b TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



a cultivation starts a second growth which is, of course, bad. I 

 would not have potatoes in an orchard unless they were to be dug 

 not later than July, then perhaps there would be no longer danger 

 from cultivation. 



President Dunlap — I have frequently manured my orchard trees 

 by seeding to rye and plowing it under when it got two or three feet 

 high, and I must say it has had a good effect. The question of pro- 

 tecting trees both in summer and in winter is an important one. 

 Mr. Stickney, of Wisconsin, protects his trees with straw, and he 

 says also that it keeps off the borers, though I don't see how that is 

 so. 



Mr. Dyer — For four years I have been using common axle grease 

 on my trees to protect them from rabbits and mice. I just rub it 

 thoroughly on the trunk and the mice and the rabbits never touch 

 them. I have tried wrapping the trees with muslin, but it is expen- 

 sive and the rabits soon cut through it. I put the grease on about 

 the beginning of the winter and find it perfectly satisfactory. 



Mr. Webster, of Centralia — I do not think it is best for this So- 

 ciety to recommend an animal fat for application to trees. We 

 protect our trees with soft soap and copperas and sometimes a little 

 carbolic acid. It is cheap and effective. If we want the applica- 

 tion to stay on all winter we add a little glue. Some have experi- 

 mented with tar and tarred paper, but we think there is nothing so 

 good as soap. 



Sec'y Hammond — How is the tarred paper an injury? I have 

 used it and never saw any bad effect from it. 



Mr. Webster — We have found that it has a tendency to loosen 

 the bark. I have seen the bark all come off after it was used. If 

 it was tied on very loose, it might not be so bad, but if it is tied at 

 all tight, I have found it to injure the trees. 



Mr. Vandenburg — I recommend sweet milk and soot. Ihavealsa 

 used tarred paper and seen no bad effects. I tie it on loosely with 

 wire as the wire does not rot like string. 



Mr. Pearson — With regard to the distance of trees in an or- 

 chard, I think that no one distance can be given as satisfactory. 

 In some cases, with trees that throw out strong laterals, the space 

 of course, should be greater than for upright growers. I think 

 the distance should be varied from twenty-five to forty feet. 



