Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-06

servatiOns showing the precise amount OF dill
ference between exposure and the different
kinds of covering. Having recently MADE
some ex Examination, We report them with the
hope that they will lead to others OF more
! directly applicable character on the part OF
| some of our readers.
The observations were made on soils early
| IN winter, after exposure to cold, averaging
ONE ten or twelve degrees below freez ing, for
about a week, accompanied with good deal
Of wind. The depth to which the ground
| was found frozen will indicate the varied de-
grees Of advantage resulting from the different
| Kinds OF Protection.
Ba-e soil beaten moderately hard in farm
roal Was found frozen very hard to an ave-
rage depth of six inches, with a variation OF
An iuch CT 50, as the surface was more or less
exposed to the sweep OF the winds. Ii should
| b. remarked that all the soils examined were
q strong heavy loan.
Sui winch had been plowed last summer,
but had become settled and hard, and a
0earen path riightiy covered with grass, were
| Goth tra down about five inches.
| Soil meIIowed lare IN autumn, hard soil,
sheltered ten feet off with an evergreen screen
ten feet high, and pasture closely grazed,
were all hOzen down aoout four inches.
| Under Sofa pasture grass covering the sur
fAce two or three inches, ia thickness, the
/
inches, varying with the d gree OF exposure
on knobs Of fit surface and in depression
d foot deep and several feet wide where
| the grass was somewhat thicker there was
ii Tie or no tIOs.
Under the lee of ten foot evergreen
scresn, three feet from 1t, hard ground was
frozen only two inches deep. About the
same depth of frost was found where the soil
was covered with an inch or two of leaves,
| Ut with an inch or two IF moss. in ex-
posed situation.
Soii entirely under the prostrate branches
# evergreen trees or covered with short
grass, close beside such trees were tr0z IN
DOWN about an inch. SJii covered with
about an inch OF fee moss near the dense
| -vergreen screens. WIS not frozs at all.
Tngsc observations y iii suggest 90 cultlva-
OFs come practical hints IN the planting anu
cultivation Of half hardy or tender plants
sud sn'u)s. the advantage of mellow sur
iace acting as non conductor OF trost, II
shown by the lessened depth IN freezing, good
lralnage being necess ,Iy for such pulverlza-
| ITCn. w hen the pCiyer.Z alton Is yery perfect
the frost scarseiy CAUSES adhesion among the
particles and it is therefore nearly imposs {
lot il 10 heave or throw ouE the roots
Lsie fall rains may however, render suc1
eoiis more comp ct-reodtrlng 1t advisable
60 tread the surface 10 exclude the rain IL
cases CT late autumn transplanting unless ii
can be done by leaves Or other artificial
covering
The protection afforded by thick coat
lag ot grass, when compared with ID close J
graIzed surface, Is quite striking, anu show
IL least one OF the reasons OF tue great 50
yerioriry of pasture IN Spring that are no
severely fed off in autumn.
The protection afforded by moss and leave,
in exposed situations, points out the Imp or
tance OF winter muiching TO tender plant
or even TO hardy ones straw berries, or tC
the roots Of trees liable 10 injury, Us dwar
pears.
the remar kabie protection afforded By ever
green screens and trees is an additional cor
ruboIatIOn of the many observations made o
late years on this branch of the subect
There Is no question that by surrounding
plot of ground with dense evergreens, &C
cJmpanIed with covering of leaves or moss
many plan generally regarded az green
house plants might be subjeced wholly t.
opeG air culture.-CounstryG Gentleman.