S48 



THE GENESEE FARMEE. 



WINTEa PROTECTION OF FETJIT TREES. 



It is meet, on the approach of winter, to heed 

 the lessons of the past, and by judicious fore- 

 thought and prompt action prevent a recurrence 

 of such of the untoward events which have in 

 former years disappointed our expectations or de- 

 tracted from the si^m total of our pleasure or 

 profit. How many persons, on the opening of 

 spring, have found some choice fruit tree ruined, 

 or nearly so, by being girdled by mice while the 

 lower portion of the trunk was covered with snow ? 

 The labor and expenditure of several seasons are 

 often thus, in a few days, rendered of no avail. 

 Those trees standing contiguous to fences, or in 

 close proximity to buildings, where snow is most 

 prone to drift around them, are more exposed than 

 those in the open field. It has long been the prac- 

 tice of cultivators to occasionally trample down 

 the snow around the tree, as a protection, but as 

 the melting of the snow progresses at the ground, 

 there is soon a pathway for the vermin, of which 

 they are not slow to take the advantage. A pyra- 

 mid of soil, six or eight inches high, around the 

 tree, often affords the desired protection. Boxes 

 of thin boards, about a foot high, are often placed 

 around the trunk, and answer a very good purpose. 

 Eecently, use has been made of horse-shoe drain 

 tile for this purpose, and it proves superior to either 

 of the other methods named. By using two pieces 

 of two-inch tile, placing them together so as to en- 

 circle the tree, an efficient safeguard is obtained. 

 At the bottom they may be held together by a pyr- 

 amid of earth, or fastened top and bottom "with a 

 small-sized annealed wire, as mice eat off an ordi- 

 nary string. Tile of this size, or larger when the 

 trees require it, are not very expensive, and if care- 

 fully laid away in the spring would serve the same 

 purpose several years, and repay many fold the 

 original outlay. They are to be had in nearly all 

 parts of the State, and commend themselves to all 

 desiring protection for trees. 



We may add in this connection, that grape vines, 

 raspberry bushes, and other fruit-bearing or flower- 

 ing shrubs, that are injured by extreme cold, may 

 be effectually protected by laying down and cov- 

 ering lightly with dry earth, evergreen boughs, 

 boards, or straw. The latter is objectionable, on 

 account of harboring mice that would destroy the 

 plants. Grape vines should be carefully taken from 

 the trellis, and laid so as to mar them as little as 

 possible. Care should be exercised that they are 

 kept from the wet as much as may be. Attention 

 to these things may save many valuable plants, and 

 richly repay the time and labor expended. 



LAWNS. 



Who does not desire a smooth shaven, green 

 lawn. They are essential to effective landscape 

 gardening, and cannot receive too much attention. 

 There are multitudes of people, we regret to say, 

 who know very little about the method and labor 

 necessary to secure a good lawn. It is by no 

 means uncommon to hear persons of taste and 

 leisure, who would be supposed to be acquainted 

 jvith the subject, enquire at a seed-store for the 

 leed of that grass which grows short and thick — 

 just suited to make a fine green lawn. As such 

 seed is by no means to be obtained, they are gene- 

 rally served with a package of some of the common 

 grass seeds, which, sowing and treating as they 

 have heretofore done, ends in failure and disap- 

 pointment. 



From the number of grasses grown in the States, 

 a selection may be had of those well suited to 

 make by proper treatment a good lawn. For this 

 purpose we have generally taken Red Top, Ken- 

 tucky Blue Grass, Orchard Grass, Timothy, and 

 White Clover. Not that these are by any means 

 what are inquired for as producing "short fine 

 grass," but as offering an excellent mixture for the 

 purpose. Red top is one of the earliest spring 

 grasses, showing the green leaf on the first opening 

 of spring. Kentucky blue-grass commences a vig- 

 orous growth the last of May, after the Red-top 

 has nearly perfected itself: and the blue-grass, be- 

 ing a very soft-leaved grass, not inclined to grow 

 stalky, covers the ground to a very great extent. 

 Orchard grass is coarse-growing, but roots deep, is 

 very little affected by drouth, springs up quick 

 after being cut, and furnishes a beautiful carpet of 

 grees mixed with the other gi-asses, when without 

 it the lawn would not appear as well. Timothy 

 answers the same purpose, to some extent. White 

 clover is not the best for lawns, but being a gene- 

 ral favorite, is good mixed with the others to make 

 up a variety, and in the opinion of some, it adds by 

 its delicate flowers to the beauty of the lawn. 



These seeds should be sown on well tilled ground, 

 made level and of fine tilth, raked in and rolled 

 down when the ground is not too damp, else it will 

 become hard on the surface and prevent the vege- 

 tation of the seeds. 



But the great secret of a good lawn is frequent 

 mowing, which induces root growth, so that the 

 grass is less likely to burn, in hot, dry weather, than 

 when left to itself. With frequent cutting, nothing 

 bat leaves of the grasses are presented, as the 

 coarse stalk is not allowed to grow. Neglect the 

 frequent mowing, and no amount of planting, 



