544 TBAXSACTioys of the AMERiCAy Institute. 



November 9, 1869. 



Nathan C. Ely, Esq., in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 

 PRiriT Trees and Field Mice. 

 'Mr. David "Whyborn, of Mexico, Oswego county, N. Y., gave the 

 following as his method of protection during the snows of winter : 

 One way is to draw up and place around the body of each tree a 

 small mound of earth, say from ten to twelve inches high. Another : 

 Cut open old stove pipes and place around the trunk. Either of the 

 above (whichever has been the most convenient), he has practiced 

 with success for the past twenty years. 



Mr. Solon Eobinson. — Tarred paper, which costs something like 

 four cents a pound, is cheaper, more easily applied and equally 

 efficient. 



Mr. Frank Curtis. — A still easier, better and less expensive prac- 

 tice, is to place three or four shovels full of well-rotted barn yard 

 manure at the base of each tree, pressing it closely. In spring spread 

 it about the surface. This is sure, and enriches the ground withal. 



Mr. John Hague, Clinton, Iowa, has, he says, found his way effec- 

 tual in an experience of over twenty years : Get equal parts or quan- 

 tities of common black soot and sulphur, mix them well together in 

 a dry state, and then make some weak flour paste and mix in it the 

 sulphur and soot to the consistency of paint just ready for the brush ; 

 lay this on to the trees and vines just before the hard season comes 

 on, and don't be afraid to lay plenty on, even up to the branches, 

 and if another coat was put on in spring, right up into the branches, 

 we should not hear much about bark lice and other things. This 

 compost has this to recommend it ; the rains wash it off in spring, 

 and it makes a good liquid manure to give the vine or tree a start 

 with, and if the sun hatches out any insect eggs near it, the grubs or 

 larvse don't like the fumes of the soot and sulphur, and they leave 

 for quarters not quite so strong. It don't kill them, but insects are 

 like human beings, they like easy places to live in, or on, and move 

 if they are annoyed, often to be destroyed by other casualties. 



The Barberry Bush for Hedges. 

 Mr. John B, "Woods, of Great Falls, N. H., wrote as follows : Sev- 

 eral years ago I called the attention of the Club to the policy of using 

 barberry for hedging purposes. In a moist soil it will grow eight 



