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The Kitchen Garden Guide
How to
Make a Scarecrow that Works
Here's how to chase crows from
your family's vegetable garden. This design was contributed, in
1876, by a reader of the popular farm journal, The American
Agriculturist.
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The best scare is one in
which there is a constant change of motion, which confuses the
memory, and bewilders the intelligence of the crow. The illustration
shows such a scare, which consists of a frame mounted upon a post
and attached to a small wind-mill, by which it is kept rotating. The
frame has four bars, from one to another of which wires are strung,
and to the wires are fastened many pieces of bright tin, glass, both
plain and colored, broken crockery, and colored feathers or rags.
The rotating frame is mounted in a stationary one, and as it
revolves, the bright pieces flutter and change positions at every
moment, reflecting flashes of light when the sun shines, and
jangling continually when the wind blows. The effectiveness of this
scare-crow may be increased by hanging a few small bells upon the
top bar of the outer frame, so that the clappers may be moved by the
edges of the inner rotating frame as they revolve. One such
scare-crow in a ten-acre field, will keep the crows at a respectful
distance for the whole season, and the ingenious builder will never
be humiliated by finding a sentinel crow, perching contemptuously
upon the top of it, as is sometimes seen upon the outstretched arm,
or the simulated' gun, of the usual dummy in the corn-field, while
the rest of the flock are busily engaged at their mischief in its
vicinity.

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