STATK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 13 



which I wish to call attention, the Doctor continued, and that is in regard 

 to the blight. He thought that he had discovered that the blight in our 

 fruit trees was caused by the hot sun after wet weather. The past summer 

 was a cold summer, and for this reason we have had little blight. He 

 wanted to hear something upon this subject. 



But the Society did not talk — I suppose upon the principle that "a 

 burnt child dreads the fire." The orchardists of this State hesitate to 

 put themselves on record, and explain again what they have explained so 

 often, with such blundering success. 



Mr. Minkler said that the report spoke of the rotting of apples; 

 and he said he had never seen so little rot in apples as he had seen this 

 fall. We grind up a great many apples in our neighborhood, and I repeat, 

 I think I have never seen so little rot as there is, at this season of the 

 year. I mean for the months of September and October. We have 

 never ground up so many sound apples — apples so little afflicted with 

 codling-moth's depredations. Mr. Minkler answered further, in regard 

 to questions, " How to protect young trees from rabbits and mice." He 

 used material that was always at hand, and that is blood. He had never 

 seen anything better than to smear the young trees with blood, to protect 

 from rabbits. Some recommended banking up the earth around the 

 trees, to protect from the mice. Now, banking, said Mr. M., would be 

 injurious, unless the soil was well packed down. It would furnish a harbor 

 for the protection of the mice, and would be an invitation for them to 

 come and work the damage we wish to avoid. 



Mr. McWhorter said he supposed that all that was meant by this 

 word banking, was to throw around the tree sufficient dirt to make a clean 

 surface, so that there may be no rubbish or litter in which mice hide. A 

 clean surface is the best protection from the mice. 



Mr. Humphrey — I want to ask if really the depredations of rabbits 

 are serious. I have never been troubled by rabbits. Will Mr. Hunt 

 answer ? 



Mr. Hunt (of Galesburg) — I think the depredations of mice are 

 often attributed wrongly to rabbits. Injuries from rabbits, as compared 

 with injuries from mice, are very limited with us. Of course, circum- 

 stances alter cases. In particular localities, where rabbits are plentiful, 

 and there are plenty of young apple trees and a scarcity of other 

 food, rabbits may become very destructive. But I have had very little 

 trouble from rabbits, especially after my orchard became a few years 

 old. I have great trouble, however, with the mice. I would not recom- 



