Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-10-31


that will not be greatly benefited by
giving slight protection in winter.
IL is not necessary, nor would it be
Judicious, to cover the plants suiii
GENTLY to keep out the frost, be-
cause, ii this was done, it would
smother them. A light coat, say an
inch deep, fstraw or coarse hay is
all that is required, for the OBJECT is
merely to prevent frequent freezing
ana thawing during winter and
spring. 1t is not the cold that
causes the injury, but the sudden
changes in temperature in northern
localities. Where the snow remains
upou the ground all wiuter, other
protection is not SO necessary ; but
even then it will be the safest way
to cover the plants. Wei never
been able to obtain a fall paying
crop of strawberries unless they
were protected in winter; and there
are very few of the most common
sorts that will not yield enough more
to pay all the expence of covering
When the plants are cultivated in
hills or rows, the material used for
winter protection has only to be
pushed aside from over the crowns
so the plant in spring, and allowed
to settle between the rows and
form mulch to keep the fruit clean
and the ground moist in summer.
The plants should not he covered in
fall until the ground begins to
freeze, or the weather is so cold that
all danger from a late growth of the
plants under covering is past. One
good shower or light fall of snow
will generally settle the hay or straw
so that it will not be blown off.
Raspbeyries. Nearly all of the
foreign sorts of raspberries, and the
seedlings therefrom that have been
raised in this country, are tender,
and require some kind of protection
in winter. There are, it is true, a
few exceptions, like the Belle F0n
tenay, Marvel of the Four Seasons,
and perhaps, the Clark but even
these will yield larger crop ifpro-
tected. The canes of most of the
varieties are sufficiently flexible to
permit of their being laid down and
covered with soil. This is the
cheapest and best method of pro-
tecting all the slender growing sorts.
When a large plantation is to be
covered, it may be done with a
plough. The canes are first laid
down in rows, and little earth
placed upon them, then furrow is
turned from each side, covering the
whole stool.
Grapes. The practice of covering
grapevines in winter is not a very
common one except along our
northern boundaries. 1t is a ques
ton, however, whether many Of the
half-hardy varieties would not be
benefited, even in the Middle States,
by a slight winter protection.
The truit-buds are often SO much
injured by cold that they produce
only small detormed punches. Vines
may readily be protected with mats,
without being taken down from the
trellses, although the best plan
would be to train them in such
manner that they could be laid
down, and covered with soil, the
same as we do raspberries. The
vines should be pruned before cover.
ing, and then there will be no neces-
sity oftaking them up until the grow ;
ing season commences in spring.
Sometimes the vines are laid down
and covered with leaves, straw or |
other coarse litter; but such e
material usually furnishes a |
fine harbor for mice, who will often
do more injury than can be readily
repaired z
D,cdrt Fruit Trees. Little caa be +
done twords protecting these except @
on a small scale. Where evergreen
boughs can be obtained, they may r
be placed around and over small n
fruit-trees. and afford them consid-
cradle shelter. If it were not for =
field-mice, coarse long straw might +
be used with advantage but as it T
would not be safe to use this mate.
rial we advise those who desire to ,
protect their trees to try branches /,
from large trees, or, what q
would be far better, plant an ever :
green hedge on the north side of c
the garden.
"A union convention of the Sun
day schools in New Hampshire will
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