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BULLETIN OF 

 MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



By E. H. Forbush, Ornithologist to the Board. 



BIRDS AS PROTECTORS OF ORCHARDS. 



Having had, during the last twenty years, some opportunity for 

 observing the food habits of birds, I have become convinced that 

 they destroy enormous numbers of insects. This conviction gives 

 rise to the question, to what extent are birds useful to man in this 

 respect? 



The present paper is merely a partial record of the results of an 

 attempt to foster and protect birds in an old and neglected orchard 

 with a view to observing the effect of such a policy upon the trees. 

 The orchard is so situated as to be a favorite haunt for birds. It 

 forms part of an estate in Medford, Mass., lying near the southern 

 border of the stretch of wooded rocky hills known as the "Mid- 

 dlesex Fells," a large part of which is now under the control of the 

 Metropolitan Park Commission of Massachusetts, and is being ad- 

 ministered as a forest reservation. The nearest estates on the east 

 and west of the orchard are cultivated to some extent. There are 

 other orchards in the immediate vicinity, and many large and fine 

 shade trees. There are also on the estate in question many varie- 

 ties of trees and shrubs. There is a small piece of woodland, 

 covering perhaps an acre and a half, in which yellow pine predom- 

 inates, the other trees being principally ash, oak and maple, some 

 hickory and a few white pines. A lane running along the southern 

 border of the estate is bordered on both sides with elms and poplars. 

 A line of mulberry-trees along the lane south of the orchard affords 

 tempting food for such birds as are fond of fruit in its season. 

 There are also many wild cherries and berries of several varieties, 

 together with half a dozen trees of cultivated cherries. 



Among the trees, shrubs and vines found on the estate and which 

 furnish food for birds in the shape of berries or seeds at certain 

 seasons of the year are the Berberis vulgaris (common barberry), 

 Vitis labrusca (Northern fox grape), Ehus toxicodendron (poison 



