thirteen] securing OUR ALLIES 



of meddling. The high-bush cranberry delights 

 the pine grosbeaks and cedar birds in winter. It 

 is delightful to see this winter robin — the superb 

 red-necked grosbeak — a whole flock at a time, 

 like fire on the snow. They sing like Jenny Lind, 

 and they talk like the Autocrat of the Breakfast 

 Table. Mr. Forbush, of Massachusetts, says, 

 "Note that the mulberry trees, which ripen their 

 berries in June, are a protection to the cultivated 

 cherries, because they ripen somewhat earlier." 

 Prof. Beal, of Michigan Agricultural College, 

 names as protective of strawberries and cherries 

 the Russian mulberry and the shadberry; and to 

 protect raspberries and blackberries he would add 

 the elderberry and the choke cherry. In September 

 and October, birds that would meddle with the 

 peaches and grapes can be fed on the wild black 

 cherry and the Virginia creeper. As winter food 

 for the birds, besides the viburnums, which I have 

 named, we can supply bittersweet, pokeberry, bay- 

 berry, hackberry, dogwoods, and mountain-ash 

 berries. For these will come together warblers, 

 vireos, and cuckoos. 



I have an idea that we can not only draw a great 

 many more birds in summer to nest about us, but 



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