The root-killing of nursery and orchard trees is not by any means a new addition to the list of difficulties with which the orchardist of the northern Mississippi valley states is obliged to contend. Frequent reference is made to it in horticultural society literature. In the report of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society for 1871, page 86, I find the following: “Resolved, That in the opinion of this Society the nursery and orchard trees of the state are in good condition for wintering up to the present time, when properly mulched, and that in consequence of a lack of sufficient quantity of snow we recommend to all who have not mulched their trees to do so immediately to prevent root-killing.”