The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-12-31
Protection for Winter.

Protection for Winter.
THERE are two leading causes which
lnjure plants In winter beside . low tenn.
perature, namely: the sweep Of cutting
winds and the rays Of the sun ON frozen
tissue. Both of these should be taken
into account in providing protection for
winter. We sometimes SEQ striking
cases of injury by the winds. Plants
are occasionally thrown partly out Of
the ground by the hesving frost, and
hard winds have twisted and uprooted
them. An extensive farmer assured u
that his wheat crop was often lessened
to one-haf the amount by this cause
alone in exposed places loss which
the shelter of woods or timber screens
prevented. A striking case Of similar
character once occurred on our own
ground in the days when Mediterranean
wheat was generally cultivated. An ex-
posed field was partially covered with q
thin coat of straw, spread after the
ground had become frozen; the other
part had no straw applied. The thin
covering of straw was sufficient to
shield the wheat-plants and prevent their
destruction, and the subsequent yield on
this part was about twenty bushels per
acre. The sharp winds destroyed nearly
all the wheat ON the bare portion, and it
was not deemed worth cutting.
The action Of winds on garden plants
often produces similar results. Straw
berries are sometimes heaved by frost,
and then killed in the same way, when q
slight covering would serve completely
to protect them. Where they are not
killed, more or less injury is done by ex-
posure. Any gardener can easily satisfy
himself on this point by covering o
portion of his straw berry beds and leav-
ing q part exposed; the former will come
out fresh, green and vigorous in spring
when the covering is taken of, while the
latter will be Drowned and of weakened
vitality.
Some years ago we made series Of
experiments of the depth of the frost in
the soil early in winter. Where bare
ground was fully exposed to the sweep
of the winds it had frozen down to a
depth of six inches. In small hollows,
or sheltered places, it had not frozen
three inches, and under the lee side OF
an evergreen screen the frost had not
gone down more than an inch. Then.
again, even quite thin grass afforded
much protection, the frozen ground not
being more than half as deep as where
there was bare exposure. A heavy mat
of grass had nearly prevented all freez-
ing, and the soil where the grass was
under the lee of an evergreen screen was
not frozen at all. This difference would
of course be less as the cold weather OF
winter continued; nevertheless, the oil.
ference was strikingly obvious after
spring opened, the thickly-protected
grass having started early and grown
several inches, while the green points ON
the shortly-cropped surface were just
making their appearance.
If so great q benefit results to farm
crops, not less beneficial will be the
effect of protecting garden crops and
ornamental plants. Strawberries would
be earlier as we'll as more vigorous and
productive with a moderate degree OF
covering. Herbaceous perennials, even
if quite hardy, would start earlier in
spring and grow and bloom better If
properly protected The results would
vary with seasons, an open winter with
little snow rendering protection more
important than when there is an ample
snow covering. Its importance, there.
fore will vary with different regions OF
country. At such place as Grand
Traverse, in Michigan, for example,
where the snow covers the ground deep
from autumn into spring and where po-
tatoes remain out all winter without
harm, it would he needless. The same
result may, however, be produced in
northern ATTITUDES by employing ever
green screens. b. Macomber, of Grand
Isle, Lake Champlain, informed US that
his screens usually prevented the winds
from blowing the snow of so effectually
that the earth did not freeze at all dur
ing winter. This suggests protection in
two ways: either by spreading evergreen
branches on the surface or planting q
temporary screen several feet high by
setting large evergreen branches into
crowba holes in a row before the freez'
ing up of winter.
There is one precaution which mex
perienced gardeners may learn from some
of the cases we have cited, and this Is
not to cover green leaves or green plants
so dcnsely as to exclude air. The farmer
knows that very deep snow will smother
suit will take place if too dense or i'm
pervious covering is spread over straw
berry beds, or on PROSTATE raspberry
CuuCS VI RldpCSluCos CAO "OON Va "AAAS'
remains soft and green, and which has
not beer we'll ripencd. This is one cause
of the unfavorable reports of covering
vines. And for this reason it is safer
merely to PROSTATE them on the ground
or if covering is required to use ever
green branches for this purpose. Straw
Berries do we'll with evergreens for j..
cover, or, if litter is used, cOrn-stalks Of
o%:fr ,+r than fine Nn(
soft straw, which, when wet, will paci
too closely for the good Of the plants
But tender plants, which part with thei
covered without harm.
Trees aud plants often reputed per
fectly hardy, although not actually killct
by severe winters, are often retarded i!
growth for a time We tried the expert
mens on vine Of the White Sweetwate
grape. A portion was left on the trellis
another portion was merely FRUSTRATED
on the ground, and third received
thin stratum of earth. All survived tn
winter; but the covered vine opened it
buds fresh and green before the others
then the Frustrated vines; and lastly, an
slowly and feebly, the exposed part. II
the case of an unprecedentedly sever
| winter, when the thermometer went 2
deg. below zero, weeping ash not kille'
was 50 checked in vigor that part of it
buds did not open till the following
| August. Such facts as this will sugges
the importance of cutting and securin
CRAFTS early in winter, if their full vigo
is to be insured, although in some win
tiers it might make no difference.
On large scale, in large vineyards o
field plantations of raspberries or straw
berries, such suggestions as some Q
| these NAV not he aDplicable. or DrOtcC