The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-08
GUARD AGAINST FROST DAMAGE
Weather Bureau Specialists Tell How
TO Protect Garden Stuff.


TO Protect Garden Stuff.
Washington Sept. S.-Don't watch
the moon for signs of the first frost;
watch the weather bureau. And when
the warning from the forecaster
comes, as it usually will from "a to As
hours in advance, look to the protec-
ton of the garden produce which is
not yet under cover There are
number Of ways to forestall the sur
prise attacks of this Jack Frost per-
son and Representatives of the United
States weather bureau, realizing that
a good deal more produce will be sub
ject to loss from frost this fall than
ever before, have advised early pre-
paredness on the part OF farmers.
First, the specialists suggest, pro-
tective coverings should be made
ready. Vegetables cannot scamper to
cover, but the gardener can scamper
covering to the vegetables and per
haps save winters supply in short
time if he is prepared. Old blankets
tarpaulins, sacks, straw manure, pa
per, and various other materials may
be used for covering. The conditions
favorable for the formation of early
frost in fall are usually of short du-
ration and consequently protective
measures ordinarily will have to be
employed only for a day or two. After
the first fall frost there is generally
return to normal temperatures for q
number Of days, possibly for a week
or more, during which time immature
vegetables that have been protected
will continue to grow or ripen.
F'rosts cannot be forecast many
| days in advance. The United States
weather bureau does, however, issue
advisory warnings of frost from "A to
| as hours in advance of its expected
| occurrence These forecasts are tel
egraphed to practically every section
OF the country AS the season for
frost approaches, the weather fore
| casts should be watched closely and
when heavy or killing frost is fore
| cast for any locality protection should
be provided for such products as are
susceptible to injury by cold weather.
When frost is imminent and protec
tion is not possible or practicable
vegetables likely to be injured should
be gathered and canned, dried, pick
led, preserved or stored. Those that
cannot be saved from exposure to
freezing should, if possible, be gath
cred before thawing takes place. II
the case of potatoes, especially swee
potatoes, all vines should be cut of
at the surface of the ground after thu
occurance Of frost.
Tomatoes may be pulled up, plants
and all, and hung tops downward in
dark place, preferably a cellar. Whei
treated in this way the fruit will rip
en- nicely and slowly and will b.
available for table use for a lonI
time after the plants have been re
moved from the soil Fruit that Il
very immature should be removes
from the vines and may be used 70
picking or in other ways. II facili
| ties for hanging the vines are lacking
the tomatoes nearing full growth vii
ripen satisfactorily if wrapped sepaI
ately in paper and stored in darl
place
Many vegetables such as cabbag
! and turnips are not harmed by ordir
, airy frost and need no special proteC
/ ton. In fact, such root vegetables a
, carrots, parsnips and satisfy are in
proved by freezing and are customal
lily left in the ground until needed.