irdling the branch. Pads
should also be placed between the gas pipe and the tree trunk wherever
there is contact, and under the rope where tied.

What Frisky is Telling the Veteran Horticulturist.

CHAS. F. GARDNER, OSAGE, IOWA.

I am your cunning little squirrel, and as you have named me Frisky and
have adopted me as a regular member of your family, I will tell you some
little things I know about horticulture, or more properly, forest tree
planting.

[Illustration: Our squirrel.]

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 cud