The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-18

AA>AA 49, :
very early. The bright blue Mn
age shows plainly as they fly r u
post to post about the meadow fsn#.z
or alight on the low bushes near 3>.
| am so fortunate as 70 live near .9
old apple orchard in which many
the trees are dead. Every Snri.-
these trees are filled with ~bluttlr!s.
They come early and in the sur,
mornings the air Is alive with ta.-
joyous warbling and later they n.Sf
the smallest openings Of the old IL.
We nave so few birds Of this
zling shade OF blue hat one tat.st
mistake him, and his rufous 1re4St
d~istinSuishes this bird from all Others
Of the same hue.
This bird builds a nest OF grasses.
and it is we'll to encourage their re-t-
ing about the home yards by putting
I'D small houses for them. In ms
city. at the home Of the celebrated -
ture writer. William j. Long. LID.
there is a bird house built especially
for martins. but which became tha
shelter for a flock Of bluebirds durfu4,
a severe storm last spring.
The bluebirds enjoyed their shelter
so We'll that they decided 10 remain
for the summer. and they Matched and
raised their young in the martin
house.
A book has been recently published
OS IiiDcIl IL Id1tON, eDUtieO Meth
DDS OF Attracting Birds" under the
auspices Of the National Association
Of Audubon Societies. Mr.. Trafton
gives full descriptions for building
nests neatly and attractively, and the
simple houses for bluebirds and
wrens and all other birds which fire.
quent such nesting places. He speaks
Of one style which can be made by
any boy who has the least bit Of IN
genuity.
1t is that kind of house that most
lntlmates the natural nesting site Of
the birds. Often the hollow limb Of a
tree may be sawee to the reslred
length. a roof and floor be supplied.
and a hole of proper size for the bird
which one wishes to courage. bored
in the side.
The more weatherbeaten every part
is. the more it will attract the ten
ants. He also says that the earlier
the boxes are put out the better, be-
cause all the birds like to become ac-
quainted with their homes to be. and
they should not be put too close to-
gether.
1t is not often that two pair of birds
Will nest in the same tree, although
last year l saw in the orchard on ono
slde OF an apple tree, a wren family
calling to mother for food, while on
the other side of the same tree was a
ooO VI EISIlSH SpdTTOWS.
For attracting the phoebe, Mr.. Cor
don suggests that shelves or open
boxes many be nailed to plates or raft
ers in barns. cellars or low sheds For
the barn swallow, cleats may be
nailed horizontally to the ~rafters Of
the barn. A hole should be left in
the barn. so that the birds NAV come
and go at will The robin-redhreast
comes to us early and even If tho
weather is cold he tries to sing. The
phOebeS call each other from the
eVerSTeens. The songsparrow's Maids
maids, hand on our teakettle-ettle-
ettle!' Is heard, and the blackhirds
circle overhead like clouds Of dark
ness.
This month the red-winged hlac-
bird calls to US from the swampland.
and the flickre's short, sharp cry Is
heard. Quick. quick. quick as he
hes from tree-trunk to tree-trunk,
looking for the awakened bug. or the
lavae left by the winter birds.
The meadow lark is singing his
sweet. clear song. and is over in the
meadow back of the barn. looking in
the grass Tor a place to build a new
home for early housekeeping. We
may be sure that spring is come. for
his song is Spring is here, spring is
here"
h peppers sing in the woods Of
central and southern New England,
and the pussy-willows burst forth in
All their sllvery beauty. This month
the school children hunt the woods
and hillsides for the first sign Of tho
olue violet, which only shows a tiny
oud beneath its green leaves. but in
), gardens, ~randmothers count the huda
on their golden "daffy-down dillies"
coWslps and hyocinths. The flowers,
the trees, the animals, all rub their
sleepy eyes. and % for the work
they must do in the months to come.
All the boSA who love nature cannot
fail to find the greatest nleaeure in
searching out and recognizing the
; awakening signs of life about them.
I Inc trouble with the man Of few