Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-20


acting upon the upper stratum, and removed
the frost.
Alpine plants, that outlive the severest
winter of mountain districts, because protec-
ted by snow, have perished in the compara-
tive warm climate of England for want of
such protection. We had good illustra-
tion to the genial influences of snow in our
own country last winter. The thermometer
went down to point unprecedented in our
history, being no less than % degrees below
zero. That was point Of depression indi-
Gated for the first time in record OF sixty
seven years, and for how long previously, it
was impossible to tell. Of course the peach
crop was utterly ruined, and orchards which
were wont to yield hundreds of bushels of
splendid fruit, produced this year nothing
butleaves. At our Horticultural show, how
ever, there were exhibited several magnif-
cent specimens of peaches, which upon in
quiry were found in every instance to have
been produced upon limbs that had by for
tunate accident been bent down and covered
with snow-drift. The temperature in their
position did not probably fall below zero, and
if they could have laid upon the ground
would barely have reached freezing point
The earth at this severe period was mantled
with heavy fall, and we tremble at the pos
sible consequences which might have ensued
in casethe ground had been exposed and de-
nuded. As it was, the frost did not pene-
trate to an unusual depth, and the wheat
fields and the meadows came out in the spring
fresh and green from their long winter slum-
bers.
Snow has been called the poor mans ma
nure; but we are not aware that analysis
shows it to possess any fructifying elements
not contained in rain water The gradual
manner of its melting away enables the soil
to absorb a greater portion, and thus become
thoroughly saturated at the season when
such result is desirable. The absorption
of caloric, which becomes latent in melting
snow, prevents a. sudden transition from the
chill of winter to the warmth of spring. If
it were not for this, vegetation would start
too early, and all the fruits and tender plants
would be nipped by vernal frosts. As the
seasons are now constituted, the sun must at
least be cross the equator, and the length of
days exceed that of the nights, before the
snow melts from the hillside, and disappears
in the valley. It has then performed its
mission, gentle and merciful one, what
ever may have been its chill and forbidding
aspect in early autumn.
\ locality that experiences abundant falls
Of snow, which cover the ground uniformly
through the winter, will admit of the cult
vation of many things that cannot be grown
i'll other places with no lower temperature,
but destitute of snow, and many countries
would be, without its perfecting influences,
mere regions of waste and desolation.
Rural New Yorker.
In addition to the facts stated above may
be added the following Snow from the
porous condition of its particles, receives
from the atmosphere while falling though it
all gases before held in suspension, and af-
ter it reaches the surface of the earth, con-
tinucs to perform various Offices not noted
above. No gas from below can escape through
the snow, as itself is always at 80 degrees or
less, and thus condcnscs these gases, causing
them again to fall into the soil, or to remain
combined with the snow. The gases arising
from decomposition, which travel above the
snow with the atmosphereare condensed when
it comes in contact with it, and are continu-
ally passing down in this condensed condi-
ton through the snow. AS mulch, the
snow is better than any other substance, and
as such is of material benefit. 1t is a mis-
take to suppose that rains cleanse the atmos-
phere as thoroughly as snow. Many instan-
ces are given by Liebig and others, of snow
having the smell of urine and other fecal
matters so strongly, as to be easily recogni-
zed.
Our various articles on Mulching, Cur
neyism, ETC., will give full information on
the natural laws referring to the above phc-
nomena- ED.