8 



FARMERS BULLETIN 621. 



The food house is a permanent structure, with solid roof, and glass 

 on one or more sides to permit observations (fig. 10). The food 

 trays it contains are entirely sheltered from the weather. In one 

 style this result is obtained by mounting the house on a pivot and 



furnishing it with vanes (fig. 11) which 

 if large enough keep the open side always 

 from the wind. 



Game birds and sparrows may be pro- 

 vided with feeding places by erecting 

 low hutches or making wigwamlike 

 shocks of corn or grain sheaves under 

 which food may be scattered. The open- 

 ing should be to the south. 



Those who desire to have birds about 

 their homes should not feel that their 

 power to attract them is gone when win- 

 ter is over. Winter feeding easily passes 

 into summer feeding, and experience 

 proves that some birds gladly avail 

 themselves throughout the year of this 

 easy mode of getting a living. 



NATURAL FOOD. 



FIG. 7. Coconut larder. 



We have thus far considered ways of 



feeding birds tidbits we ourselves have gleaned. We may feed them 

 by another method, by cultivating their natural food plants and 

 allowing them to reap the harvest in their own way. 



Less has been done in this respect for the true seed-eating birds 

 than for those fond of pulpy fruits. The reason is obvious, however. 

 Our seed-eating birds 

 largely patronize weeds, 

 which we do not wish to 

 cultivate, while the fruit 

 eaters depend upon many 

 plants Avhich we hold in FlG - 8. Feeding stick. 



such esteem for their ornamental value that they are generally 

 cultivated. 



FEEDING SEED-EATING BIRDS. 



Something can be done, however to attract the seed eaters about 

 our homes. A number of commonly cultivated annual plants, be- 

 longing to the same groups as those upon which the birds feed ex- 

 tensively in nature, produce good crops of seeds. These plants, being 

 dependent upon cultivation, can be used without fear that they will 

 become pests. The following are suggested for the purpose : Prince's 



