102 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



leaves turn brown. Conditions of this kind often follow a severe 

 winter. During a severe winter in which successive freezing and thaw- 

 ing conditions are a common occurrence evergreens are apt to be 

 seriously damaged. Under such conditions it is the heat which causes 

 the worst injury to the evergreens during these winter months and, as 

 commonly believed, this is not injury due to excessive cold. A suc- 

 cession of extremely cold nights and warm thawing conditions during 

 the day causes excessive evaporation from the leaves which, as hereto- 

 fore mentioned, cannot be replaced through the dormant root system, 

 the soil surrounding which has not been sufficiently warmed to excite 

 growth. This evaporation may be stopped by shelter fences or by 

 wrapping the plants with straw "overcoats." Care should be taken, 

 however, to avoid wrapping too tightly, or injury to the plant will 

 result from heating of foliage. Boxwood hedges also, particularly 

 when young, should be covered to prevent winter injury in sections 

 of the country where the temperature may fall as low as zero during 

 the winter months. Such hedges may be boxed, or they may be 

 banked with cornstalks or coarse litter and also with evergreen boughs. 

 One of the best protections for boxwood hedges (as well as broad-leaved 

 evergreens) is to be certain that they have a thorough soaking, especially 

 during a dry fall, immediately before the freezing weather begins. 



Mice often injure plants, and where this occurs mulching should 

 be delayed until cooler weather, when the rodents will have nested 

 elsewhere. Poisoning may be resorted to by placing poisoned wheat 

 in drain tiles among the mulch. Mice and rabbits will gnaw certain 

 shrubs and fruit trees, such as quinces, spireas, forsythias, etc. Such 

 plants should be protected, especially the first year, by tar paper or 

 burlap if mice are present. Wrapping should begin slightly below 

 the surface of the ground at the base of the tree, and extend to a 

 height of two feet. The author is advised on good authority that 

 where there is excessive danger that the base of certain shrubs and 

 fruit trees will be gnawed by mice and rabbits, an excellent method of 

 protection is that of mulching these hedges with coal ashes to a depth 

 of three to four inches around the immediate base of the plant. The 

 gritty condition of this material is evidently objectionable to rabbits 

 and mice and its use has saved a number of valuable hedge plants. 



PERENNIALS WINTER PROTECTION OF. Perennials should have a 

 good mulch of well-rotted manure, straw, leaves, etc., applied just be- 



