12) KECP THE BARK CLEAN. 
the same as is used in budding, and then put on 
some grafting wax, so that the air would be excluded 
where the ends of the scions were inserted. The 
adjoining cut is an accurate drawing of one of these 
girdled trees at the end of the first season. There 
were three scions inserted in this tree. By this sim- 
ple means, every one of the trees were saved, and to- 
day they look as healthy and vigorous as any in the 
orchard. On this occasion, however, I found that 
the trees injured were those growing in or near 
grass, and although I could trace the paths of the 
mice in different parts of the orchard, no tree that 
stood in plowed ground had been touched. 
The knowledge of this fact I consider valuable. 
In the future I will keep the surface of the ground 
entirely free from grass. 
A  Wase ror Pear Trees.—It has been re- 
marked by a close observer of human nature, that 
the moral tone of a community can readily be esti- 
mated from a knowledge of the amount of soap 
used therein. 
It may be said with equal propriety, that the 
health and fruitfulness of a pear orchard depends to 
agreat extent on the cleanliness of the bark. To 
preserve an orchard in vigor and health, the bark 
must be kept clean. The growth of moss and fungi 
on the body and branches of a fruit tree indicates 
