The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-08
Cold weather Notes.

DR.. W. L. Jones, in Cotton Planting
Journal, says: Now that cold weather
has set in, little growth OF anything is to
be expected, hence the usual reasons for
cultivation no longer exist. These reasons
are to remove competing weeds open the
soil and create mulch on its surface TO
prevent too rapid evaporation of mois-
ture. As fall crops have about completed
growth, and no longer draw on the soil to
any extent the competition of wees
should any spring up, can do no harm. In
fact 1t is better to have weeds present to
act as a cover crop, and to appropriate
the nitrates which might otherwise be
leached out. Two weeds which are all
most universally present in gardens chick
weed (stellaria medal and pigeon weed
Oamium amplexicaule) should be encou-
ragged to grow in gardens and truck
farms during the winter. Neither is there
any need to retard the evaporation of wa
ter, as growth has about ceased and where
it has not, the soil is generally moist
enough in the winter months. These re-
marks do not apply to the extreme SOUTH
ern portions of the cotton belt where the
climate is 50 mild that growth continues
well into the winter. or even entirely
through it. In this latter case, of course.
cultivation will be continued as growth
proceeds.
One of the chief concerns of the trucker
now is to protect the crops already made
from severe cold, so that he may pre-
serve them in good condition and ready
for sale from time to time through the
winter as the demand arises. The degree
of protection necessary will depend some
what upon his latitude and the GOODNESS of
the winters. Very exceptional cold, such
as that of the last winter can hardly be
anticipated or provided against. Twice
only during the century now about 20
close has such severe weather prevailed.
But protection against ordinary, average
cold should be provided. For very hardy
plants, such as spinach, a very light COW
ering of straw or brush will suffice. Where
the cold is not very severe turnips may
be preserved by tapping burrows over
them with turnplow, after having re-
moved the large leaves. Where 1t Is very
cold they should be taken up the leaves
removed-some remove even the bud-and
then banked somewhat after the manner
of sweet potatoes. but not covered as
much. they not being so sensitive to cold
as the potato. The banking should not
be done until the weather becomes quite
cold. If kept 600 warm they will sprout
and form new leaves and become pithy
One must exercise sound judgment in
these matters. and the inexperienced had
better take counsel with those who have
had more, because no hard and fast rules
can he laid down to suit all localities and
conditions.
The protection of cabbages from freezes
is more difficult and more important be-
cause the crop is a more valuable one
than turnips. In the warmer portions
of the cotton belt. the plants may be
pulled up by the roots, set out as crowded
together as possible, only the heads left
above the surface of the ground, and then
brush arbor or similar shelter placed
above them. In colder regions a trench
is dug, the plants placed with heads down
in the trench and the whole covered with
dirt taken from another trench dug along
the side of the first and so on. In both
plans the location must be well drained
so that there will be no accumulation of
water about the plants. In the Northern
states vegetables are stored in cellars sue
cessfuliy, but at the South the temperature
Of cellars /. not low enough for the pur-
pose-the temperature should be about 40
degrees Observation-Disclosures at the South
the temperature of cellars would average
in most cases so degrees or above. Irish
potatoes can he kept in our Southern cell
lars, II the latter are properly ventilated
in mild weather, and If a slight covering
Is given the potatoes in very severe
weather. The tubers must be protected
from freezing, but cold short of freezing
will not iniura them