Newark post., 1911-04-05

aid i'll keeping the balance true Both
the farmer and the orchardist are
greatly indebted to birds for the de-
structlon o. insects and weed seed,
and nowhere is the nature and extent
OF this Indebtedness more fully appre
ciated than in the nUited States. In
every part of Our broad land are low
ers OF birds whose pleasure is in large
part measured by the number OF fea-
thered acquaintances each season
brings Both for practical and aes-
thetic reasons, therefore, there is
demand for information as TO the best
method Of increasing the bird popula-
ton i'll restricted areas particularly on
the arms and about homes. There is
a demand also for the provisioning of
large preserves Gr both land aud
water game birds and the protection
Of crops by cultivatng seed and fruit
bearing plants more useful to birds
than to man.
Various other factors may be made
to contribute to the success of efforts
to attract birds, such as a supply of
water for drinking and bathing, nest
ing boxes. protection from enemies,
and winter feeding.
A large variety o. shrubs and trees
are cultivated for ornament i'll the
United Sta.es, but in most cases it is
evident that they have been planted
with no thought for the needs OF birds
Our native plants as rule are more
attractive to birds than exotics
1t should be borne in mind also that
smoothly trimmed hedges and the stiff
trees OF formal garden are not near
ly SO attractive to birds as unframed
bushes and tangled thickets.
Shrubs of sterile varieties or those
closely pruned after blooming are not
sought by birds, while those allowed to
ripen fruit are often crowded with
feathered visitors. Moreover, plants
clustered with fruit OF varying color
are more beautiful and interesting
than those which exhaust their energy
in one burst of bloom and are OF mon
otonous appearance thereafter.
The bcst shrubs and trees ior at
tracing birds are those most resorted
to fer food, and the extensive records
OF bird food make their selection an
easy task.
The berries OF elders are eaten by
the largest numbers of sDecies OF birds.
Raspberrics and backberries are
known to be eaten by sixty species,
mulberrcS by 4S, dogwood fruits by
lorty-sevcn, those OF the suinachs by
H. the various wild cherries by 80, the
blue berries by 81. Following these in
order are wild grapes, pokeberries,
Virginia Crccper berries, bayberries,
Juniper berries, holy berries, etc.
To attract the birds it is most I'M
pOrtant to have sure supply OF bird
food for late winter and early spring
The quantity of natural food is then
smallest. and frequently the few le-
naming sources are rendered inacces-
sibe by snow and sleet. 1t is advis-
able, therefore. for bird lovers to
make liberal use o. plants which re-
tain their fruit through the winter
They will be well repaid, for a depend
able food supply is never more po-
tent bait than at This bleak season
Among the plants most patronized by
birds. those which hold their fruit long
est are juniper bayberry, blackberry
barberry, magnolia, mountain ash
rose, pepper tree. sumach. holy, wild
grapes, etc.
The practice of planting wild or III
ferior fruits for the purpose of tollng
birds away from valuable cultivated
varieties is very old, but il has never
been tried as widely and systematically
as seems desirable. The chief essen
tial to the success OF this plan is that
the dccoy riecS shall be early bearing
species, ,or almost all OF the damage
to fruit by birds is inflicted on the ear
hest varieties, evidently because OF
the scarcity of early wild fruit Prob
ably cherries, raspberres, and straw
berries suffer more in the aggregate
than all of the later fruits. Forth
nately We have a fruit which fills this
need, one which ripens with the ear
lest cherries and is favorite with all
frugwarous birds, nancy the mulberry
both native and cultivated.
Nothing surpasses mulberries for
alluring birds away from the early or
chard fruits. Early bearing varieties
should be planted in numbers and some
should be selected lor the length OF
the fruiting season.
Where it is desired to attract birds
and afford them a. sanctuary at al
seasons. large variety of plants must
be used. For this purpose thickets OF
shrubs and oIher low growths are bet
ter than trees, since tangles of bushes
and vines afford a more secure retreat
from bird enemies and are the favorite
cover of many species.
Where birds occur in large numbers
their enemies are sure to congregate.
Hence grounds especially designed to
attract birds should also be furnished
with devices to insure security from
cats and other predatory animals
Fences made proof against climbing
invaders by overhanging wire netting
are essential and invented funnel
shaped metal guards or loose spiras
OF barbed wire should be placed
around the trunks OF nest trees to pro-
tect the occupants Bird houses OF
various types add to the possibilities
OF bird gardens, and a never failing
supply OF water is an essential. The
basin should be shallow, so as to serve
both for barhng and drinking, and
should lie placed in an open lawn or
elevated SO that birds resorting to it
h., ~ ,ac