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enemies. Closely clipped lawns and open fields with well-kept 

 trees and flower beds seem to be about all that are included in 

 the usual plan, and if shrubbery and vines are present, birds 

 nesting in them are left undefended against the visitations of 

 dogs, cats and other carnivorous or rapacious creatures. 



In planting shrubs and vines to attract birds there are other 

 purposes to be served than that of merely providing food. 

 Thickets and hedges should be planted not only to feed birds, 

 but also (1) to provide protection from their enemies, (2) 

 shelter from storms, and (3) safe, convenient nesting places. 

 All these purposes may be served by planting luxuriant shrubs 

 and vines with thorny stems and dense foliage, together with 

 dense coniferous trees. Plants of the genus Cratcegus and those 

 of other thorny genera should be grown in profusion, for in 

 trimming such plants thorny branches may be provided by 

 means of which- the nesting place of birds may be protected 

 from climbing enemies. Baron von Berlepsch of Thuringia, an 

 authority on bird protection, plants in his estate at Seebach 

 thickets and "shelter woods," which are surrounded by hedges 

 of thorny plants. Hundreds of birds breed in his home park 

 of only thirteen acres. He has selected by experiment for his 

 shelter woods shrubs that will grow well in the shade, and 

 both trees and shrubs that will stand close pruning. Such 

 pruning tends to increase the number of branches and shoots, 

 make the hedge denser, and provide safe nesting places. The 

 plants used include the white thorn, Cratcegus oxyacantha and 

 Cratcegus monogyna; hornbeam, Carpinu^ hetulus; beech, Fagus 

 sylvatica; dog rose, Rosa canina; wild gooseberry, Ribes gros- 

 sularia; the American wild gooseberries and wild currants; 

 several species of Lonicera; and for conifers, the red cedar, 

 Juniperus virginiana and the Norway spruce, Picea abies. 



The plantation may be of any size desired. The whole 

 interior is planted with thorns three years old, from two and 

 one-half to three feet apart each way, according to the fer- 

 tility of the soil. Every twelfth plant, however, is a beech 

 or hornbeam. Here and there a mountain ash or an oak are 

 planted, and these are allowed to grow into tall trees. The 

 whole plantation is surrounded by a hedge of dog roses. It 

 is best to have at least three rows with plants two feet apart 



