In reading over your leader of the December number, I was struck with a remark yon made on mulching dwarf Pear trees. In former years, I have been much troubled with mice girdling young trees in my fruit garden. Four years ego, on the approach of winter, I commenced putting a conical mound, about one foot high, around all, but particularly dwarf Pear trees. This mound has generally been of rich earth from the woods. I have nearly four hundred Pear trees, mostly on Quince stock. None have been hurt by mice since that time; and last winter, probably the most trying in many years, but one was injured, and that was a beautiful Beurr e Diel, fifteen feet high; the leaves were small, and of a sickly hue, and I was fearful it would die, On the first of June, I gave this tree a thorough watering with weak guano water, one pound of guano to twenty gallons of water. In about two weeks it began gradually to improve; its leaves put on a healthy hue, the Pear began to swell, and finally ripened nicely. M - Oneida County, N. Y.