130 FRUIT BOOK. 



some in general. It is better to plant them in quar- 

 ters by themselves, and to make new plantations 

 every fifth or sixth year ; for young plants produce 

 handsomer fruit than old ones, and more plentifully. 



FRUIT TREES, GIRDLED BY MICE. 



The meadow or field mouse frequently injures or 

 destroys trees, particularly in winter, when there are 

 deep snows, by gnawing the bark quite round the 

 limb through into the wood. 



The best method to preserve such trees, is to pro- 

 cure long scions, and, as soon as the bark will peel, 

 which will take place on the movement of the sap, 

 to insert them by bark grafting or inarching one end 

 under the living bark below the debarked circle, 

 and the other under the corresponding bark above ; 

 then take strong bass matting, and bind it closely 

 above and below, covering the whole with a compo- 

 sition of clay, cow manure, and hair finely incorpo- 

 rated, in order to keep out the sun and air. Each 

 end of the scion must be pared auay upon one side, 

 previous to their being set, as described in the article 

 " Grafting under the Bark." 



The above process is more successful upon the 

 apple, pear, and quince, than upon the plum, cherry, 

 or peach. 



