first providing rows of 

 early wild fruit to attract the birds from his cultivated varieties. 

 Otherwise, unless there is a quantity of wild fruit growing in 

 the neighborhood, birds are likely to reduce his profits. 



