WHAT BIRDS DO FOR US 15 



long avenues of trees he erected poles from twenty to 

 thirty feet high, and from them swung gourds for the 

 purple martins to nest in, because he has found this bird 

 his chief ally in keeping down the curculio beetle, the most 

 destructive foe, perhaps, the fruit-grower has to fight. 

 Through its attack alone the value of a single peach 

 orchard has been reduced from ten thousand dollars to 

 nothing in three weeks! The damage this Kttle beetle 

 does to American fruit-growers annually amoimts to 

 many miUions of dollars. Just when the martins return 

 from the tropics, it is emerging from its winter hiberna- 

 tion. And when the nuptial flight of the curculio and 

 the shot-hole borer and the root-borer moth occurs, it 

 ought to be obvious to every fruit-grower that he cannot 

 have too many insectivorous birds about. Bluebirds, 

 which readily accept invitations to nest in boxes placed 

 on poles and trees, destroy immense numbers of insects 

 taken from the trees, ground, and air. In the Georgia 

 orchard referred to, titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches 

 are attracted by raw peanuts placed in the trees and scat- 

 tered over the ground. Once these favorite nuts were dis- 

 covered, this family of birds likewise joined the firm which, 

 with the addition of the owner of the estate, now consists 

 of purple martins, barn swallows, chimney-swifts, blue- 

 birds, and wrens. Of course they have numerous assist- 

 ants that come and go, but these are the recognized part- 

 ners, both full-fledged and juniors, with homes on the 

 place. And all draw enormous dividends from it in that 

 unique and happy manner which greatly increases the cash 

 revenues of the business. Perhaps the junior partners, 

 the fledglings, with appetites bigger than their bodies 

 (for many eat more than their weight of food every 



