36 



For the best permanent results, we would recommend previous 

 preparation of the trees to be protected in this way, by cutting off all 

 the roots on the north and south sides during the early summer. 

 This will force the growth into the roots on the east and west sides, 

 and they will be simply twisted a little in the process of bending over. 

 The trees should be bent toward the south to avoid the direct rays 

 of the sun on the trunk and main branches. Any covering of a 

 coarse, light nature that will not compact may be used, but coarse, 

 thin mats obtained from straw-hat factories have given us the best 

 results. No covering should be put on the ground under the tree as 

 the moisture from the ground seems necessary to perfect protection, 

 and if the land is in turf the trees should be sprayed witli the' Bor- 

 deaux mixture or skim milk and Paris green to protect them from the 

 field mice, which are very fond of them. The loosened soli should 

 be pressed back firmly into place and a mound of earth be made over 

 the upturned roots and the base of the trunk for protection. 



PROTECTING YOUNG TREES FROM MICE. 



Every year the question comes to us, '' How shall I protect my 

 young trees from mice?" For the benefit of those who may not 

 have read our previous bulletins, we repeat the remedies that have 

 proved wholly effectual upon the college grounds, and in other places 

 where properly used, for the past six winters. 



Late in the fall, before the snow comes on, paint the trunks of the 

 trees, from eighteen inches to two feet from the ground, with a mix- 

 ture of Portland cement and Paris green, one tablespoonful of the 

 latter to a gallon of the paint. Only a small quantity of the paint 

 should be mixed at a time, and it should be made thin enough to 

 apply readily with a common paint brush. Mixed with skim milk 

 the paint adheres better than if mixed with water. 



THE SIBERIAN CRAB APPLE TREE AS A STOCK 

 FOR GRAFTING. 



The question is often asked, can the Siberian Crab {Pyrus bacca- 

 tus) be used on which to graft successfully as a stock the varieties of 

 larger apples (P?/?-MS maZws). 



To answer this question, about ten years ago, six small trees of 

 the yellow Siberian crab and three of the Williams' Favorite were 

 planted as represented in the following diagram. S. indicating Sibe- 



