DAMAGE CAUSED BY LOW OR HIGH TEMPERATURE. 11 



For the planting up of localities somewhat exposed to danger 

 from frost, or for the more sensitive species of trees, the material 

 chosen should be large, healthy transplants, not likely at any rate 

 to be killed outright by the cold ; any rank growth of grass 

 should be removed, and wet patches of soil sufficiently drained. 

 In order to hinder them from flushing soon, seedlings of sensitive 

 species should be removed from the nursery early in the spring 

 during which they are to be planted out, and bedded in some 

 cool place till required; by planting late they can also be 

 protected against late frosts, at any rate for the first spring. 

 Seedlings which, like natural growth in old woods, have hitherto 

 stood under strong shade, are not suitable for planting out in the 

 open, as they are equally sensitive both to frost and heat. Sowing 

 should not be carried out too early in spring, in order that germina- 

 tion may not take place till after the danger from late frosts is over. 



For seed-beds and nurseries other protective measures are 

 applicable. Above all, they should only be formed in protected 

 spots little exposed to danger from late frost, and never in frosty 

 localities, a preference being given to northern aspects (on account 

 of the later awakening of active vegetation), to localities protected 

 by crops of older growth, and to open patches or blanks within the 

 latter. 



By the choice of spring sowing in place of the autumn sowing, 

 which causes germination early in the following spring, by sowing 

 late in spring, or by covering hard-frozen soil with leaves and brush- 

 wood in order to delay the penetration of warmth in spring, the 

 germination of the seed can be retarded until after the chief time 

 of danger from frost is over. 



Young seedlings just germinated, and older seedlings of sensitive 

 species, can be protected by sticking twigs and brushwood into 

 the beds, or still better by placing or hanging a framework of 

 small battens or of small poles interwoven with twigs over the 

 beds. 



Finally, plants that have been frozen or damaged by hoar- 

 frost can sometimes be saved by having cold water poured over 

 them early in the morning, as this delays the process of thawing, 

 and gives the cellular tissue time to have a chance of recovering 

 its normal density, and of reducing to their former size the pores 

 of the walls of the cells expanded through the frost. This is the 

 only measure that is of any use in the case of damage from frost 



