November, 1920 
Obe Slower (Brower 
187 
OUR BIRDS 
Birds that Destroy Noxious Insects. 
By Mrs. O. A. Runyon. 
[Written expressly for The Flower Grower.] 
Most birds are to some extent insect 
eaters, but many species live almost 
entirely on insects. There is no doubt 
but what the combined attack of many 
birds keeps this earth from becoming 
a barren habitation. 
The Bureau of Entomology estimates 
the loss of the apple and pear crop 
from the codling moth alone to be 
over $12,000,000 annually. Try to esti- 
mate the amount of time and money 
lost trying to control this pest, and it 
will run into a very large figure. 
I have many times seen woodpeckers 
drill through the bark of an apple tree 
and pull out pupa and larvae of the 
codling moth. The woodpecker should 
take first place as a destroyer of moths, 
larvae and pupa of all the borers, as 
they stay hidden and only the sharp 
ear of the woodpecker can discover 
their hiding place. He seems to know 
before he begins that he will find 
something good to eat. I suppose he 
knows by tapping if there is an in- 
sect beneath. I have seen the downy 
woodpecker extract a codling moth 
from an apple on the tree ; he was 
without fear as I had fed him suet on 
the same tree all winter before. 
A red headed woodpecker has been 
clearing away the bark and dead wood 
from the side of an old apple tree that 
appeared sound and from the worm 
dust and cocoon webs, he has devoured 
enough borers to destroy a whole 
orchard. 
The red-shafted flicker will begin at 
the ground and search a tree, with his 
sharp eye, limb by limb till very few 
insects or eggs escape him. 
There has come under my observa- 
tion many species of birds catching 
moths and other insects on the wing, 
but I believe the swallow family and 
especially the king-bird not only 
catches insects on the wing, but 
searches the ground and bark of trees. 
The oriole, sparrow, vireo, warbler, 
thrush, kinglets, robin, bluebirds, car- 
dinal, cat bird, mocking bird, meadow- 
lark and cuckoo all feed their young 
on insects. One can easily see the 
value of bird-nests in the garden and 
orchard. The yellow-bill cuckoo will 
consume more hairy caterpillars than 
any other bird I know of. 
I have observed this year, thirty- 
nine species, belonging to eleven dif- 
ferent families, that are insect eaters. 
Birds are recognized as effective nat- 
ural enemies of insects, but exag- 
gerated claims should not be made, 
but it can be truthfully claimed that 
their influence will reduce the number 
of insect pests. The amount of good 
done varies in different places, but we 
will all agree that birds should be pro- 
tected and encouraged in recognition 
of their faithful services. Birds should 
be protected not only for their faithful 
services but for the interest and inspi- 
ration which they bring. 
The Frencli Love for Flowers. 
“Aren’t the French odd ?” queried an ob- 
server the other day. “In spite of all their 
suffering and while they are yet in the midst 
of their agony, they still hold their wonderful 
Rose show each year at La Bagatelle, and the 
French women, even the poorest, cherish 
their little window boxes and flower borders 
more than ever.” 
Odd ? Was it then just a foolish and expen- 
sive habit — those window boxes in the cot- 
tages? Was the Rose show only a vanity 
show? Was John Fiske odd when he wrote “1 
often think, when working over my plants, of 
what Linnaeus once said of the unfolding of a 
blossom, ' I saw God in His Glory passing near 
me, and bowed my head in worship’ was 
Wordsworth odd when in the midst of the 
beauty of nature’s gaiden he “felt a presence 
that disturbed him with a joy of elevated 
thoughts, a tense sublime of something far 
more deeply interfused”? 
Well, perhaps, but we would rather believe 
that they are odd who cannot understand 
how God whispers to some of us from the 
hearts of Violets and Roses; who have not 
walked with Him in a garden ; who do not 
know the sense of comradeship with Him that 
comes as we work with spade and hoe with 
the eternal forces of life in earth and air and 
sunlight. There is a spiritual solace in gar- 
dening and thank Heaven the French have it 
so abundantly. 
We Americans are learning year by year 
more of the genuine value of that solace, but 
its riches have only been touched. — E. Fred 
Eastman in Garden Magazine. 
