The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-01-05
FROST AND PLANTS.

II one can In some way afford pro
lection to the more tender towering
plants such rs are injured by slight
touch OF jack Frost-the beauty of the
garden will be enjoyed for longer
period. This may be accomplished by
the use OF screen of cheese cloth
stretched over and little above the
beds ut night time when tho signs in.
dlcate frost. This thin network will
cilectually prevent the cold from set
Ting, acting in respect to frost as the
pavy lamp does TO tho gases in coai
mines. Where the plants arc not OF
any great height, this means is very
practicable, and has been used to much
advantage by one grower of violets
His plants are In cold frames, and fol
convenience of rolling up the cheese
cloth during daytime nm appliance like
n windlass may be used-a cycliadeI
upon which the cheesecloth may be
wound
While dealing with protection from
frost, 1t will not be out of place to con
slider how frost does its injurious WORK
aud thcrofrom to draw lesson. liz
cases Of frost bite the usual and most
eficacions remedy is rubbing with
snow, although at first sight that would
seem no remedy Mt all. In point of
met, however, the heat engered by
The friction brings about very gradual
permeation by warmth of the frozen
member, so gradual, indeed, that the
rupture of the frozen tissues which
severe friction, unaccompanied by the
modifying effect OF tho cold snow,
would inevitably bring about is
avoided, and with time and care the
member is thawed, circulation is re-
sumed, and Its functions continue.
Now, with plants, this absolute need
OF extremity slow thawing is often over
looked, and it is highly probable that
very large percentage Of the loss in
Cured by intense frost would be
avoided if more attention were paid
to this point. We often notice that
after frost the leaves of even the
hardest shrubs are black, as if burnt.
If we examine one of tho shrubs dur.
ing the frost we shall find not only it,
but the soil also, absolutely frozen,
and the circulation of the sap in the
roots and branches Mt n standstill. In
the early morning it is probably white
with hoar frost the sun rises, and in
a very short space Of time n heat many
degrees above freezing is beating upon
those leaves, the honr frost melts ut
once, and rs the genial warmth pene g..
trates the tissues q local circulation is
sot up and Transportation begins. In a
very brief space, however, the rest OF
the plant being frozen, the circulating
moisture is exhausted and the leaf
dies
A slow, gradual and general rise Of
temperature, however, instead Of
rapid and local one, would thRw tho
plant OIL over, mud thus permit the
loss from Transportation to be made up
from other parts Of the plant. IL is
probable that the greatest danger
exists i'm thawing the foliage before
the roots, for it is quite obvious flat
If tho latter are not i'm n condition to
supply the leaves with moisture wi en-
these latter nre thawed and demand 81.
collapse must cnsue. 10 is clear,
therefore, that frozen pot plants are
I best thawed by being dipped in cold
water few degrees only above the
freezing point This win gradually
/ penetrate and thaw tho soil, and at
the same time prevent tho foliage be-
ing dried mp iu the way above indicat.
ed, while tho same plant, which 30 re-
associated would be absolutely none
tho worse, would, if thawed by being
| placed iu u warm room or CONSERVE
tory simply shrivol and die. -Ameri-
can Gardening.