542 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



cold, northeasterly storms that frequently occur durhig the 

 nesting period. 



In placing the nesting boxes in position, have them as nearly 

 vertical as possible. Should they incline at all, let them tip 

 slightly forward rather than backwards. 



Boxes designed for bluebirds and tree swallows, and placed 

 in the open where they are exposed to the full glare of the sun, 

 should be painted white, and also have a few quarter-inch 

 holes bored in the sides, about an inch below the top, for 

 ventilation. 



Wood is the only suitable material for the construction of 

 nesting boxes, and boards are obtainable anywhere throughout 

 this land of ours, so that by following the above instructions 

 the farmer, the schoolboy and the commuter may construct a 

 bird house that will be accepted by the birds, and at the same 

 time enjoy both the pleasure and the satisfaction of doing 

 the work himself. 



Placing the nesting boxes in position after completion does 

 not complete the responsibility of the landlord. The farmer 

 plants corn, but in order to reap a harvest he must remove the 

 weeds that spring up. The same applies to the bird houses. 

 Without watchfulness on our part they will be pre-empted by 

 English sparrows and squirrels, and an unceasing warfare must 

 be waged upon these pests. Number your bird houses and 

 keep a record of the number and kind of species that use 

 them during the season. Numbers may be placed at the foot 

 of the tree or pole upon which the box is placed, or on the 

 bottom of the box itself. 



The insect that birds seem to care the least about, unfor- 

 tunately, is the gypsy moth. Many observations and experi- 

 ments have been made with a purpose of determining to what 

 extent birds can be depended upon to aid in the control of this 

 insect. It is generally conceded, however, that the gypsy moth 

 is so hairy and, in fact, bristly during its larval stage, when the 

 birds would naturally seek it for food, that it really is objec- 

 tionable and distasteful to them. 



One of the insects that at the present time is very destruc- 

 tive, especially to our shade trees, is the leopard moth. This 

 insect develops into a large, fleshy, boring larva which lies in 

 the branches or trunks of the trees, and the woodpeckers are 



