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MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



moving interfering or diseased growth. An occasional light prun- 

 ing or pinching back can be done at any time, thus avoiding heavy 

 pruning. 



Mice often damage many unprotected trees during the winter, 

 especially where there is rubbish or grass for them to harbor in and 

 when the snow lies very deep. They seem severest in their havoc 

 during early spring or late winter. Tramping about the trunks of 

 the trees will aid in saving many, and places that are noticed where 

 they are working should be baited at once. This can be done by 

 placing a mixture of corn meal, arsenic and sugar in a can, cover- 



Mr. Geo. W. Strand,- Taylor's Falls, Minn. 



ing it with hay or rubbish. The mice congregate in such places 

 very quickly, and by moving the cans and piles about the orchard 

 can soon be cleaned of most of the mice. Another remedy was 

 given in the last issue of the Horticulturist that appears very prac- 

 tical. That is, "make a poisonous solution of one part of sulphate of 

 strychnine, one-third of one part of borax, one part of white syrup 

 and ten parts water. Put this in a roomy bottle and shake well. 

 Cut fresh twigs from apple trees and after painting with the solu- 

 tion scatter them in runways or places infested. The great value 

 of this over poisoned grain is that it will kill rabbits and mice and 

 not injure birds or chickens." When trees have been badly girdled 

 by mice the wound should be waxed or painted over at once so as 

 to prevent decay and weathering out. If it is near the ground 



