Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-02
fer t5e farmrr.
WINTER CARE FOR FRUIT TREES.

Yesterday we crossed an orchard b,
chance, the owner of which was alread,
preparing his trees to support the frosts O
winter-as he supposed. But ~accordin!
to our experience, as well as theory, b.
was taking the most direct mode of giving
them hesmallest chance 10 Give through
As he was but a beginner, we could more
readily excuse him tor following what a
first might seem to be a feasible PLAN
"Somebody" had told him that the fros
would have less effect upon the roots i
they were imbedded in water through the
winter, and he was heaping up and pack
ing solid q circular bank of earth four Of
five feet distant from the body OF each
tree, SO as to hold a pool of wafer even
with the surface of the ground. Nothing
could be more unphilosophical; as a little
reflection will show.
Every healthy, vigorous tree or plant
is supplied with an almost infinite number
Of fbrous roots, which Psnerate every
part of the soil, and gather sap, along
with ii a SUPPLY Of organic and inorganic
food. The expansion and contraction OF
the soil, during the winter, tear and break
numbers Of these minute roots, a MAORI
ty Of which are so small as 10 te impcr-
ceptible TO the unaided eye. Where
there is a great number of alternatives 81
heat and cold, so many Of these roots are
broken as TO leave the tree in a sickly con-
dilion in the spring, and it should he a
careful study to protect ,hem from such
action of frost. Should there be but a
slight degree of frost, not more than
enough 10 freeze water half an i1ch il
depth, a body of wafer around the roots
would doubtless &C, as a preseryvr and
from this fact probably the ridiculous
practice arose above alluded to. But in
this climate we have to guard against
foot-deep insiea1 of inch deep frosls.
A simple experiment viii show the diff
ference between a dry and wet soil around
the base of the tree. Take three cups,
nine inches deep ill each enc of them
within one inch of the top-the first with
water, the second with earth saturated
with water, and the lhird with moist bet
nearly dry earth, and subject all three 10
cold enouge 10 freeze them solid. In The
first, the water in changing to ice will so
expand as to FL up the tnIire measure.
The moist earth in the second viii have
expanded nearly as much, while the cJm7
parativrly dry earth will scarcely expand
an eighth of an inch.
The experiment, orthe principle which
it illustrates, viz: that water freezing
expands but one eighth of lis bulk, while
dry soils do not thus expand, has e direct
bearing upon the Observation-Disclosures.
Instead of retaining water arouni them, it
is better to dig a ditch Cat a sufficient dis
lance to avoid cutting The roofs, to con-
vey the water away and leave the soil
dry.
1t is sometimes even advisable 10 bank
up the earth eight or ten inches high
around the body of the tree, ami slope it
off a few feet. This will both carry off
the water and afford additional warmth 10
The roofs.
For giving increased warmth, it is well
worth while TO mulch the ground well
with straw, muck or sods, that is, pat Oh
a thick coating of any Of these substances,
10 be part removed in the spring, and in
part worked into the soil. This will keep
out the frost, and save The roots fro.n the
breaking, tearing, effect of the frost, and
also give additional richness to the SOIL
W Zen straw Is used, II should be wet n
even rolien, and not 10 be placed too
thick against The body of the tree, lest ii
should furnish q rest for mice.
We repeat, the most essential conside-
r%Btions in the wiHler protection of fruit
trees, are 10 keep the soil dry, and shield
the roots from The frost.-Niqgara Dem.
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