74 THE BOOK OF THE SWEET PEA 



fragrant annual, and who are exempt from worry in this 

 respect, are to be congratulated, and have good reason to 

 be grateful for being immune. We know there are 

 lovers of birds who are also lovers of the garden, who 

 say that they feed the birds, in consequence of which 

 they (the birds) leave the Sweet Peas alone. In small 

 gardens this may be possible, but where this subject is 

 grown in quantity we doubt whether the same method 

 could be followed. 



Where there is a scarcity of food for the birds they 

 naturally pounce upon well-tilled quarters, that have 

 been sown with Sweet Peas, or upon recently planted 

 seedlings, which provide young growths that are tender 

 and palatable. In a little while the soft, plump seeds 

 that are germinating are extracted from the soil or the 

 young plants rendered useless or seriously damaged by 

 these attacks. This is the experience of the majority, 

 and it is for them that we are pleased to call attention to 

 various preventative measures that should be taken. 



Before sowing the seeds outdoors it is a good plan to 

 roll them in a paste made up of red lead and paraffin so 

 that this substance adheres to the seeds, as this renders 

 them distasteful, if not poisonous, to the birds. This is 

 a simple, old-fashioned method of treating seeds of the 

 Sweet Pea, which invariably answers, well as it renders 

 both seeds and plants noxious to birds. 



Protection for young plants may be afforded by 

 staking them with short, twiggy sticks, arranging these 

 so that they make it a matter of difficulty for the birds 

 to get at the plants. Where expense is of little or no 

 concern, galvanised pea-guards provide a more effectual 

 protection that is invincible against the attacks of birds. 

 Fish-netting may now be bought so cheaply that very 

 considerable lengths, sufficient to cover many rows or 

 clumps, may be purchased for a few shillings. If green, 

 pliable stakes be arched well over the rows of 



