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CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



June, when the outside feed begins to dry up, and the pests rush for 

 the cultivated ground. With such protection from the outside, and 

 the use of poison and traps inside, the trees and vines can be saved. 



DESTRUCTIVE BIRDS 



Fruit growers generally appreciate the value of insectivorous 

 birds, but there are feathered pests which do such ruinous work in 

 disbudding the trees in spring-time, and in destroying ripe fruit, 

 that protective measures have to be adopted against them. The 

 so-called "California linnet," which is not a linnet, but a finch 

 (Carpodacus frontalis), a persistent destroyer of buds, and the Eng- 

 lish sparrow, infamous the world over, are probably the most 

 grievous pests, though there are other destructive birds, including 

 the beautiful California quail,, which is protected by law, and yet 

 must be destroyed in some parts of the State or the grape crop must 

 be abandoned. 



For the killing of the smaller birds poison is usually employed, 

 and it is best administered in water. Poisoned water made of one- 

 eighth ounce of strychnine to three gallons of water and placed in 

 shallow tin pans in the trees, has been widely approved. Cutting 

 oranges in halves, spreading strychnine over the cut surface and 

 empaling the half oranges on twigs high up in the apricot trees, has 

 destroyed hundreds of linnets. Some advocate the use of the shot- 

 gun, No. 30 caliber] with a small charge of good powder and No. 10 

 shot. As many as five hundred linnets have been killed in two days. 

 The advantage of this plan is that one kills linnets and not other 

 birds, while poison kills both friends and foes. 



