144 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that I never recollect having any mistake in my nursery. I think 

 every intelligent nurseryman should know his trees like he does his 

 children, just by their looks. 



Mr. Laughlin did a very honorable business. All his trees truned 

 out true to name. I have made for myself a similar record. It is very 

 provoking for nurseryman to send me anything I did not order. When 

 I began the business they told me I would fail. The bitter precaution 

 I received made me doubly careful in selecting trees true to name 

 from which to propagate my stock. I have simply done my duty. 

 Like Crocket I was sure I was right and went ahead. 



President — ^Mr. Carpenter's experience was several years ago, when 

 the nurseryman's business was not as systematic as it is now. He hss 

 a record of everything he ever did, and writes from his record. He 

 has related only his experience. 



Mr. Laughlin — He has not then told all his experience. 



President — In talking with Mr. Carpenter not long since I said: 

 "Dan, get us up a paper that will create discussion." He said he would 

 do it. I received a letter from him, in which he said he would send 

 the paper and make it as near like I wanted as he could. 



The following letters were read: 



PROTECTING FRUIT TREES. 



Lee's Summit, Jackson County, Mo., December G, 1886. 

 Mr. J. C. Evans, President Missouri State Horticultural Society : 



Dear Sir — I had intended to be present at your meeting at Lex- 

 ington, but I shall be necessarily detained by being a witness in the 

 United States court and other business, so I will have to forego the 

 pleasure. I send you a small bundle by express to Lexington, contain- 

 ing a few trees wrapped with my wood protection against rabbits, mice 

 and borers, also some of the slats to show the material as it comes 

 from the factory where it was cut for me. I have nearly 20,000 trees 

 wrapped with this wood covering in the manner shown, and I find it 

 the most complete protection to my trees I ever used. My losses last 

 year from mice was serious, and I felt my orchard enterprise was much 

 in danger from their ravages. Now I feel secure against 'rabbits and 

 mice — also borers if the covering is left on during the summer. 



When the wrapping is put on we scrape the earth away around 

 the trunk of the tree for an inch or so deep, and when the wrapping is 

 finished pull back the ground taken away, leaving the wood covering 

 two inches in the ground. The covering is put on while the material 



