The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-12
FROST AND PLANTS.

If one can in some way afford pro.
lection to the more tender Aowerin,5
plants-such as are injured by . slipht
touch of Jack Frost-the beauty ofth,s
garden will be enjoyed for Longer
period. This may be accomplished 81
the use of q screen of cheese clotb
stretched over and little above TIA
beds at night time when the signs il.
dlcate frost. This thin network viii
cffectualIy prevent the cold from ct.
thing, acting in respect to frost as It's
Davy lamp does to the gases in col
mines. Where the plants arc not Il
any great height, this means is ven
practicable, and has been used to musls
advantage by one grower Of violeta
His plants are IN cold frames, and I'd.
convenience Of rolling up the chess
cloth during daytime an appliance like
q windlass may be- used-a cyclind9
upon which the cheesecloth may b
wound. AM,
While dealing with protection from
frost, it will not be out of place to con-
slider how frost does it's injurious work
and therefrom to draw lesson. ID
cases OF frost bite the usual and most
e1licscious remedy is rubbing will
snow, although at first sight that wonld
seem no remedy at ali. In point IL
fact, however, tho heat engere'l By
the friction brings about a very gradual
permeation by warmth of the frozen
member, SO gradual, indeed, that the
rupture OF the frozen tissues which
severe friction, nnaccompanied by the
modifying effect of the cold snow.
would inevitably bring about =
avoided, and with time and care the
member is thawed, circulation is re-
sumed, and it's functions continue.
Now, with plants, this absolute need
of extremity SLOW thawing is often over
looked, and it is highly probable tint
q very large percentage of the loss IN. !.
Cured by intense frost would b
avoided if more attention were paid
to this point. We often notice that
after frost the leaves OF even tho
hardest shrubs are black, as il burnt
Ii we examine one of the shrubs dur.
ing the frost we shall find not only It,
but the soil also, absolutely Frozen
and the circulation Of the sap in thss
roots and branches at o standstill. q
the early morning it is probably white
with hoar frost the sun rises, and ID
very short space of time heat msny
degrees above freezing is beating upon
those leaves, tho hoar frost melts q
once, and as the genial warmth pens;;
trates the tissues q local circulation =
set up and Transportation begins II.
very brief space, however, the rest o.
the plant beng frozen, the circulating
moisture is exhausted and the Leaf
dies. ~ 4
A slow, gradual and general rise o.
temperature. however, instead OF =
rapid and local one, would thsw tne (
plant all over, cid thus permit IT, =,
loss from Transportation to be made p.
from other parts of the plant IL
probable that the greatest dangd
exists in thawing the foliage before 3
the roots, for it is quite obvious tnass
if the latter are not in condition y, 9
supply the leaves with moisture vneu
these latter are thawed and demand y,
collapse must ensue. 1t is oe1,ss
therefore, that frozen pot plants q:
best thawed by being dipped in c %
water a few degrees only above ny 2,
freezing point. This will gradually
penetrate and thaw the soil, anu =
the same time prevent the foliage -
ing dried up in the way above lndicss &
ed, while tho same plant, which 80 =.
suecitated would be absolutely nor
the worse, would, if tkawed by De'ns
placed in q warm room or conselvN:l'
tory, simply shrivel and die. Amer,
can Gardening. 81