'.] PROTECTING NEW SOWN SEEDS. 



birds. If the quantity fown be net gn-at, the 

 beds may be hooped over, and covered with fmall- 

 mefhcd nets. But if a great breadth of ground 

 be fown, it muft be conftantly watched, after 

 fowing. If the watching be vigilantly attended to, 

 for a few days immediately after fowing, the feeds 

 will generally not need much more attention till 

 they begin to break the ground ; at which period, 

 the watching mould be clofely and regularly con- 

 tinued. As they are always the ftrongeft and 



bed 



the notch downwards. Next, place the sharpened end of the 

 pillar into this notch, forming an acute angle ; hold these 

 two pieces in this position with the fingers and thumb cf the 

 left hand, and place the under end of the pillar upon the 

 lower slate, and the outer edge of the upper slate near the 

 extremity of the upper part of the trap ; then take the bait- 

 stick (previously baited) with your right hand, and place 

 it so as that the notched part near the extremity may 

 receive the sharpened end of the upper stick, and let 

 that place of it which was cut half through hold the 

 pillar, but so as that the baited end of the bait slick 

 may slightly rest upon the slate; and the trap is set. 



A very little practice will enable any person who is a strang- 

 er to this kind of trap to use it with facility ; and a great 

 number may be placed in the nursery grounds at nu 

 pense. Bricks are sometimes ured in place of slates. The 

 host bait is oatmeal made into dough by butter, and tied on 

 the bait-stick with a little fi.ix : After being tied on, it will 

 be of use to bnrn the buit a little, to make it smell. Such a 

 quantity of bait rru c >t i;ot be used as may prevent the mouse 

 from being killed by the fall of the slate, 



