LANDLORD TO THE BIRDS 23 



feeding-table, and many early spring arrivals which 

 look for other food. Then, too, at all seasons it 

 must be remembered that wild fruit is greatly appre- 

 ciated, and serves as a great attraction. Therefore 

 certain shrubs and trees should be planted which 

 have attractive fruit, and some which will hold this 

 fruit above the snow during the winter. 



Of all such shrubs and trees, undoubtedly the 

 most useful is the mulberry. If planted near 

 cherries, it is said, the robins will even leave the 

 cherries alone. The June berry is also recom- 

 mended to protect strawberry beds, but I have 

 found that, as far as strawberries are concerned, 

 black threads stretched taut over the rows will 

 effectively keep the robins away. Among the orna- 

 mental vines, shrubs, and trees the most useful are, 

 perhaps, the common Virginia creeper, the bar- 

 berry (which the pine-grosbeaks especially like), the 

 cedar, and the mountain ash. All of these are dis- 

 tinct adornments to house or garden, be it noted, 

 and provide nesting-places as well as food for the 

 birds. I have found the red osier dogwood (Cornus 

 stolonifera) an unfailing attraction to domestically 

 inclined cat-birds, and its berries are invariably all 

 eaten. Holly, bayberry, black alder, bittersweet, 

 elderberry, and burning-bush are other varieties 

 which may be planted. If you have soil without 

 lime, you might try a blueberry-bush. Of course, a 

 honeysuckle-vine is the best of all lures to the hum- 

 ming-birds, and few birds can resist a sunflower 

 patch after the flowers have gone to seed. I re- 

 member we once cut a mass of sunflowers and laid 

 them out on a back veranda to dry, but before we 



