i;i m i I'll - fi IB I Ni i 1:1 i' i i:i i 8. 
iu;hlf 111 it. I In- ends of the scions are then cut to lit these uotche . 
tin- scion itself l>eing left slightl} longer than the span of the injury, 
so that the} may I"' sprung into position and held firmly. The 
camhium layer of tree and scion should meet over as much surfa< 
Some operators use ;i chisel to cut the notches and ;i small 
hail or taek at each end to hold the scion in position. The last step 
i- to cover all exposed cut surfaces with grafting \\;i\ or to bind nil 
kith waxed cloth so as to exclude air until the -eon- are firmly 
united w uli the i ret*. 
[f young orchard trees are but slightly injured ;i covering of gra I'i - 
ine; wax may l>e applied with good results, though a covering of soil 
i- equally effective. The usefulness of paints for damaged trees de- 
bends both upon the stage of growth and the composition of the 
paints. Some are said to kill trees if applied in the spring. Coal 
tar will do the same, as the writer learned by costly experiment. 
Pine tar has been highly recommended for wounded tree-. but it 
las been known to kill young peach tree- to which it was applied to 
keep away mice. 
For nursery stock badly injured by mice there is no remedy. When 
the injury is slight the wound- may be covered with wax or soil and 
will heal over in a season, delaying sale for a year. This applies to 
both deciduous tree- and evergreens. In the case of young trees, when 
the injury is considerable the tops may be cut out and new ones 
brown more quickly than fresh stock, hut this is possible only when 
the wound- are well above the original graft. In the case of valu- 
able or fare sorts bridge grafting may be resorted to, but for ordi- 
nary stock it i- cheaper to pull up the injured tree- and grow new- 
one-. 
-I MMARY. 
Field mice, because of their small size, secretive habits, and great 
fecundity, often become a menace to farm and orchard crops in many 
part- of the country. In the Old World, as well as in America, cor- 
rective measures begun after a plague of the animals is in full 
progress have usually proved ineffectual. Preventive measures, if 
carefully carried out. are sufficient to avoid serious losses. 
Among the more important measures for preventing ravages by 
field mice are the following: 
1. Protection of the natural enemies of field mice, particularly 
owls, most hawk-, shrikes, snakes, skunks, badgers, and mosl species 
of weasels. 
2. Elimination of the breeding grounds of field mice by draining 
swamps and cleaning waste place- that afford the animal- harbor 
3. Periodic plowing of grass and other lands for the rotation of 
crop-. 
4. Clean cultivation of corn and all other crop-, and especially of 
orchard- and nurseries. 