One of our subscribers suggests that 
wood ashes may be used to advantage 
in preventing rust on Hollyhocks, but 
does not state how it is supplied. 
Think probably that if the soil is pretty 
well treated with wood ashes that it 
will have a strengthening effect on the 
plant, but hardly see how wood ashes 
can be applied to the foliage with any 
success. 
STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MAN- 
AGEMENT, Etc.. OF THE FLOWER GROWER, 
published in accordance with the Act of Congress of 
August 24, 1912; Publisher, Madison Cooper, Calcium. 
N.Y.; Editor and Managing Editor, Madison Cooper, 
Calcium, N.Y.; Owner, Madison Cooper, Calcium, 
N. Y. 
Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security 
holders holding 1 per cent, or more of total amount 
of bonds, mortgages, or other securities : None. 
(Signed) Madison Cooper. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of 
October, 1920. 
(Signed) Margarette M. Hendricks, Notary Public, 
[Seal] Jefferson County, N.Y. 
Commission Expires March 31, 1921. 

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. 
Five lines (about 40 words) $1.50 per insertion. Ad- 
ditional lines 20c. each. 
inn KUNDERD VARIETIES of Gladioh-Selling 
* W has begun early. Some stocks ample, others 
very limited. Address, as long as they last, 
R. C. H. Lenski. 2273 E. Mound St., Columbus. O. 
CURPLUS GLADIOLI— One half inch and up— 
America. Baron Hulot, Schwaben, Chicago White 
and some others at $2 per 100. Good mixed stock at 
$15 per 1000. All bulblets at $1 per 1000. 
V. G. Hostetter. Bowling Green, O. 
pOR SALE— Surplus Glad, bulbs. First size at $20 
*■ per thousand— America, Velvet King. At $30; 
Panama. At $5 per hundred Golden King, Pink Per- 
fection, Jean, Niagara, Schwaben. At $1 per doz. 
Mrs. Watt, Rouge Torch, Peace. At $1.50 per dozen. 
Liebesfeuer, Mary Fennel, Europa. Crimson Glow, 
50c. each ; Red Emperor, 25c. Bulblets at 75c. per 
thousand America, Velvet King, Mrs. King and 
Halley. At $1 Golden King, Panama, Pink Perfection, 
Peace, Schwaben. Jean, Niagara. Mrs. Watt. 
Edgar M. Wilson, 380 May St., Worcester, Mass. 
jWTUST reduce my number of varieties and will sell 
my entire stock of the following: Amethyst, 
Mahogany, Parliament, Peace, Pearl, Pink Beauty, 
Schwaben, Summer Beauty, and a few others. Send 
for retail list. 
E. M. Sanford, Madison, New Jersey. 
CTANDARD GLADIOLI Special November Offer— 
Priced per 100, fifty at same rate, delivery included: 
Crackerjack, Liberty, Meadowvale, Minnesota, $2 50; 
Czar Peter, Glory of Holland, Ida Van, $3 ; George 
Paul, Niagara, Panama, Peace, $4.50 ; Rouge Torch, 
$5. Thomas M. Proctor, South St., Wrentham, Mass. 
NTEW HOLLAND VARIETIES-Conspicuous, light 
’ blue, yellow blotch, quite a novelty. Illinois, apple 
blossom pink, 20c. each. Have planting sizes and 
bulblets. Write for prices. One each. Red Emperor, 
Anna Eberius, Lilywhite, Mrs. Dr. Norton, IV 2 in. at 
$1.75, postpaid. Retail value $2.50, a real bargain ; 
500 Diener’s seedlings and hybrids, $8 per 100 ; 2000 
Chicago White, all sizes, will close out at a bargain. 
Write for lists of other varieties. 
F. M. Palmiter & Son, Janesville, Wis. 
'T'HE harvest is going with a rush. The season has 
* been a wonder. Extra fine stock, big sales, many 
varieties nearly sold out. As our stock will be limited 
it will not pay us to issue a wholesale list this season. 
We will be pleased to quote prices on varieties on 
hand both in Gladioli and Dahlias. State quantity 
and sizes wanted. 
