Sentence:  I planted out over 600 polyanthus plants, and almost without exception the sparrows had the new buds off — after I had both <WSD>cottoned</WSD> and sprayed with Jeyes. They also destroyed two rows of brussels sprouts seedlings — again after <WSD>cottoning</WSD> and spraying. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To wrap with a protective layer of cotton fabric.