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 (7.¢., 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” (hagoletis 
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 larve 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 José 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 
