62 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
-f- 
BERRIES AND FRUIT THAT WILL ATTRACT BIRDS. 
A lecturer, on the subject of birds, recently made the 
statement ‘'that if all the birds in the world were 
destroyed, in twenty years there would 
not he a human being left” or words to 
that effect. Whether this he - true or not, 
there is no doubt that birds play a very important 
part in the economy of nature and we upset the natural 
order of things at our own peril. Perhaps the same 
statement may he made in relation to the insects, even 
some of those which we consider pests, are perhaps very 
important to the welfare of the human part of creation. 
The man who would completely destroy any form of life 
from off the earth, is largely made up of egotism and 
ignorance. But without going into the economic value 
of birds or raising the question as to whether they pay 
for the fruit they appropriate, we cannot and do not wish 
to do without them; in fact there are few people who do 
not like to see them around, in great variety; may be not 
great flocks of robins at cherry time and such like, but we 
like to see them. The nurseryman is often asked by his 
customers what to plant to encourage the birds. 
Scientific fruit growers are now systematically plant¬ 
ing Mulberry trees Morns tatarica, June Berries, Amelan- 
chier and Choke Cherries Cerasus Virginica, as counter 
attractions to their strawberry beds and other crops of 
fruit which the birds are liable to raid and exact more 
toll than they are justly entitled to. 
There are many other kinds of plants which supply the 
birds with food, and a free planting of them will do much 
to keep birds on the premises. The migrating birds will 
not he held out of their customary summer or winter re¬ 
sorts but an abundant supply of food will encourage them 
to stay longer. 
The figures in parenthesis denote approximate height 
at maturity. 
Cerasus Padus European Bird Cherry. (30 to 40) feet. 
The black berries hang in attractive racemes and are 
much liked by the birds. The flowers are ornamental. 
Cerasus Pennsylvania. (20 to 25 feet). The small 
bright red fruit ripens in June. 
Cerasus serotina. Wild Black Cherry. (30 to 35 feet). 
The black fruit ripens in autumn. 
Cornus floruia. White Flowering Dogwood. (20 to 25 
feet). Beautiful red berries, borne in clusters, ripens in 
October. 
Cornus paniculata. (8 to 10 feet). This upright grow¬ 
ing shrub ripens its white fruit in July. 
Cornus alternifolia. Blue Dogwood. (8 to 10 feet). Blue- 
black berries ripen in early August. 
Cornus sericea. Silk-leaved Dogwood. (6 to 8 feet). The 
fruit ripens in August- changing from white to blue 
black. 
Aralia spinosa. Hercules Club (10 to 15 feet). 
Aralia Japonica. 
A ralia Mandschurica. 
The small black berries of Aralia are borne in large 
clusters at the terminus of thick, thorny stems. Mands¬ 
churica ripens in August, followed by Spinosa and Japon¬ 
ica. 
Betula Birch. 40 to 50 feet. The first of the birches to 
ripen, is the Red or Water Birch in June, followed by the 
English White, Poplar Birch, Sweet and Yellow. The 
wild canaries delight in pecking at the catkins. 
Lindera Benzoin, Spice Bush. (6 to 8 feet). The red 
berries ripen in September. The plant likes a moist sit¬ 
uation. 
Chionanthus Virginica. White Fringe (10 to 12 feet). 
As these blue black berries ripen in September, the robins 
will take them as fast as they change color. As they 
ripen successively they give food for about two weeks. 
Nyssa multi flora. Sour Gum (40 to 50 feet). The blue 
black berries ripen in the middle of September. 
Morns. Mulberry. (20 to 30 feet). 
Morus alba, White Fruited. 
Morns rubra. Red Fruited. 
Morus tatarica, and Downings Everbearing. Black 
fruited. The blackberries ripen in July. 
Photinia villosa (10 to 12 feet). Small red berries rip¬ 
ening in September will be taken by the birds almost as 
fast as they color. 
Sassafras officinale (30 to 40 feet). These black berries 
are very much liked and ripen about the middle of 
August. 
Amelanchier. June Berry. (8 to 10 feet). The fruit of 
these plants is much desired. Birds start feeding on 
them as soon as they begin to color, before they are fully 
ripe. 
Juniperus Virginiana. Red Cedar. These berries 
make good food for birds through the winter. 
Ampelopsis Virginica. Virginia Creeper. 
Ampelopsis Veitchi. Boston or Japanese Ivy. Both 
these vines have black fruit ripening in October. 
The following is a list of berries not much sought after 
by birds but they will be eaten when other food is scarce. 
Celtis Occidentals. Nettle Tree. (40 to 50 feet). Brown. 
Ripens in November. 
Berberis. Of different sorts. Red fruit. Ripens in Oc¬ 
tober. 
Pyrus arbutifolia. Red fruit. Ripens in October. 
Pyrus melahocarpa. Black fruit. Ripens in October. 
Sambucus. Elderberry. Ripens in June and July. 
Beech and small acorns are often eaten by birds. 
Once again the bluebirds sing, 
And we know that it is spring. 
How we love to hear their song, 
For to Hope, does it belong. 
Hopping all about the lawn, 
Which so long has looked forlorn. 
Later on the grass will grow, 
And the flowers will make a show. 
Then the lark, too, and the thrush 
Both in meadow and in bush, 
Will compel each one to love, 
All the songs they raise above. 
And the sparrows on the ground, 
Will be chirping all around, 
Oh the mischief they can do! 
Will be told as nothing new. 
