times it is tacked in that position. Flagging affords crop protection in 

 direct ratio to the density of stakes and flags, and to the care given in 

 replacing flags torn away "by wind or rain. For conplete protection the 

 stakes cannot safely "be placed more than 25 feet apart in each direction, 

 and in the case of persistent attack should oe not nore than 20 feet apart. 



Continuous String Flagging . — The hest of the protective methods oh- 

 served, namely, "continuous string flagging," has come into wide use during 

 the past few seasons. The materials necessary are: 



Heavy stakes, such as laths or car strips, at least 4 feet long. 



Strong cotton wrapping twine, 4- or 6-ply. 



Paper or cloth streamers, 2 to 2 l/2 inches wide, 20 to 24 inches long. 



The stakes are driven firmly into the ground, and may he 50 or more 

 feet apart in the row. Those at each end must "be braced. (See accompanying 

 illustration. ) 



The cotton wrapping twine is stretched from stake to stake, half- 

 hitched ahout the top of each, continuously across the field. The cord used 

 need not he large, hut must he strong enough to withstand the strain of ten 

 or more streamers to each 50-foot section, in the prevailing winds of the 

 district where used. Four-ply cotton wrapping twine is standard. 



Paper or cloth streamers 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide hy 20 to 24 inches long 

 are prepared. These streamers should he fastened to the cord at 5-foot in- 

 tervals, making 10 streamers to each 50-foot section between the stakes. 

 There is no definite rule in regard to the material of which streamers are 

 made. In general, white cloth or paper is used; cloth is of course more durahla. 

 TThen cloth is used, a good quality of heavily sized muslin is preferable; 

 lighter grades will wear out by whipping in the wind and may curl up and roll 

 into strings that have little effect. 



Old newspapers may be used, but any soft paper lacks durability and it 

 takes time to replace those that tear away. Heavy butcher's paper is fairly 

 cheap, q_uite durable, and sufficiently light in color to work effectively. 

 Some growers use black or varicolored stream.ers with success; but it appears 

 that color has little to do with the effectiveness of the method, and that the 

 motion of the streamers is the major feature of value. Unless for a local 

 reason, however, there is distinct economy in the use of colored streamers, 

 it is well to use white because of better visibility. Additional effect may 

 be obtained if the rancher plants his crop in rows at a wide angle to the 

 prevailing wind direction, and thus obtains greater motion of the streamers. 



One rancher employed the waxed paper used for lining lettuce crates, 

 which was cut into streamers 2 l/2 by 21 inches, the tail of each streamer be- 

 ing slit for fully 15 inches. This was in a locality where the daily sea breeze 

 was strong, and the split streamers attained a maximum of motion, accompanied 

 by a crackling and snapping noise that could be heard for a long distance. 

 Horned larks showed a marked aversion to the noise of these streamers and would 

 not even fly over the fields except at a considerable height. A two-ply, heavy 

 crepe paper, the two plies stuck together with asphaltum, also is used. It is 



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