Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1895 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 2 [ADVERTISEMENT]

Purdue. University Agricultural Experiment Station. News? paper Bulletin, No. 17. Nov. 2IL-44Uiff_ ? Protection of Fruit Trees From mice and Rabbits. I ''V r~ -a.' Yonng fruit trees are very apt to be injured during the winter by mice and rabbits gnawing the bark. This is especially true if the orchard has been neglected during the summer season. A heavy growth of grass or weeds about tire trees make /exclient. nests for mice during the winter, and wllfejre rubbish- heaps have been allowed to accumulate in the orchard, especially if it is near a forest, rabbits will almost invariably congregate. Under these conditions the young trees will almost certainly suffer from the ravages of one or both of these pests. It is importan t there fore that this matter be attended to at once.

There are various remedies recU ommeuded for these evils- the first and most successful of which is clean cultivation. If this has not been followed then remove all loose mulch, dead grass aud rubbish of various kinds from the immediate vicinity of the base of the trees; This will destroy the -nest--ing places of mice and will go far towards protecting the trees from injury. Then in addition to the above, make a smooth, compact mound of earth, a foot high, about tho base ot the trees, jn st before the ground" freezes. These two precautions will be all that, is necessary torinsure protection against mi oe. Rabbits are not so liable to injure trees where there are other small plants, such as young grape vines or nursery stock in the immediate vicinity of the orchard, as they seOm to delight in .cutting -off the young fender branches in preference to gnawing the bark of older trees. It is always safe, how ever, to protect - the trees, aud a' favorite method is to' wrap the trunks with closely woven wire screen, such as is used for screen doors. This may be cut into strips eighteen inches to two feet jn length and wide enough to comGAdigrc tire .bod y ,/rf tho -tiem These may be tacked on or the edges woven together, and if they do not fit too closely, may be left on for several years. Instead of the wire screen, ordinary roofing tin is sometimes used.—Sheathing paper is also used with good effect placed on the tree in a similar manner. If one is located near a slaughter house, a very convenient as well as effectual method is to wash the trunks of the trees with blood or rancid grease. This, however, is liable to be washed off by rains, and would need renewal several times durihgjdie winter. These aud doubtless other remeiee, will prove effectual if properly applied. By giving this, matter immediate attention, much damage to our young orchards may be prevented. Jas. Troop, v '*» • Horticulturist.

OBITUARY. The funeral of Mrs. Mary A. Hopkins, wife of Nehemiah Hopkins, of Newton township, whose sudden and all unexpected death was briefly announced last week, was held last Friday, at he. late residence. Rev. B. F. Ferguson conducted the religious exercises at the funeral. The remains together with that of an infant child that never breathed, were buried in the same grave, at Weston cemetery. Mrs. Hopkins’ maiden name whs Adair, and she was born in Jay county, this state, Feb,, 26, 186,1, a id thus died at the .untimely age of 34 years, 9 months and 8 days. A husband and three' surviving children mourn her loss. 'the ladies bazaar.' The ladies of the .Presbyterian Church will dp*n tii-dr bazaar, Wed-* nesday, Dec. 18th, and continue four days. Chicken pie dinner, the open ing day. Thursday turkey dinner, Friday general dinner, with fish. Ail kinds of fancy work, candies etc/ for sale. Supper served every evening. Season admission tickets only 5 cents.