840 



YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



from 4 to G inches, cover it with soil. Netting made of No. 20 wire 

 costs from 20 to 80 cents per rod. Heavier netting slightly increases 

 the cost of fencing, bnt adds to its durability. Where lumber is 

 cheap, a picket fence or one made of pickets and wire combined may 

 be substituted for the netting. 



TIJEE PROTECTION. 



The devices that have been recommended for protecting trees from 

 rabbits are too numerous for separate mention. The majority con- 

 sist of paints, Avashes, or smears of various kinds, supposed to be 

 distasteful to the animals. Unfortunately, those that are sufficiently 

 permanent to afford protection for an entire winter often injure or 

 even kill the trees to which thej are applied. Coal tar, pine tar, 

 tarred paper, and A^arious oils are likely to kill young trees. Blood 

 and animal fats when freshly applied will protect from rabbits, but 

 are objectionable, since the}^ are highly attractive to the destructive 

 short-tailed field mice. Carbolic acid and other volatile substances 

 afford onlj^ temporary protection, and must be renewed too often to 

 justify their use. Bitter substances, like commercial aloes, or quassia, 

 are useless against rabbits. 



Among the most promising washes that have been recommended 

 for tree protection is the " lime-and-sulphur " wash, so effective in 

 winter for the destruction of the San Jose scale. Several corre- 

 spondents of the Biological Survey have affirmed its efficacy in pro- 

 tecting trees from both mice and rabbits. If this cheap method of 

 controlling our worst insect pest of the orchard has further value 

 in protecting trees from rodents, the fact can not be too widely 

 advertised. The results of personal observation by the writer seem 

 to fully warrant its recommendation, and its cheapness makes the 

 method worthy of general trial by orchardists. 



The formula for the w^ash, reduced to the basis of the capacity of 

 the ordinary kerosene barrel commonly used in the preparation, is : 



Unslaked lime poiiiids__ 20 



Flowers of sulphur pounds- _ 15 



Water to make gallons— 45-50 



A little salt may be added to increase the adhesive property of the 

 mixture. The lime, sulphur, and about a third of the water are boiled 

 together for at least one hour, and the full quantity of water is then 

 added. For San Jose scale the wash in the form of a spray is ap- 

 plied to the entire surface of the trees. For protection from mice 

 and rabbits the trunks only require treatment, and the wash may be 

 applied with a brush. One application in November should last 

 the entire winter. 



