The Fruit Garden. 113 



in a circle covering the whole area of the roots will tend to 

 retain the moisture, and render watering, in ordinary cases, 

 unnecessarj. In winter, where the climate is severe, it is still 

 more useful, and often saves young trees from entire destruc- 

 tion by frost. A small space immediately about the trunk may 

 be left uncovered, as it might harbor mice. 



Every spring, wash the bodies of your young trees with soft 

 soap, or one of the following preparations : 



1. Dissolve one pound of potash in two gallons and one 

 half of water, and then apply with a flat varnish-brush to the 

 limbs and trunks of the trees. A varnish-brush is best, as the 

 bristles are held together by tin bands on them, and not tied 

 together with strings, as paint-brushes are, which the potash 

 soon cuts^hrough, and the brush falls to pieces. 



2. Mix fresh cow-dung with urine and soap-suds, and with 

 the mixture wash over the stems and branches of the trees as 

 you would your room with whitewash, first cutting oflT the 

 cankery parts, and scraping the moss and rough bark off the 

 trunks of the trees before applying it. This is particularly 

 applicable to large and old trees. It wiU destroy the eggs of 

 insects, and prevent moss growing on the tninks. 



The following, it is said, will prevent rabbits [and probably 

 mice] from girdling fruit-trees : 



Make a solution of, say half a pound of tobacco to three 

 gallons of water. Mix with clay, a little lime, a little fresh 

 cow-dung, and an ounce or two of glue or paste. Thicken to 

 the consistency of thick whitewash, and put on with a brush. 



The following is Bridgeman's recipe for causing trees to 

 thrive : 



" The ground Avhere they are planted must be kept well cul- 

 tivated. Young trees will not thrive if the grass be permitted 

 to form a sod around them ; and if it should be necessary to plant 

 them in grass grounds, care must be taken to keep the earth 

 mellow and free from grass for three or four feet distant around 

 them, and every autumn some weU-rotted manure should be 

 dug in around each tree, and every spring the bodies of the 



