Evening star., 1946-11-04
This and That
Bu Charles +. Trdce1DeH.

Interest in nature can be shown IN
various ways around the home.
One of the best Of these is the IN
corporation of the figure OF bird or
squirrel in the house number. sSs
We were at home recently wnere
squirrel had been used, all 10 black with
the numbers, and the whole made very
effective decorative contribution. -.
Particular friends OF dogs and cats
are able to use their friends as outlines.
An old standard use TOR the hgure OF
either dog or cat is the foot scraper at
the front door. These are not as popular
now as once upon time, but there Is
no real reason why they should not be.
There are fashions in such things, and
no doubt in time there will be revival
of foot scrapers. Door mats sometimes
are not enough.
Many years ago an iron figure OF
cat-black, Of course-was fashionable
adornment of the ridge pole Of house,
Just as the rooster was used for the
weather vane.
Going farther back in American his
tory, the iron dog and deer stood AT
many front door.
One may feel today that these were
rather symbols Of afhuence than lnolca-
ton of any particular love Of nature.
Today, with the increase in bird feed
ing by suburban residents, we ought TO
see more birds used as popular doorway
motifs.
The wooden feeding station Is cer-
tainly to be regarded in this way, but
more often than not it is In the rear OF
the home.
But both bird baths and bird houses
may be used at any point In the home
grounds.
Bird baths sunk in the ground will be
both natural in appearance and orna-
mental to the seeing eye. It must be
realized that all such adornments of
the home grounds appeal particularly
to like minds. They will be mostly over
looked by those who have no interest
at present in such things. One may feel,
however, that such objects have a sort
of missionary effect over time that Is.
they exert an influence Of which some
one may not be aware. II you were to
ask them If they saw the squirrel on the
door number of a certain home, they
would say NO." but the chances are
that they did see the affair, at least out
of the corner of an eye, and in time
might think they had an original idea
when they set up such a door sign for
themselves.
Both bird houses and small bird baths
may be installed nicely at this time OF
year, especially after the leaves have
been raked up, and some OF the shrubs
pruned, so that one can see just what
one has in the garden, or in the smaller
pieces of ground in front and especially
at the sides of the house.
Then it may be realized that sunken
bird bath will 60 nicely at the base of
wonder tree, or near the turn in the
walk.
If such bath is tended with any
reasonable regularity, and was installed
in the sunshine, it may serve the win
tering birds all during the cold.
They are strong enough to peck a
hole in ice, if necessary, but 1t is easy
for the human element in the scene to
clean out the ice and fill the bowl with
fresh water In the afternoon when the
sun gets on it.
Small depressions, not more than two
inches deep, may be covered with thick
coating of cement. and no particular
harm will be done If it cracks.
Bird houses can be placed in the fall
with advantage. They may even be left
unpainted. BY the time spring comes
around they will have been weathered
to a nice shade of gray, and will have
the true outdoors smell which is so at
tractive to birds.
An diversified bird house, placed rather
high in a tree, gives shelter to the squir-
rels, too. A good house for the flicker,
faithful friend Of man, will attract squir-
rels. This house Is best made with a
floor by Z inches; depth .of box, is
to l8 inches; diameter Of entrance hole,
8 inches; height Of hole above floor, IA
to is inches Soft wood Is best, and some
shavings should be left inside.