276 THE EEACH AND NECTABINE. ' 



peck those they find down. Shoot, trap, and pot .the peaoh-eating vermin, 

 or sue the game preservers for compensation. Peaches are often worth 

 a shilling apiece, and the cultivator cannot afford to lose them. 

 Fowls are as bad or worse than pheasants. They will, after once 

 tasting peaches, run round the garden as soon as out to see what they 

 , can find and eat all they find. They must be kept away from them. 

 Birds, especially blackbirds and thrushes, in dry weather^ get frenzied 

 among ripe peaches. They must be shot or trapped or netted out at 

 once. 



XXIII.—Dogs. 



Fet dogs also get fond of peaches and nectarines. This will be new to, 

 many, but it is nevertheless true. The writer has known at least four 

 pet dogs that ate fruit greedily. His present brown mongrel spaniel, 

 not only eats peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, grapes, pears, but 

 goes and helps herself to gooseberries off the bushes, and is as care- 

 ful to select the sweetest as to avoid the thorns pricking her nose. 

 She also helps herself to an occasional plum off cordon trees, and works 

 the walla at times during the autumn to look for a fallen peach, 

 nectarine, or apricot, tossing them about and barking, to clear them 

 of wasps and flies,, before eating them. Another dog, u. small white 

 Bussian terrier, would help himself to a peach off the wall. Of course 

 tlie generality of dogs do not eat peaches. "But the above facts seemed 

 sufSoiently interesting to deserve notice, and they may also prove useful 

 to some readers who find their fruit gnawed or mauled in a peculiar 

 manner. To such it may be Worth whUe to give the advice to watcli 

 their pet dogs. 



^i^=^ 



