USE FI’ I. IIIKDS 
-kS 
pods. This nettiip^' can l)e pegged down on either side of the rows 
so as to completely exclude the birds. 
In onr own garden this was not done on every row, l)Ut it 
was found that orioles once caught under the netting become so 
terrihed that when hnally released did not again trouble the ]:dants. 
A friend has suggested the following, much in use in South Africa, 
where some protection against birds is absolutely necessary : Two 
stakes are driven into the ground at each end of the row, i. e., 
a stake at each “corner,” then ordinary cheap black cotton thread 
is run from stake to stake as high as or higher than the j)lant, 
and close enough together to make it impossible for the birds to 
hy onto the peas without striking one or more strands. Apparently 
this thread is not seen by them and contact with it inspires the 
same terror as when caught under the netting' al)Ove referred to- 
Netting is frecpiently resorted to in protecting strawberries, 
currants, cherries and other fruit. Some birds are intimidated 
by white strings or rags, (but not the orioles wdth a fondness for 
peas above referred to) or bright pieces of tin swaying in the breeze. 
Other means of saving products of the garden will no doubt suggest 
themselves to the gardener. 
Protection of Field Crops from Birds and Other Animals: Corn, 
after being planted, is subject to tlie attacks of a few animals which 
cause loss to the farmer. Chief among these at times is the crow, 
and any treatment given the seed to ])rotect it from the attacks 
of this bird, will, at the same time, afford i)rotection against a few 
insects wdiich occasionally eat the seed, and also reduce the loss 
from stri])ed scpiirrels, gophers, and kindred four-footed creatures. 
W’e have found that white twine about the edges of a corn 
field, strung on high poles, and hung with stri])s of tin (one about 
every thirty feet), white rags, etc., to be fairly eifective in keeping 
crows away from a planted field. If, in addition to this, a iew dead 
crows are suspended from high poles in different parts of the 
field, the combination of white twine, bright tin shining in the sun, 
and the dead crows as a warning to would-be evil doers, works so 
well that the farmer may rest assured it wdll be manv days before 
his field is touched by these marauders. This remedy, or the twine 
alone, b)' the way, is in quite general use today. 
Crows can be i)oisoned by dissolving ten cents worth of sul- 
])hate of strychnine in enough hot water to soak u|) two quarts of 
corn. This should be scattered about the field where crows are 
working late in the evening that they may find it there in the 
early morning. 
