THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 83 
prepare the ground sometime before sowing, by digging it 
well and sprinkling lightly with salt. The process will ex- 
pose the vermin to three dangers : some will be buried too 
deep to see daylight again ; some will be killed by the salt ; 
some will be eaten by birds, whose quick eyes will see them 
as they prowl about at daybreak, looking for a breakfast. If 
it is seen that a plant here or there drops over suddenly 
through being eaten across at the collar, you may be sure 
this pest is the cause of the mischief. Then take a piece of 
stick and scrape the soil slightly from every plant, and scratch 
between the rows with a hoe, and you may stop the mischief. 
There are two kinds of spinach available for Autumn sowing. 
The best is the Prickly seeded , which should always be pre- 
ferred unless there are reasons for preferring the hardier 
plant, known as Spinach Beet , which suits better for bleak 
places and undrained soils. 
death’s-head moth. ' Q 2 
