1907.] Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act. 671 



have also to be protected. As for cherries, the numerous birds 

 that prey upon them must be kept off the trees as far as possible 

 early and late every day after ripening has begun, if any fruit is - 

 to be secured. As this is out of the question where only a few 

 trees are grown for private use, birds eat more than hrdf the 

 cherries in many cases. Mr. F. Smith, in the paper already re- 

 ferred to, said that he had trapped over a thousand blackbirds and 

 thrushes per annum for years past, and that he would need to 

 kill double the number to keep these birds at all within bounds 

 in 1906-7, in his 200 acres of plantations. His men also shot 

 285 bullfinches in the winter of 1905-6. ' 



The tits do some damage by pecking holes in apples and 

 pears ; but experience last season showed the advantage of 

 growing clumps of sunflowers, as recommended by Mr. F. Smith, 

 in various parts of fruit plantations. These birds, and probably 

 many others, are so fond of sunflower seed that they partially 

 neglect fruit in its favour. They are valuable in orchards and 

 gardens as devourers of various injurious insects, larvae, and 

 eggs. Wood pigeons, doves, and missel thrushes come in flocks 

 to prey upon black currants, and the two former are charged with 

 thefts of gooseberries on a wholesale scale. Rooks, of course, in 

 the neighbourhood of rookeries, are troublesome to fruit-growers, 

 but can be kept off the plantations by scaring more easily than 

 smaller birds, which retire to hedges when frightened. 



William E. Bear. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have issued the 

 following Circulars, addressed to Local Authorities having 

 jurisdiction under the Act, dated December 31st, 1906.: — 



The Administration of the Ferti- 

 lisers AND Feeding Stuffs 

 Act, 1906. 

 [6 Edw. 7, Cii. 27]. 

 Sir, — The Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries desire me to bring under the notice of your Local 

 Authority the provisions of the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs 

 Act, 1906, which on the ist January will supersede the Act of 



Circulars 

 Relating" to the 

 Fertilisers 

 and Feeding- 

 Stuffs Act. 