East Hartford Gladiolus Co., No. 65 Olmsted St., 
East Hartford, Ct., E. M. Smith, Pres and Mgr. 
/"'LADIOLI— I make the following offer for fall de- 
'- J liveries : 
Size 
General 
Mixture 
Primulinus 
Hybrids 
Per 
1000 
V /2 in. up 
10,000 
15,000 
$15 
1(4 in. to IV 2 in. 
10,000 
15,000 
12 
1 in. to IV 4 in. 
30,000 
50,000 
9 
% in. to 1 in. 
40,000 
80.0U0 
7 
’/2 in. to % in. 
40,000 
100,000 
5 
% in. to y 2 in. 
60,000 
120,000 
2 
Bulblets 
10 bu. 
15 bu. 
qt. 1 
Special discount 
for the 
entire lot. Also 
many 
named varieties in all sizes. Let me know what you 
want. Gladiolus Bill, Clyde, Ohio. 
“CAY IT WITH FLOWERS” — but buy your bulbs 
^ now before choice kinds are sold out. We try 
to accommodate all, will sell one bulb or 1000. 
C. I. Hunt, Nunda, New York. 
Grower of the choicest Gladiolus bulbs. Wholesale 
or retail. 
PAST HARTFORD GLADIOLUS CO.- We will 
■*-' book orders for fall delivery, 1920 or spring 1921, by 
the dozen or the thousand. E. M. Smith, Pres, and 
Mgr., No. 65 Olmsted St., East Hartford, Conn. 
pOR SALE — Surplus Gladiolus bulbs from the fine 
varieties which won the Kunderd gold medal and 
various other prizes at the last American show. 
Mis. M. B. Hawks, Elmwood Terrace, 
Bennington, Vt. 
GLADIOLI 
MISCELLANEOUS 
T HAVE small quantities of the following varieties to 
close out at bargain rates which will please you. 
Let me know which ones you are interested in and I 
will advise quantity on hand and price I will take for 
them: Aeolian, Alhambra, Atherton, Blue Isle, Blue 
Jay, Blue Orchid, Cardinal King. Cherry King, 
Corunna. Daisy Rand, Jean Dieulafoy, Empress of 
India, Estella, Fair Columbia, Golden King, Mary 
Fennell, Kunderdi Glory, Orange Glory, Rose Glory, 
Panama, Papilio Rose. Early Pendleton, Pink Lily, 
Princeps, Rita. Rosebud, Silver Star, Splendorra, 
Wamba, Albia, Argo, Canopus, Capella. Dexter, 
Gold Drop, Myra, Primulinus, Regulus, Rigel, Sal- 
mon Beauty, Sedan, Silvis, Sirius, Spica, Tupelo, 
Arcadia, Areola, Delphi, Dunlops, Storm King, 
Quartinianus. 
Also have large quantities of the following. Ask 
for price list of all sizes: Afterglow, Albion, America, 
Angola, Black Hawk, Crackerjack, Faust. Halley, 
Herada, Hulot, Intensity, Mrs. King. Linton, Loveli- 
ness. Peace, Peachblow, Pendleton, Roanoke, Schwa- 
ben, Sweet Orra, Alice Tiplady, War, GretchenZang. 
Gladiolus Bill, Clyde, Ohio. 
PRINTING— We can print and deliver your Station- 
ery cheaper than you buy anywhere, send for 
samples. Miller Print Shop, P. O. Box 2854, Lhila., Pa 
T ABELS— Patent, paper, trees, shrub or rose label. 
•*-' Colors; white, green, blue and salmon. Plain or 
printed. A cure for those afflicted with label troubles. 
Samples. Ohio Nursery Co., Elyria, Ohio. 
pOR SALE OR EXCHANGE -Surplus roots of many 
1 fine named Irises, as Isolene, Edouard Michel, 
Mesopotamica, Unguicularis, Japonica, etc.; also 
various garden perennials. 
Wanted— Any of the newer Irises and unusual per- 
ennials not in my garden. 
S. S. Berry, 745 West Highland Avenue, 
Redlands, California. 
POUND VOLUMES of The Modern Gladiolus 
Grower and The Flower Grower are for sal*. See 
display advertisement in this issue. 
