Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-25
AGRICULTURAL NOTES.
Winter Protection of Fruit Trees

Trees, in winter, are less hurt by as
low temperature than by the drying
winds, which all cold winter winds are.
Blowing sharply, they dry the branches
of the trees faster than the sap can
supply them. the sap being lessened by
the freezing Of the watery part, thus
becoming incapable of resisting the
dessicatins; effect, and so the branches
or the tree dies. If the exposure is
short, there will be but little or no
harm. 1t is the long continued, Sc
verely cold and strong winds that work
the mischief; and particularly if the
roots as we'll as the branches are frozen.
The past winter was noted example.
The remedy is to protect against the
winds. A screen of evergreen trees can
be made efectual. So hill or wood
will protect what is near it, on the side
opposite the wind. A building, also, is
g guard. But sometimes the sun is apt
to hurt, and all the more for such pro-
lection, as it confines the heat. This it
is difficult to prevent. But its effect is
not near SO great as that Of the cold,
strong WINDS. It is not enough to
merely protectso as to prevent destruc-
we're as to be felt the season following.
!. So it is with strawberries. If severely
strained by exposure, do what you may,
there will be lack-the plant will dis
appoint expectation. Grape vines
serve us in the same way. Protect
your Strawberries well with evergreen
brush, and make secure so thSt the
wind can not remove it, and you. are
safe, it matters not how severe the win
ter may be. So if your half-tender ar
Dor vitae hedge is protected from the
blast, you need have no concern.
1t becomes us not only to guard
directly against the wind, but much can
be done by attending to the ground. A
mulch will lessen the severity of the
frost, both in degree and in extent in
the ground. This will cause greater
amount of vitality in the root which
will be transmitted to the tree. A rich
soil also adds vigor, affecting the whole
plant. From experiments made, am
persuaded of this. Apply the stimu-
liant in the fall so as to get its action
started on the plant. A mulch contain
ing some manural property will do this
and act at the same thing as a protec-
lion. Nature indicates leaves as warm
bed for vegetation. A little sour milk,
Or, what is perhaps more energetic,
urine, with sprinkIing of ashes, ap-
piled some time before the leaves, the
ground freshly dug, is sure to have a
good effect. If in addition there is a
guard against the wind, there is little
danger with even half-tender plants or
trees, let the winter be as severe as it
may. Almost the only danger will be
from the sun, and that only ins some
localities. Sudden and extreme chang
es In the temperature have an influence
but not serious one, on anything like
a plant or tree. There is plan pre-
vailing of wrapping half-tender plants
and bushes with straw and other ma
terial. This is well if not wrapped too
tightly SO as to exclude the air, for it
must be rememberd that plant growth
goes On during the winter, though to
but a slight extent, yet sufficient to re.
lire air, without which no plant can
>1ive, as it gets its principal support in
way.-F. g. en- Utica Herald.