INTRODUCTION 



The Northern Plains States are traversed by the dividing line 

 "between the more humid eastern and the less humid western portions of 

 the United States. This line variably placed a little east or a little 

 west of the 100th meridian divides the Dakotas and Nebraska about in 

 halves "but runs considerably nearer to the western than to the eastern 

 boundary of Kansas. Disparity in conditions for plant growth has sug- 

 gested as desirable the indication in the lists of fruits of species 

 better suited to the western and eastern districts, respectively. Con- 

 ditions for trees and shrubs are so trying in the Northern Plains States 

 that planters should largely be gaided ''oy the results obtained from 

 plantations of the Agricultural Experiment Stations. These institutions 

 in Region 3 have given special attention to the planting and care of 

 trees and shrubs. See list of literature on page 12. 



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 category, 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 commercially grown, as they are among the 

 most valuable plants for wildlife. Omitted also are plants poisonous to 

 man on contact, 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. Browsing animals are known 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 publications have been transferred to the list of seed pro- 

 ducers, 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 f rui t-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 favor 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. 



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