86 
Garden W ork 
leaves of the pea plant, the latter must be protected or they 
will be eaten as soon as they appear above-ground. The 
most economical and effective way of protecting them is to 
stretch black cotton from one end of the row to the other. 
The sticks holding the cotton should be of such a height 
that the strands can be stretched about i|- or 2 in. above 
the soil. The birds come in contact with the cotton, and, 
being unable to see it clearly, are frightened, and fly off. 
Another method is to have wire protectors. These are 
expensive, but when obtained will last for years, and, of 
course, are quite effective. They must, however, be re- 
moved before the plants have time to grow through them. 
When the plants have made 2 or 3 in. growth they should 
be staked. Good branching stakes should be procured 
early in the season, and the height carefully taken, making 
an allowance of from 6 in. to 1 ft., in case the season 
should prove wet, otherwise the plants may overgrow the 
stakes and double over, thus partly spoiling the crop. If 
a day be chosen after a good rain the stakes will easily 
go into the ground. They must be made firm, or when 
the plants have grown and formed a thick screen the 
whole is liable to be blown over if there should be a 
strong wind. The tops of the sticks should be cut off 
level, the small twigs being stuck in at the bottom to 
give the plants a good start. Sticks, where procurable, 
are better for supporting the pea plants than the wire 
trainers, although, of course, in some districts sticks are 
not to be obtained. The plants do not cling so readily 
to the wire as they do to the wood, and if they grow 
out sideways they must be tied up with coarse, strong 
twine, to prevent the wind or rain from breaking them 
