350 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



New Jersey they cultivate their orchards until July, then cover their 

 grouud with hay during the hot months, which seems to put the 

 trees in better condition for winter. A friend who wished to demon- 

 strate this theory, took a part of his young nursery, one-half of 

 which he cultivated late, the other half he sowed to buckwheat. 

 The following winter was a severe one, and the part without buck- 

 wheat was entirely killed, because the nitrogen-feeding roots could 

 not come near enough the surface to mature the growth. 



Mr. Kellogg — If the mulch is left and not covered with dirt, 

 mice will damage the tree very much. Always put a mound of dirt 

 around the trees to prevent this. 



Prof. Budd — Mr. Sanders, of Washington, a few years ago, 

 advocated the whitewashing of trees. Many have practiced putting 

 sulphur and glue in the whitewash to prevent the rabbits and mice 

 gnawing them. 1 have never known trees to be injured when this 

 was done. 



Mr. Mortimer — I am in favor of whitewashing peach trees. 



A. R. Whitney — I have used whitewash, glue and sulphur 

 for five years, putting it on in November, and my trees are never 

 troubled with rabbits or mice. 



Mr. Minier — I consider the protection of our trees a matter of 

 great importance. Nature will take care of sunscald if trees are 

 headed low enough. I cannot see what benefits would come from 

 whitewash. If tarred paper is put around the tree before the mound 

 of earth is thrown up to it, we can feel safe from damage from mice. 

 I would advise every farmer to put out a few apple trees each and 

 every year. If they will do this they will always have apples. 



A. R. Whitney — A mixture of copperas and glue is the best 

 thing I know of to keep rabbits and mice from trees. I lost a great 

 many before I commenced using this preparation. I have tried 

 tarred paper, and do not like it; it is too slow. 



Mr. Kellogg — I would like to ask how high apple trees should 

 be headed? 



Mr. Whitney— Three feet. 



Mr. Kellogg — Three feet is medium height; four to five is 

 high. Our best orchardists trim some varieties five feet high, and 



