54 



The removal of this from the soil lessens the amount available for the 

 trees, which ripen their wood earlier on this account, ensuring greater 

 safety from winter injury. The seed for cover crops should be sown 

 from the middle of June to the middle of July. Where ripening of 

 wood is more important than conservation of moisture, the early seed- 

 ing is preferable. Many kinds of cover crops have been grown at 

 Ottawa. Among the best are Red Clover, Summer Vetch, Hairy 

 Vetch. Rape, and Crimson Clover. 



Ninety varieties of apples, mainly of the more tender sorts, were 

 top-grafted to learn if this would make them sufficiently hardy to 

 withstand verv cold winters, but it was found that it did not do so. 



Melon experiment at the Central Farm. 



Top-grafting on bearing trees will bring varieties into bearing earlier, 

 however, than if they are grown as standard trees. 



The frequent ravages of mice in orchards are easily prevented 

 and measures to this end should not be neglected. The best way is to 

 wrap the trunks of the trees with ordinary white building paper, 

 putting a little soil about the bottom so that the mice will not get at 

 the trunk of the tree near the ground. If this has been forgotten 

 until after snow falls, tramping the snow about the trees will protect 

 them. 



