6.

Concord, Mass.
1915.
April, May
&
June.
(No 6)

Spraying operations

  We began spraying on May 15 [May 15, 1915] when our apple and other orchard trees
were dealt with thorough [thoroughly]. Various large Oaks about the Farm were
heavily sprayed on the 16th [May 16, 1915], shrubbery along wood roads there on the 20th [May 20, 1915],
the Berry Pasture & portions of Birch Field on the 21st [May 21, 1915], more woodland
edges on the 27th [May 27, 1915], part of the woods at Ball's Hill on the 28th [May 28, 1915] & 29th [May 29, 1915],
some of the elms near our house and the row of large oaks bordering
Cedar Park on the 31st [May 31, 1915]. On June 2 [June 2, 1915], 3 [June 3, 1915], 4 [June 4, 1915] & 5 [June 5, 1915] the spraying at Ball's Hill
was continued and completed (by Duren) all but a small area along its
northern base being well poisoned. On June 24 [June 24, 1915] we dealt with the
remaining large elms at the Farm and with the borders of the road
leading from Pine Park to Bensen's river landing. The oak knoll there
and most of Ball's Hill were as badly infested as I have ever
seen similar woodland anywhere & all the trees would surely have
been stripped had they been left untreated.

Effect of
spraying on
bird life.

  As far as I was able to ascertain our spraying operations this
year had little if any effect on the birds. Certainly none of those 
daily watched at the Farm suffered obviously because of it. All,
indeed, continued to occupy their ancestral haunts after it was
finished - even the single pair of Orioles although the elm by
the wood shed in which they had suspended their nest was
thoroughly poisoned. I noticed, however, that they, with other birds
breeding close about the house, sought food for themselves and
young elsewhere after the trees had been sprayed there. The Orioles
regularly took long, straight-away flights to obtain it. The Robins,
Vireos, Chippies & Yellow Warblers were less given to doing so.

  The following list includes all the species that I was able
to record during this season. Unless otherwise stated the accompanying
notes relate to birds seen or heard by me personally, in or near our
fields, orchards and woodland at the Farm.