410 RELATIONS OF BIRDS TO AGRICULTURE 



connection, though later the rose-breasted grosbeak developed a 

 fondness for this vegetable. English sparrows often eat peas, 

 lettuce, and other garden crops. A scarecrow erected near the 

 rows does little or no good. But cheap white mosquito bar over 

 the plants will prove effective. It is a little expensive and possibly 

 has no particularly good effect upon the growth and development 

 of the pods. This netting can be pegged down on either side of 

 the rows so as to completely exclude the birds. In the writer's 

 garden this was not done on every row, but it was found that orioles 

 once caught under the netting became so terrified that when 

 finally released, did not again trouble the plants. 



A friend has suggested the following, much in use in South 

 Africa, where some protection against birds is absolutely neces- 

 sary: Two stakes are driven into the ground at each end of the 

 row that is, a stake at each "corner"; then ordinary cheap black 

 cotton thread is run from stake to stake as high as, or higher than, 

 the plants, and close enough together to make it impossible for 

 the birds to fly to the plants without striking one or more strands. 

 Apparently this thread is not seen by them, and contact with it 

 causes some terror. If the row is a long one, additional posts are 

 called for. 



Netting of mosquito bar is frequently resorted to in protecting 

 strawberries, currants, cherries, grapes, and other fruits. Some 

 birds are intimidated by white strings or rags or bright pieces of 

 tin or paper bags swaying in the breeze. But this is seldom true of 

 the orioles with a fondness for peas. Other means of saving prod- 

 ucts of the garden will no doubt suggest themselves to the gardener. 



Protection of Field Crops from Birds and Other Animals. 

 Corn, after being planted, is subject to the attacks of a few animals 

 which cause loss to the farmer. Chief among these at times is 

 the crow. Any treatment given the seed to protect it from the 

 attacks of this bird will, at the same time, afford protection 

 against a few insects which occasionally eat the seed, and also 

 reduce the loss from striped squirrels, gophers, and kindred four- 

 footed creatures. 



Poisoning. Crows can be poisoned by dissolving ten cents 

 worth of sulfate of strychnine in enough hot water to soak up two 

 quarts of corn. This should be scattered late in the evening about 

 the field where crows are working so they may find it there in the 

 early morning. One should not forget that strychnine is a deadly 

 poison. 



