THE HOUSE SPARROW 



181 



attached tightly to small sticks set upright in the ground about 

 4 ft. apart, and the lines not more than I to 2 ft. asunder, crossing 

 the threads in the case of seed-beds diagonally. For rows of cro- 

 cuses, polyanthuses, carnations, etc., or peas, lettuces, winter 

 spinach, beet, etc., it suffices to run the thread along the sides (v) 



FIG. 108. PROTECTING THE BUDS OF FRUIT BUSHES. 



E, portion of a branch of red currant with buds intact ; y, spurs, usually blossom buds clustered on 

 a short stubby shoot with a growth bud in the centre ; z, terminal growth (previous summer's) 

 with growth (narrow and pointed) and flower- buds (short and rounded). F, red currant bush 

 rough-webbed with blac'< thread as protection against bullfinches and sparrows. G, red currant 

 bush from which buds taken by birds. H, Rolfe garden webber. /, portion of a gooseberry 

 bush with buds intact and lines of black thread. /, portion of gooseberry bush from which the 

 buds have been taken by birds. 



just clear of the plants, and 2 or 3 in. from the ground. By 

 those means the sparrows are frightened and the plants thrive (w) ; 

 unthreaded plants adjoining are eaten off (D x). 



Sparrows, also bullfinches, often denude gooseberry and currant 

 bushes of the best buds. They may be prevented by running lines 



