26 



Protecting the Trunks of Trees. 



The last thing which ought to be done to the orchard in the 

 autumn is to adopt some plan of protecting the trees from 

 damage by mice. If mice are not plentiful in the section and 

 are seldom known to do any damage of this type, then merely 

 clearing away the trash and cover crop from around the trees 

 may be all that is necessary. But if there is any great proba- 

 bility of damage, then it is better to use some sort of protectors; 

 and a strip of good waterproof building paper about 18 inches 

 wide, placed around the tree at its base and tied in one or two 

 places to hold it snugly, will usually insure the tree coming 

 through without damage. Do not use tar paper! 



