PLAN No. 567. BIRD-BATHS FOR ORCHARDISTS
A successful orchardist and gardener of Spokane, Washington, attributes a part of the profits he has derived from his fruit and vegetable culture to the encouragement he has given birds to come to his place.
Knowing a great deal about the habits and the needs of birds, he realized that ample bathing facilities for them are greatly appreciated and he at once proceeded to supply them with this luxury, for if there is anything a bird likes it is his daily bath.
To encourage them to make his place their permanent home, he built a wooden frame, about 12x20 inches in size and 6 inches deep, and into this frame he poured concrete, which he mixed, leaving a shallow depression in the center, which would hold about a quart of water. These concrete baths he placed on top of an upright piece of 4x4 scantling sunk into the ground. He put the bath on this post and filled the bath with water, and awaited results. Inside of ten minutes a dozen birds had gathered at the outdoor bathing place thus provided and were enjoying their bath as though it were the greatest luxury of their lives. He then put up eight or ten more throughout the orchard, garden, and yard, and in a short time the place was literally alive with birds.
Plan No. 567. The Bird Bath
Before long insects of all kinds had been reduced and his fruits and vegetables gave him better yields. He thereupon began to manufacture the bird-baths by the hundreds, at a cost of about 5 cents each, and through a little advertising was enabled to sell them for $1 apiece.