SERVICE OF BIRDS IN THE ORCHARD. 151 



were so completely disposed of by the birds that the trees 

 bore luxuriant foliage during the entire summer, and produced 

 a good crop of fruit. This occurred in a season when both 

 the tent caterpillar and the cankerworm were remarkably 

 prevalent. The only other orchard in the neighborhood 

 that produced any fruit whatever was that of the nearest 

 neighbor. (See p. 169.) This had been partly protected by 

 tarred bands and partly by the birds from my place. Else- 

 where in the town most of the apple trees were defoliated, 

 and very few produced any fruit that year. While the result 

 secured in such an exceptional year seemed remarkable, the 

 experience of succeeding years has demonstrated that it was 

 not so. Year after year we have kept the trees free from 

 serious insect injury, without spraying or otherwise protect- 

 ing the foliage, merely by a little effort and expenditure to 

 attract the birds and furnish them safe homes. While the 

 protection of the tree itself is essential (i.e., its trunk, limbs, 

 twigs, and bark), the protection of its foliage, which shades 

 the fruit and so allows it to mature, is also imperative. 



It must be admitted, however, that he who wishes a large 

 crop of the finest fruit must himself prevent the inroads of 

 those insects which attack the fruit directly. There are two 

 insects of this class which the birds have thus far failed to 

 control completely ; and, while birds might possibly check 

 such insects under the most favorable circumstances, I believe 

 that ordinarily they cannot be relied upon to do so. The in- 

 sects referred to are the codling moth ( Carpocapsa pomonella) 

 and the apple-fruit maggot or "railroad worm" (Rhagohtis 

 pomonella) . These insects are for a greater part of their 

 lives protected from the attacks of birds by being hidden 

 either in ground, rough bark, or fruit. Only a few birds are 

 known to dig out the larvae of the codling moth from their 

 hiding places; probably fewer still find the railroad worm. 

 Weevils or curculios are eaten by many birds ; still, suffi- 

 cient numbers usually escape to spoil much, fruit ; and the 

 pernicious introduced San Jose scale seems to be overlooked 

 thus far by birds. 



It cannot be expected of the birds that they will become 

 efficient allies of man in protecting his artificially propagated 



