162 WINTER PROTECTION OF PLANTS 



are examples of the hardy herbaceous plants. These plants 

 need special care if the roots are going to remain alive and 

 produce the greatest yields the following spring. 



The roots of such plants are comparatively shallow. The 

 depth varies from 6 inches to possibly a foot. This depth is 

 not below the frost line and consequently the roots are 

 frozen. Since the roots of such plants are large and fleshy 

 it is very important to keep these parts frozen when once they 

 are in that condition. The alternate freezing and thawing of 

 such parts is injurious to the plants and reduces their vitality. 

 The freezing itself is not injurious but the roots must not be 

 allowed to thaw out until spring. 



The chief way of preventing the alternate freezing and thaw- 

 ing of the roots is to cover the soil over the roots with fresh 

 horse manure that has plenty of litter in it. The manure 

 should consist largely of straw with a small percentage of the 

 solid matter. It should be placed over the roots after the 

 ground has frozen slightly and should cover the soil to a 

 depth of from 8 to 10 inches. The manure in addition to 

 serving as a protection for the roots adds plant food to the 

 soil which increases the growth of the plant the following 

 spring. 



The Winter Care of Woody Plants. — Woody plants include 

 all those plants whose tops do not die down during the 

 winter. Our common trees and shrubs are good examples. 

 Many of the woody plants are able to withstand the cold 

 weather under natural conditions. Occasionally when culti- 

 vation is prolonged too late in the season, many plants are 

 injured and sometimes killed. Occasionally some tender 

 trees as, for example, the peach must be protected in certain 

 regions to prevent them from being frozen back. Likewise 

 many bushes and brambles must be given some protection 

 in exposed locations. 



The branches of the brambles and the low growing bushes 

 are called canes. The canes as a rule have a soft substance 

 in their center called pith. The pith in such canes prevents 

 them from being solid and in some cases seem to render the 

 plants less hardy. Common examples of plants with a pithy 

 center are the raspberries, blackberries and roses. 



