ORNAMENTAL AND OTHER PLANTS USED 



TO ATTRACT BIRDS AND PROTECT 



CULTIVATED FRUIT. 



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 locaHty in New England. Any 

 observing person frequenting the Arboretum can see for himself 

 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 vegetal food. Notwithstanding the 

 advantages that birds find at the Arboretum, it would be pos- 

 sible for any one owning a large estate to attract to it many 

 more than are found there. This could be accomplished in 

 part by selecting certain plants, and planting them in such a 

 way as to provide both food and protection. 



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 A\'ithout considering the needs of birds. While there are 

 ornamental flowering plants that birds frequent, there are 

 many also that bear highly colored and decorative fruit on 

 which birds feed. Nearly all such plants may be utilized in 

 beautifying country estates. There should be fruit-bearing 

 shrubbery and vines and dense hedges or tangles of ornamental 

 fruiting plants. Coniferous trees may be planted to best ad- 

 vantage 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. 



