110 THE FLORIST AND 



of American Cypripedia, two Spiranthes, Malaxis liliifolia, which we find 

 no difficulty in keeping ; the latter the writer found in bloom last summer, 

 carried it nearly two days in his botany box, took it home and planted it and 

 it is now coming into bloom in a greenhouse. There are many herbaceous 

 perennials which would ornament our grounds, some of the best of which are 

 mentioned above ; and all can be easily obtained. 



On the Means of Multiplying the Smaller Birds Around our Dwel- 

 lings. By Wilson Flagg. 



The presence of birds as companions of a country residence is considered 

 by all a desirable circumstance, second only to woods, flowers, green fields, 

 and the general advantages of prospect. Without birds the landscape, if not 

 wanting in beauty, would lack something which is necessary to the happi- 

 ness of all men who are elevated above a state of gross sensualism. It is in- 

 deed highly probable that nature owes more to the lively motions, songs and 

 chattering of birds, for the influence of her charms, than to any other single 

 accompaniment of terrestrial scenery. They are so intimately associated with 

 all that is delightful in field and forest, with our early walks in the morning, 

 our rest at noonday, and our meditations at sunset, with the trees that spread 

 their branches over our heads, and the vines and delicate mosses at our feet, 

 that it is difficult to think of the one apart from the others. Through the 

 voices of birds nature may be said to speak to us, and without them she 

 would be but a dumb companion, whose beauty could hardly be felt. 



It is customary, when speaking of the advantages of birds, to treat of them 

 as they have relation to the agricultural interest. Admitting the value of 

 almost every species as destroyers of insects, I am disposed to consider their 

 importance in this respect as only secondary to that which regards their 

 pleasant companionship with man. Hence it is a matter of no small conse- 

 quence to use the best means that have been discovered, to preserve the 

 birds from destruction, and to multiply them about our dwellings. Very lit- 

 tle attention has been paid to this subject. A few laws have been made for 

 their preservation ; but these have seldom been enforced. Occasionally a 

 paragraph in the newspapers has pleaded for their protection ; but as yet no 

 full and elaborate essay, devoted to this object, has made its appearance. 

 I believe the farmer would promote his own thrift by extending a watchfnl 

 care over the lives of every species of birds ; but the smaller tribes are con- 

 sidered the most usefnl. And it would seem as if nature had given them 

 their beauty of plumage, and endowed them with song, on purpose to ren- 



