286 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



the earth, particularly when the snow lies long upon the 

 ground, or the grass is suffered to grow thickly around the 

 trees, or if they are mulched in the fall, so that nesting-places 

 and materials are furnished. 



Digging round the trees in the fall, and keeping them clear, 

 may often prevent the injury. The snow also should be trod- 

 den hard around them. If these precautions are not found 

 sufficient, a coat of pitch, or grafting composition No. 3, may 

 be put on for six or eight inches above the ground, and an inch 

 or two below. In cases of great exposure, pieces of lath set on 

 end firmly around the stem, and tied on until spring, will pro- 

 tect them ; or rolled tin or thin sheet iron may be sprung 

 around them, which, if carefully dried in spring and put away, 

 will last for years. A good cat or small terrier dog will hunt 

 them pretty effectually, and black snakes are said to catch 

 them. 



If trees are severely injured, or even entirely girdled, they 

 may yet be saved by making three or four clean, smooth cuts 

 across the girdle, just as you would cut to put on a patch bud- 

 graft, but broader, and fitting nicely to them corresponding 

 pieces cut from the same or some other tree, as you would cut 

 the bud from its scion ; and it will aid you in the operation if 

 a little wood is taken with the bark, so that you can ever so 

 slightly interlock them with a short tongue, as in grafting. 

 Having put on two or more of these, according to the size and 

 necessities of the tree, bind them carefully and firmly, and 

 cover them completely with grafting composition No. 3, and 

 your tree will live. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Fruits in alphabetical Order, in their Varieties, with Descriptions and Di- 

 rections for their Culture. 



FRUITS. 



Ix preparing the following selections of the more important 

 fruits, an effort has been made to limit the number of varieties, 

 and yet not exclude any desirable peculiarity belonging to 



