The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-12-14
NO. IS
Protecting Plants During Winter.

| The utility OF protecting plants during win
ter is not sufficiently appreciated. Even those
OF reputed hardness In any given climate VIII
well pay the expense OF partial protection from
the severity OF low temperatures. 1t Is some
times remarked that plant, to be fitted for
| general cultivation must have among its good
qualities the faculty OF taking care OF ltseiI al
all seasons but it must be remembered that
the majority OF plants, grown Tor tie sake of
their products, have been removed from their
natural conditions, by change OF climate, selec-
ZION, crossing, hybrlulzing, ETC.. to such condl-
lions as are found most conducive toward re-
alizing the purpose tor which they are grown.
Protection from extremes OF temperature,
therefore, becomes part of culture routine.
ana, In many instances, it is one OF much ini-
pOftance. ll
The degree of cold that plants will resist
without peing injured cannot be definitely as
certalned short OF actual experiment; Their
powers OF resistance depend upon many con-
Llngencles. A plant will sometimes De de-
StrOyed by exposure to a temperature not
lower than II had previously encountered
without sustaining any apparent injury. IL is
not To be supposed that Ills seeming anomaly
is due TO any change i'll The laws oI nature;
but 1t is TO be traced to causes that influence
the resisting power, and upon the knowledge
OF these CAUSES depends our ability 10 AID, ny
culture processes and appliances, This power OF
resistance IN plants winch form The objects OF
special culture and care.
The exact process by which cold destroys
plants Is d matter upon which there is yet
room tor conjecture. The mechanical action
OF frost on vegetable tissue is undoubtedly u
cause OF injury fluids expand while freezing
anu tue Expansion OF the sap While undergoing
this process lacerates and uIsrupts The Tissue,
interrupts the connection OF the sap vessels,
and hastens destruction and decomposition,
especially Ii delicate and Succulent groWths.
W nen, therefore, plant has reached degree
OF maturity which has converted the fluid
matter into woody fibre, its power OF resisting
cold Is much greater than when its tissue Is
highly charged with walery matter, SO that II
Is u Nell-established axiom that plants resist
cold In the inverse ratio OF the quantity OF
water which they contain, or in proportion to
the viscidity OF their 11ulds But 1t is also
well known that the mere thermOmetrlc de-
gree OF cold does not indicate the extent OF
tne injury that plants suffer during winter. The
hygrOmetrlc condition OF the atmosphere Is
al least OF equal Importance. Plants That pass
with safety through zero cold In December
will frequently be destroyed by the cold, dry
winds Oh March, although the tnermometef
may not indicate more Than ten degrees OF
OF frost. The intense acidity of these cold
winds acts III a similar manner as the hot, dry
winds OF summer. The moisture OF the plant
Is extracted by evaporation, and the resulting
injury will depend upon the amount thus eYap-
GRATED. 1t follows, therefore, that whatever
tends to render tissue moist and prevents its
soHdllcation, increases its susceptibility to IN
jury from cold, and whatever tends to reduce
Its humidity and hasten the conversion OF fluid
matter into woody fibre increases its power OF
sesisting cold; and upon the recognition OF
these principles all protecting appliances
rhould be based.