76 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



that the topping of the plants once will not materially affect 

 them, unless it be in a beneficial direction, but to allow 

 them to be repeatedly attacked is to court disaster. It is, 

 however, comparatively easy to prevent injury as far as the 

 young plants are concerned ; when it comes to keeping 

 sparrows from picking off the buds the story is a different 

 one, and the preventives are not as obvious. In regard to 

 seedlings, there are wire guards on the market which answer 

 admirably when placed over the lines ; or the cultivator may 

 safely rely upon home-made guards of wood at each end 

 of the rows from which strings or stout thread are closely 

 strung. 



Birds should be kept from the plants in frames by 

 having a light framework of fine-meshed, galvanised wire 

 netting made the exact size of the light, and when the 

 latter is off, as it is frequently, the netting must be in use. 

 It must not be forgotten, even for half-an-hour, or much 

 injury may be done. The netting will not interfere with 

 the progress of the plants, since it does not prevent the 

 free admission and circulation of air, and it scarcely breaks 

 the rays of light. 



The last enemy with which we have to deal is green fly. 

 When this pest becomes comfortably established on the plants 

 it will need all the grower's patience and perseverance to 

 exterminate it ; but it should never be allowed to settle 

 itself so firmly. If a close look-out is kept at all stages of 



