Notes and Gleanings. 371 



Fall and Wlxter Treatment of Strawberries. — All strawberry-beds 

 should be carefully weeded in the fall ; for, if neglected then, a large crop of 

 weeds, stimulated by the manure used for the good of the strawberries, will grow 

 and flourish early the next spring, to the great injury of the crop of berries. 

 Chickweed and shepherd's-sprout are among the nuisances that so trouble 

 the fruit-grower, especially where he attempts to raise this fruit on old land. 

 After the beds have been carefully looked after in this respect, then they should 

 receive, just as the ground freezes up, a covering of coarse horse-manure, straw, 

 sedge, meadow-hay, or even evergreen boughs, to protect them during the win- 

 ter. It sometimes happens that snow comes, and remains all winter, and is 

 sufficient protection for all the plants it covers ; but this cannot be counted upon, 

 and so the safest way is to cover artificially. Peach-trees would be greatly 

 benefited by some such protection ; certainly at the North and West, where the 

 peach-crop often fails from exposure. 



Pound or Uvedale St. Germain Pear. — This pear grows to the largest 

 size, often weighing a pound and a half or two pounds. It is a great bearer, and 

 the fruit is most always fair. It colors up yellow when ripe, with a reddish cheek. 

 The flesh is solid, and it is an excellent winter-cooking variety. The tree is 

 hardy and vigorous ; and the fruit, though very large, hangs well. 



Hunt's Russet. — Tiiis apple originated in Old Concord, Mass., on the 

 farm of a Mr. Hunt, and has an excellent reputation in that goodly town.' The 

 fruit is of medium size, and rather conical in shape ; russet with red and green- 

 ish yellow on sunny side. It keeps all winter, and has a very excellent sub-acid 

 flavor. Some prefer it to the American golden russet, which it somewhat resem- 

 bles. Good bearer. 



To protect Trees from Mice. — Some years ago, we adopted a cheap 

 and yet successful plan to prevent field-mice from injuring our apple-trees. We 

 cut birch-bark, and put it round the tree near its base, and let it curl up and hug 

 to the tree. Not one was injured where the bark was used : they will not gnaw 

 through it, as we believe. We have known tin used in the same way, and it 

 answered an excellent purpose. Others adopt the simplest way of all, — tread 

 the snow firmly down around the tree soon after it falls, and thus form a barrier 

 against the mice. Again : where the trees are small, and stand in ploughed land, 

 the earth caii be so heaped up about the tree as to furnish no harbor or retreat 

 for this little enemy. When small trees stand in the grass, if any are allowed 

 to do so, one of the above plans should be resorted to, or the trees may suffer. 



Grape-Cuttings. — These should be secured before the wood has been 

 frozen much, cut into convenient lengths, and covered up in earth, unless they 

 are wanted to start early in the propagating-house. Only the well-ripened wood 

 should be saved for propagation. They may be buried in the ground or cellar, 

 or any place where they will keep fresh, and, before being used in the spring, 

 cut into single eyes, or such lengths as are preferred. 



