Wisconsin Fruit and Trees for 1868. 25 



followed by a very open winter and a very cold one. There being less 

 moisture in the ground than in the plants, the former drew from the latter 

 the little it had. The last week in February was very warm : doors were 

 open, and windows up. Wheat was being sown in the fields. I sowed 

 peas and lettuce in my garden : frost all out pf the ground. But the scene 

 quickly changed. A week of such warm weather did incalculable dam- 

 age ; for it was followed by a severe frost. The mercury went down, 

 ilown, almost out of sight. I was warned of the danger of damage; but 

 my grapes were covered. / feared no evil, and slept on. Vines uncov- 

 ered well ; wood sound, and of good color. Growth commenced ; made 

 about three inches, and there it stopped. On the 15th of June, I 

 examined the following sorts, — Concords, Isabellas, Allen's White, Isra- 

 ella, Delaware, lona, Anna, Creveling, Hartford Prolilic, Rogers's Nos. 

 4, 9, 15, 19, Ives's Seedling; and though all had started, and made a few 

 inches of new wood, yet, without exception, the roots were dead and 

 rotten. A single exception was found of an lona, planted Nov. i, 1867, 

 and protected the same as the others. It was alive, and has made a very 

 good growth this summer. A few of these vines have made new roots, 

 and, by a late growth, have now plenty of wood for some fruit next 

 season. To sum up, the cause was the previous dry summer of 1867 ; 

 severe open winter of 1867 and 1868 ; extremely warm weather in February, 

 followed by almost unprecedented cold. Vines and trees were /-^.pZ-killed 

 where unprotected by snow. This was the cause. The remedy lies in heavy 

 mulching. The common soil has been considered as the very best ; but the 

 past winter teaches us differently. A Concord vine, so situated that its 

 protection was leaves, remained unharmed. Mulch thoroughly with straw 

 or litter ; bend vines to the ground, and cover entire ; sprinkle on a 

 little soil ; another coating of straw or litter ; and over all, if danger is ap- 

 prehended from mice, cover with soil. Give the same practice, and form of 

 protection, to the roots of the orchard-trees. I do not mean, as many sup- 

 pose, by protection, a little handful thrown down at the immediate proximity 

 of the tree ; but cover the ground as far from the body as the limbs extend, 

 and even farther if it is a young orchard This is the remedy for those liv- 

 ing in a severe, changeable climate to adopt. Apply it early ; for there is 

 no certainty of snow. O. S. Willcy. 



Madi.on, October, i86S. 



VOL. V. 4 



