Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-04-18
AorifulturaI Rfaoine.
RENEFrT OF SNOW.

Ii Is with some feeAhss Oa ASSAeN
that farmers. as well as oth-
er men, regard the approach OF WINTER
That during several months, there must
continue an exhausting drain upon the
Accommodations of the year, without any
streams to counterbaianee
its effects, is fact not pleasant to con-
template, especially if an individual hap
pens to be straitened in supply. Hence,
when a storm of snow occurs early IN the
season. as one did in this locality, on the
twenty-fffh ult-, the inquiry naturally
arises of what benefit is snow! We see
its evil effects in the wretched state in
which it places our roads; in the strained
and broken manner it leaves our trees,
especially if it comes, as in this instance,
before they have been defoilated by the
wind and frost; in the downcast and
sorry look it gives to all animated nature,
man included.
1t is not our purpose to assert the value
of an untimely snow, any more than that
of an untimely frost. ANY one OF the
phenomena of nature may be attended
with evil consequences, however beBeh-
cial and necessary in a general way. 100
much rain OF too little, too backward a
season or too forward; and thousand
things generally beneficial, may be spe-
cially injurious. Nature works by general
laws, and in their impartial administration
does not stop to inquire whether or not
this mans seed is sown, or that mans
harvest secure.
Snow. in ATTITUDES, where the temper
ture is Sufficiently low for it to fall, is
of vital importance to vegetable life
Its peculiarly porous structure renders II
an exceeding bad conductor Of calorici
and hence, when covering anything eth
er warm or cold, and greatly differing il
temperature from the snow itself, or from
surrounding objects it requires long
period of time for the equilibrium to bt
restored.
If the earth becomes early covered
with snow, and before the ground is frozen
it viii remain above freezing point tht
entire winter, even thought the atmosphere
temperature should 60 down many de
grees below zero. So decided in its pro
lection, that if the soil be penetrated wit
frost to the depth of several inches befor
the fall of snow comes on, the caloric {
the subsoil viii remove the frost notwith
standing the atmosphere has not at an
time risen much above freezing poini
The ground had been frozen like a ston
before the snow fell upon il, the weathe
continuing many weeks below freezin
point; 4.ad yet afterwards, on removin
the snow. the ground was found thawe
out, and easily lifted with shovel. {
course, boys reason was given for til
circumstance, viz: that the snow wa
, warm, and had thawed out the GROUND
: instead of the true one, that It's non-coI
Quoting properties had intercepted th
radiation of the heat from the lowe
strato Of the soil, and this, acting upo
the upper stratum, has removed Ii
frost.
Alpine plants, that ouflive the severe.
winters of mountain districts because pr,
! tected by snow, have persisted in the con
paratiyely warm climate of England fc
want Of such protection. We had goo
Illustration Of the genial influences
snow in our own country last white
The thermometer went down to a poiI
unprecedented IN our history, being I
less than twenty-five degrees below ger
There was point of depression indicate
for the first in record of sixty-seve
years, and for how long period prev
Ously, it is impossible to tell. Of cours
the peach crop was utterly ruined, al
orchards, which were wont to yield hui
dreds of bushels of splendid fruit, pr
duced this year. nothing but leaves. I
our Horticultural show, however, the
were exhibited several magnificent speC
mems of peaches, which, upon enquir
were found in every instance TO have bes
produced upon limbs that had, by 70
tunate accident, been bent down and co
- cred with snow-drift. The temper
ture in their position did not probab
fall to zero, and if they could have laid u
J. on the ground, would barely have reach
r. freezing point. The earth at this seve
period was mantled with a heavy f.
: and We tremble at the possible con:
quences which might have ensued in c.
the ground had been exposed and denud,
: As it was, the frost did not penetrate
an unusual depth, and the wheat fel
and the meadows came out in the sprir
fresh and green from their long win
slumbers