The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-01-24
Shading Hardy Plants in Winter.

THERE are a great many kinds of
plants which, although considered
quite hardy in the localities where they
are most extensively cultivated, are
much benefited by slight protection
in winter. The numberless varieties
OF the strawberry which have been
produced from the indigenous species
of the Northern States, although gem
orally considered hardy, require, ex-
perience has taught the cultivator, to
be covered in winter, especially in. re-
tected by snow; by adopting this pre-
caution, their productivencss is also
vastly increased. Many persons, how
ever, we fear, aim to protect the plants
from cold, and heap on heavy coat of
some tibrous material with the hope If
keeping out the frost. This is all
wrong, for it is not SO much the freez-
ing which Injuries the plants as it is the
sudden changes in the temperature, to-
gether with the rays of light falling
directly upon the plants while in a
frozen condition. Every gardener
knows that if his tender exotic plants
get frozen accidentally or otherwise. the
safest way of restoring them is TO put
them in dark room and sprinkle them
well with water. We may or may not
know just how light affects plants under
such circumstances, but experience has
taught us that it is best to exclude it,
while thawing out frozen plants. Now,
the principal object in giving protection
to hardy and half hardy plants in win
ter is to prevent the sudden changes in
the temperature about them, and at
the same time to keep them in a posi-
ton to be thawed out in the dark. A
sheet of brown paper, if it could be as
easily kept in position, is as good
winter protection for strawberry plants
as bundle of strcw or corn stalks, for
all we want is to protect them from
direct contact with cold, drying winds,
and give them shade.
There is something very injurious to
certain kinds of plants in our bright
sunlight of the winter months. For
instance, there are many of the Rocky
Mountain evergreens which in their
native habitats endure degree of cold
unknown in this city or surrounding
country. Many of these trees, never
theless, will not withstand our Eastern
winters without protection. A glance
at almost any half-dead specimen in
spring reveals the cause of the injury,
for while the leaves and branches on
the south side which are exposed to the
direct rays of the sun will be scorched
or totally killed, those on the north
side or partly in the shade remain
green and fresh. With such trees the
protection need only be applied to the
extent of giving shade, for the degree
of cold is not what causes the mischief.
The same is true with hundreds of ever
green plants which we cultivate for or
nament or use. The English ivy is a
well-known instance of q very hardy
plant which utterly fails with US, if it
is exposed to the light, but is very
hardy in the shade. The hemlock
spruce, which grows wild far n ,rth in
British America, thrives very poorly
south of Washington, and while it
grows well in summer, the leaves get
scorched in winter, and the usual COM
plant is, lit is not hardy;" while, in
fact. it is too hardy, and greater cold
would be beneficial, instead of injuri-
GUS.
If persons who desire or attempt to
protect plants in winter would bear
this necessity of shade in mind. they
might save themselves much trouble
and also the plants which they are so
anxious to preserve. This is especial
ly the case in cities and their suburbs,
where the services of professional
gardeners or those who ape the title
are called into requisition to wrap up
or protect q few choice plants grown
in front yards or gardens. These pro-
fessionals, we regret to say, adopt one
system of protection for all kinds of
shrubs, trees and vines, and this is q
wrapping up of the plant in a mating
of clean straight straw, bound tightly
about it and brought together so close
at the top that not drop of moisture
can reach leaf. twig or stem. These
straw pyramids may display a good
deal of artistic taste, but they are at the
same time death to many q fine plant
(which they were designed to protect.
If the plant does not freeze to death. it
is very likely to die for want of mois-
ture, and many hundreds are destroyed
every winter that would have survived
if left entirely alone and no protection
attempted.
Straw is an excellent material for