10 TH Ene ALUCD UP B'OUN. 2 O- DAL eee 
Shrubs that Produce Food 
for Birds 
N planting shrubbery about the house for ornamental purposes one 
should consider the use as much as the beauty, and select those 
shrubs that will bear food for the birds, specially those of which the 
fruit remains on the bushes practically all winter, or until eaten by the 
birds. 
The Viburnums are generally the first choice of the birds. The Sheep- 
berry seems to be a general favorite, and the berries are good food as 
long as they last. , 
The High-bush Cranberry seems to come next, in the choice of the 
birds, and its bright red berries last all through the winter and make an 
attractive looking shrub when the others are bare. 
Elder berries both of the red and black varieties are always in demand, 
and all varieties of birds are fond of them. 
The Coral berry or Indian Currant iseaten bya few birds for I have no- 
ticed the Purple Finch and Red Poll eat them on a number of occasions. 
The Snowberry also is eaten by some birds. 
Honeysuckles should be added to the list although the berries are 
eaten while ripe and are generally all consumed before winter. Another 
point in its favor is that the Honeysuckle bush is most generally chosen 
for nesting sites by many birds in our locality. 
Sumacs are recommended by many people, but birds seem to avoid 
them until late in the spring, when they may be forced to take them. 
without choice. The Japanese Barberries have attractive little red seed 
pods but I have never seen birds use them as food. 
Among the trees the Mountain Ash would be my first choice, as the 
birds eat them from the time they are ripening until they are all con- 
sumed, or they dry and hang on the tree all winter. The wild cherries 
come next In attracting the birds and also dry on the tree. Mulberries 
are always eaten but the berries do not hang on the trees after the frost. 
Box Elder, Linden, and Cedars all produce good seeds for birds. 
Among vines the wild grapes are our first choice as they dry on the 
vine and remain all winter. Bittersweet and Woodbine are also very 
attractive. 
A good addition to the above list is a small patch of Sunflower or 
Hemp in the garden or along a path. These plants make good high light- 
ing perches, also act as a screen, and produce an abundance of bird food. 
The Golden Glow is a miniature sunflower and it also attracts birds. 
It is quite necessary to have shrubbery about your place if you wish 
birds to visit your yard, as the majority of small birds stay fairly close 
