My ancestors from way back through geological ages have all been lovers of nut trees and especially conifers.  If you knew of the great districts covered with valuable timber that have come into existence by reason of our planting of nuts and conifer seed, you would be very much surprised.  While we gather large quantities of seed for use as food during the long, cold winter months, each one of us secretes several thousand seed annually, widely scattered, in good places for trees to grow.  The most of these scattered seeds remain in the ground and germinate where they were planted.

My grandfather on my mother’s side has told me that some of his relatives in Scotland were once accused of doing considerable injury to plantations of firs and pines by gnawing off the top shoots, which you know make pretty good eating for a hungry little squirrel.  Wasn’t that a great thing to make a fuss about?  I believe my grandpa knew as much as you do about the real existence and natural history of the mastodon, the megatherium, the paleotherium and the pterodactyl.

In the planting of forest trees we were assisted by birds.  I will name a few who helped us the most in this northern latitude, or, as you call it, “the blizzard belt.”  You showed me the other day two beautiful oak trees, on your grounds that were planted by crows.  Bluejays are great seed planters, also mourning doves; and the wild pigeons, now extinct, were great planters of many nut trees.  Almost every variety of birds has assisted us in the planting of the seeds of trees, bushes and, in fact, all plants that bear valuable fruits or nutritious seeds.

[Illustration:  Chas. F. Gardner at his best.]

While I think of it, I will tell you that I was born in a beautiful nest, made of moss, twigs and dry leaves curiously interwoven in the fork of a tree at a considerable height from the ground.  I had four little brothers and sisters.  We loved each other dearly and had a good time all cuddled up in our sweet little home.  I wish you would let me go and visit them sometime this summer.  Now if you have no objection I will take a little nap.—­Frisky.

Top-Working.

O. W. MOORE, VETERAN HORTICULTURIST, SPRING VALLEY.

From my experience in fruit growing I have come to the conclusion that the best method to apply in starting a commercial orchard in this section of country would be to gather apple seed from Duchess and Hibernal apples and plant them, in order that we might grow hardy seedling roots to be used in making root-grafts.  After growing these apple seedlings one year I would graft short pieces of their roots to long Hibernal scions, plant them out in the nursery row and grow them the first year as a whip or single shoot.  The second year before growth starts in the spring I would cut those whips back to the height where I wanted to start the head of the tree.  After growth starts rub off all the buds except from four to six at the top, these being left to form the head of the tree.  The trunk of the tree below these buds should be kept clear of all growth at all times.