Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-01
Birds and Fruit,

Last year there WIS a great deal o. col
paint, especially am Dng frut-rdiSers for m "
ketlng, OF the depredatipns of the birds upon
their STRAWBERRIES and cherries. and the m tjor
part of the Indignation is expended upon The
robin, which no doubt stands ut the head of
the depredators. They will take the first and
pest OF the Strawberries, and all the drivns
away seems to be of bur little account. Tlay
are very bold and always hungry; but then
they are 50 beautiful, standing like a soldier
in the ranks awaiting the word of comm md
On an English bird cnerry-tree upon our prem
lSeS, as many as fifty are to be seen at one
Time; they never seem to get enough for m ore
than hve minutes. The young ones especially
are very fat and good eating: and as they
really cannot be regarded as inSectivOrou in
tnelr hablts, as they appear to ferret out prin-
clpaIiy the earth-Worm and may eat any her
they ought to be S lot and put in til pot. We
doubt II the numbers retucnina in the spring
would be much diminished.
Many cOntrlvanceS have been reSOrted to to
drive away birds from cherry trees Ole of
these is to place stuffed cat, or a G, nod coIn-
terfelt boy made up for the purpose, upon each
we know to the contrary. Another, and this
seems probable, is to place in the tree a small
coop with chicken in it. Another, which
several farmers and truckers tell US is a sure
protection, is to plant with the cherry trees a
couple of the common black mulberry, wnch
rlpenlng about the same time as the cherries
OFFER more tempting food to the birds, and tne
latter are rarely disturbed. Ano her and later
method, and said to be a sure protection, is to
run cotton Irvine from end to end of the lead
ing outside branches, including the top. II
THIS be so, then it would seem probable that
Irvine extended to say four stakes, five fee:
high, running two strands. one at top, the other
hall way down, would keep off the robin from
the straw berry beds: but on trial it proved
an entire failure.
We know how trying it is to those who raise
fruit with view to profit, or otherwise to s "a
these vOraciOuS depredatOrs forage on their
cherry-treeS and in strawberry beds, and we
know OF no present means that answers so
well TO drive them away, not only from the
fruit but from the premises. as the firing
among them of powder, but this will diminisi
their humber as visitantS of all varieties, and
may increase the number of insects. Just
now bird are generally Busy in search of food
from the trees grass, plants, bushes, &c: and
Just as the insects become more plentiful their
appetite for seeds diminish.
The birds upon our premises have become
very numerous, from the fact that firearms are
not used and The supply of early flo I'd is ex
haustlesS, as when it IS too soon for the insects
they are literally supplied with bed crumbs
and different kinds of seeds When in need of
food they all become tame and IeareSslv ap
prOach the feeding ground. What was never
seen upon our premises before in May, except
once, is the goldfinch, which is supposed Ell
tlrely to feed upon seeds, but must have be an
the daily rations melted out. We never saw
them he's before earlier than July, except
on that one occasion some eight or ten years
ago.
We hope all gardeners and farmers will be
merciful with the birds. We know they are
sometimes very mischievOus, but they are so
beautiful, so happy, SO tuneful. and hover
seems cruel to injure them.-[ Germ antoDn
TeLeQrQDh.