SCARECROWS AND VARIOUS DEVICES 



or along the rows and beds. Small mesh netting 

 is better. 



Birds often attack buds and seedlings because of a 

 scarcity of water. See that water is available for their 

 use in your garden. With a little time and patience, 

 netting can be made in the home. A Kafir will soon 

 learn how to make it. The netting should be oiled 

 with castor oil to preserve it. If oiled properly it will 

 last for years. 



When your plants are in the seedling stage they 

 may be saved from attack by exposing food for the 

 birds in suitable places. Seed-eating birds are very 

 fond of finely-crushed mealies, Kafir corn, or coarse 

 mealie meal, and this provender, surely, is cheap 

 enough. The object to attain is to encourage the birds 

 to remain in your garden at the minimum cost to 

 yourself, for when your plants begin growing vigor- 

 ously, you will need the assistance of your feathered 

 allies against insect enemies. 



SCARECROWS AND VARIOUS 

 DEVICES 



The human scarecrow is usually a failure. To 

 make it a success it must be properly made and moved 

 to a fresh position after dark, so as to occupy a different 

 spot and attitude each day. Bits of string, tin, or 

 mirror hung around it are useful. 



To scare small birds the figure of a flying hawk 

 281 



