34 
eee eee nn ee 
kettle, but did not get it all thoroughly mixed. If it is a little strong it has the same 
effect upon the trees that Paris green has. 
Mr. Parrerson (Grimsby).—I have used hypo-sulphite of soda and Paris green 
together on apple trees, and found no ill-effects whatever from the mixture ; but I never 
use them on pear trees. With me the use of Paris green on pear trees seems to prevent 
the knotty, gnarled specimens almost entirely. Of course Paris green has no effect at 
~ all on the fungus. 
THE QUESTION DRAWER. 
When the Association met in the afternoon 
The PREsIDENT said.—I have here a telegram from the Hon. Mr. Drury, stating that 
he is unable to leave Toronto to-day, to attend our meeting, and expressing his regret. 
The following topics were discussed from the question drawer : 
PEAR CULTURE AND UNDER-DRAINING. 
Q.—On the heavy clay soils of Essex and Kent, which are covered with rich vege- 
table mould, will the cultivation of pears be successful without under-draining, and in 
such lands will under-draining pay ? 
The PresipeNtT.—I should say emphatically yes ; underdraining will pay for any kind 
of fruit. : 
pears are grown should be under-draiued, unless it is naturally under-drained. We find 
that dwarf pears do better on certain kinds of lands, while standards do better on other 
kinds, and, from the statement of the case here, I think the land would be admirably 
adapted for dwarf pear growing if it were sufiiciently under-drained. Dwarfs do not © 
want to stand with their feet in water, and although they do not ran down a deep root 
like standards, they like to have it reasonably dry. 
A PREVENTIVE FOR MICE AND RABBITS. 
Q.—What is the best preventive for mice and rabbits getting at trees? 
The Secretary.—It seems to me that Mr. Wilson, who asks this question, could 
have very well answered it, as I heard him say he was the suggester of the wire screen 
protector for trees. 
Mr. Witson.—In our part of the country (Chatham) we have a great deal of trouble 
with mice and rabbits, and I invented the screen which the secretary has referred to, and 
it is a good thing. It is just the ordinary wire screening rolled on a small broom-stick, 
and the spring keeps it in place so that it won’t slip. It keeps the mice and rabbits 
away, and can be left on the tree until it is large enough to need no protection. We 
leave it on from one year to another until the tree grows up. I put out 2,000 apple 
trees two years ago and put it on them all, and they are all there yet. Buying the wire 
wholesale it costs, if I remember right, about 2} or 3 cents per tree. 
Mr. Rice (Port Huron).—I tried one little experiment on mice. I had some trees 
get along a fence row and the mice troubled me; so I got some tar paper and tied it 
around the tree with a light piece of string, putting it around three or four times. I had 
doubts whether it would stay on all winter, and I was much surprised to find it became 
hard, the string came right off, but the paper has remained intact around the trees three 
years, and they have been perfectly protected. ‘The expense is almost nothing. The tar 
paper becomes hard and keeps its place and expands with the growth of the tree in the 
same way as the wire that has been described, and it has proved perfectly effectual for 
the purpose intended. I had one large tree, six inches in diameter, that was notched by 
mice. Jt had been in that condition one year and J tried the experiment on it. I bey- 
Mr. Wittarp.—My own experience has lcd me to believe that all lands on which — 
