INTRODUCTION 
California with its great extent from north to south embraces a large 
variety of conditions affecting the growth of plants. Due to considerable 
and often abrupt changes in elevation tne areas of similar ecological con- 
ditions cannot be separated by simple lines as they can in more nearly 
level country. Hence in order to make any group listing of plants prac- 
ticable, it is necessary to ignore some of the details of plant distribu- 
tion and to deal principally with the wider-ranging species. Preference 
has been given also to those of lower altitudes as being denizens of the 
areas holding most of the human population of the State. Considerable 
indefiniteness in indication of natural range will be more than made up 
for by the adaptability showm by most plants under cultivation to condi- 
tions different from those of their natural range. 
Table 1 shows groups of fleshy fruits most attractive to birds 
throughout the United States and lists desirable kinds of birds most fond 
of the fruit. No barberries, currants, or buckthorns are listed, because 
they harbor rusts destructive to plants of economic importance. Junipers 
are in almost the same cntegory, as they serve as alternate hosts for 
apple rust, but there is no reason why they cannot be used in districts 
where apples are not comnercially grom, as they are among the most valu- 
able plants for wildlife. Omitted also are plants poisonous to man on con- 
tact, as poison ivy and poison sumac, as well as various kinds dangerously 
poisonous to domestic animals, as yews, wild cherries, and nightshades, in 
spite of the fact that wild cherries are greatly relished by birds. Brows- 
ing animals are know to have been killed by feeding on the leaves of wild 
cherries but do not seem to be so seriously affected by those of plums. 
Certain plants included among fleshy fruit bearers in previous publica- 
tions have been transferred to the list of seed producers, hence do not 
appear in the present series of leaflets. These include magnolia (Magnolia), 
bittersweet (Celastrus), and burningbush (Euonymus). 
It should be noted that the fruit—bearing seasons recorded, being 
collected from varied sources, tend to be maxima. As a rule they are not 
likely to be realized or even approached in a single locality unless 
numerous specimens of a given species are present and so distributed in 
sun and shade as to fnvor both early and late fruiting. 
The word "extralimital" as here used in certain table headings 
covers plants from other States or regions of the United States as well 
as wholly introduced, exotic, or foreign plants. 
eapscas 
