BUDS, BLOOM, AND EARLY BIRD 



reduced to some extent with advantage. There is the Feb. 

 house sparrow, for example. He not only does untold 

 mischief, but he obviously glories in it. His impudent 

 chirp from the edge of the roof gutter (he is particularly 

 partial to this position, because it enables him to cock 

 his head about, and ruffle his feathers, and pretend to 

 make swoops down) is almost as exasperating as his 

 vicious habit of pulling off every yellow flower that he 

 can fasten his beak on. Then there is the blackbird. 

 He adds to his sins by constantly starting up unex- 

 pectedly, and making you jump out of your skin by 

 hurtling off with a piercing shriek. Thirdly, there is 

 the bullfinch. He neither makes fun of you nor startles 

 you. He pursues his devious ways quietly and unob- 

 trusively. But what a hardened ruffian he is ! One 

 healthy bullfinch is calculated to make the most 

 philosophical fruit grower boil with rage, and to drive 

 the meekest amateur to a shot-gun. 



Threads strung among fruit bushes and over flowers 

 check birds, while certainly a spray of limewash over 

 fruit trees has a good effect. February is a good month 

 for applying such a spray, and it may be made of the 

 right consistency with the following ingredients : 



A LIME AND SALT SPRAY FOR FRUIT TREES 



1 8 lbs. of lime 

 3 lbs. of salt 

 I lb. of waterglass 

 8 gls. of water 



The spray will not only baffle birds, but will reduce 

 moss and scale. 



Amateurs in districts where late frosts are common 

 should particularly make a point of using this wash, 

 because, in addition to its virtues as a cleanser and a 

 65 E 



