CHAPTER XVI 

 PROTECTING THE SEEDLINGS FROM BIRDS 



BIRDS are a constant source of trouble in the early part 

 of the season, and the grower who would be successful 

 must be prepared to protect his Sweet Peas by anticipat- 

 ing what will be required of him during the early history 

 of the seedling plants. He may raise a batch of Sweet 

 Peas in pots or by sowings made in the open, only to 

 find that, soon after planting them in their permanent 

 quarters, or at a period when the seedlings are young 

 and tender, the depredations of birds have destroyed his 

 rosy prospects of a short time before. The reader will 

 readily understand the chagrin of the grower in such 

 circumstances and be quick to appreciate the necessity of 

 anticipating the attacks of birds upon the seedling plants 

 by affording protection of one kind or another. 



Considerable diversity of opinion prevails respecting 

 this question of protecting seedling Sweet Peas in their 

 early history. Quite a number of successful growers 

 have never had any trouble in this respect, while the 

 experiences of others have been quite the reverse. We 

 believe that, in and around the neighbourhood of large 

 towns, less trouble is experienced than is the case with 

 those whose gardens are situated in the country. We 

 have seen seedling Sweet Peas of promise rendered 

 almost useless in country gardens by the attacks of birds, 

 and where this is so, measures should be taken, and these 

 quite early in the season, to protect the plants from 

 their ravages. Those readers who are growers of this 



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