116 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of something, nor do we see so many cut worms. When the 

 hens show an inclination to scratch the mulch we drive them 

 of, and before berry time (if we have any) will keep them oflf alto- 

 gether. I had thought of sowing air-slacked lime over the plants, but 

 was afraid to risk it till some one gave their experience with its use. 

 I would ask if any of the members have ever tried it? In regard to 

 the plants winter killicg, I think soil, climate, etc., the cause, as fol- 

 lows : Soil, loose, sandy loam, so loose that unless mulched the hard 

 winds carry a man's field off in clouds, and from the middle of Oct. to 

 the first or middle of April, we have no rain, and the snow blows off 

 down to the mulch, consequently what little snow that thaws does not 

 keep the ground wet, and our intense cold (from 24 to 34 degrees below 

 zero) dry freezes them to death. I lost about a dozen fall-set grape 

 vines from the same cause, I feel pretty sure, for I watered them good 

 when I set them, and as soon as the ground froze covered them some 

 with earth and some with coarse manure, but they were dry and hard 

 this spring. There are more insects, worms, etc., to the square acre 

 here in Nebraska than any other place I saw, and anyone undertaking 

 fruit raising must make up their minds to do or die. Even our forest 

 trees are beset by the striped cotton- wood bug, box elder worm, rose 

 bugs, caterpillars, etc. By the way, last winter I spread ashes from 

 wood, cobs and cornstalks over a small plat of plants, and they were 

 the deadest lot of all. Was it the ashes that killed them ? 



When we get down in Missouri, which we hope to do either this fall 

 or next, then we will attend and listen to the experience of older and 

 wiser ones. 



Yours respectfully, 



M. H. STREET. 



