eath the bark. As the tree continues to grow, the area between the
slits dies, making a very rough appearance of the bark and an area into
which spores of disease and bacteria may enter. The twig that is badly
scarred very often dies, and sometimes young trees just set out are
marked so badly that they succumb.

"The only practical remedy against such a pest is clean cultivation of
the orchard, as one can readily work out from knowing the life history.
It is possible that some of the sprays like Bordeaux mixture, or
self-boiled lime-sulphur, sprayed and kept active on the trees during
the month of August would deter these hoppers from laying eggs. However,
we have had no practical experience along this line, although we do know
that trees under clean cultivation are not affected."--A. G. Ruggles,
Head of Section of Spraying and Tree Insects, University Farm, St. Paul.

* * * * *

MINNESOTA NO. 3 STRAWBERRY.--A communication from Peter
Jackson, Cloquet, says: "I had my first trial of the Minnesota No. 3
strawberry last year and they did finely. I had one hundred twenty-five
quarts from sixty plants." Who can do better than that?

Growing Tomatoes in Northern Minnesota.

REV. GEO. MICHAEL, WALKER, MINN.

Sow seed in hotbed about April first, in rows five inches apart and five
inches apart in each row. Transplant in garden one week after danger of
frost is past. The day before transplanting soak the hotbed thoroughly
with warm water. In taking them up to transplant use a sharp butcher
knife; the ground thus cut out will form a cube five inches in diameter.
This block, should be set in a hole ten to twelve inches deep. The
ground around the block must be made very firm. This block will be four
to six inches below the surface. _Fill the hole with warm rainwater_ and
three or four hours later rake in loose dirt to fill the hole, being
careful not to pack it in the least.

_How to prepare the ground._ Manure heavily; plow very deep; harrow
thoroughly. Then in forming the hills place two shovelfuls of fine
manure and one-half shovelful of hen manure for each hill. Spade this in
from twelve to eighteen inches deep and eighteen to twenty inches wide.
Cultivate often.

The plants should be staked at first to keep the wind storms from
injuring them. When one and one-half feet high they should be trained
over poles placed on each side of the row one and one-half feet from the
ground. P