The Hickman courier., 1877-12-14
Winter Protection.

A strong temptation TO cover up plants
for winter presents itself to the inexpe-
rienced during the first cold snaps of No
vember. The ground is firmly frozen,
and now it seems natural to suppose the
time for winter covering has arrived. But
there never was a greater mistake. Such
early spells of cold usually last but short
time, and may be succeeded by much
warm weather, thus exciting the sap of
the plant under cover, and thereby ex-
posing it to injury from a succeeding
heavy frost. The hardening off process
is as necessary to the plant in the open
ground as under proper system of green
house culture. Several really cold periods
in early winter, brought to bear on the
uncovered plant, serve to prepare and
adapt it for the endurance of subsequent
hardships. Little injury, noreovt(, oc-
ours from cold in December, to any toll
e bly, hardy plant. 1t is the proper
season Of rest, and the diminished power
OF the sun works the less damage, be.
cause dawn and midday present no such
violent contrasts of temperature SIS are
won't to appear in early spring. A large
majority of all plants that die from the
effects of cold, die, therefore, in March
and April, and hence the danger of re-
moving covering too early in spring.
Give, then, such plants as you wish to
remain out all winter a good freezing,
and protect with judgment any time from
the first to the middle of December.
1t is not uncommon to hear people
claiming credit for extra care given to
their plants in winter because they have
covered them with a barrel, or some other
close protection. Nothing is really more
injurious. The air, being confined, be-
comes colder, and concentrates its effects
on the plant until one might term 1t a
case of smothering with cold, if such an
expression we're admissible. All hardy,
X even half-hardy vegetation requires,
during winter, some of the influences
that come with the free action of the
outer air, which also serve to temper at
thesame time, the otherwise concentrated
cold. Net only is such close protection
unsafe, but We should seek the -thinnest,
lightest covering that will shelter from
sun and sleet. All heaping of hay, earth,
ETC., too high about the plant is to be
avoided, and especially should care be
taken to leave untouched with the knife
my growth of plants, like roses, which
require sharp pruning to develop flower
bearing wood. Such excelsior only makes
an entrance for cold and rain, to the con-
sequent rotting or freezing of the heart
of the plant. The pruning can be safely
performed in spring.
Heap a moderate amount of earth
above the plant from one to six inches
deep, according to its size and nature.
Cover this with light mulching of leaves
or hay, and then apply sort OF hood
over the top by means of evergreen
boughs stuck in round about, and left
sufficiently open to allow free play of ali
without too much exposure to sleet and
sun. Should evergreen bsnghs be scarce,
a convenient hood may be constructed
by tying the ends of bunch of straw
together, and then hanging it over stick
somewhat taller than the plant and in
serting in the ground alongside it. This
may be 30 adjusted as to protect suffi
cientiy the foliage of the plant which is
all we need desire.