34 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



plants, but the application of this substance either in the 

 ordinary powdered form or as a sulphate has led to some 

 unexpected results. Recent analyses have shown that plants 

 use far more sulphur than has been suspected and it is possible 

 that they may fail to do their best for lack of this element. 

 The members of the cress family, especially, contain much 

 sulphur, an ordinary crop of turnips or cabbage removing 

 nearly a hundred pounds per acre. Other crops use from fifty 

 to seventy-five pounds per acre. Sulphur is known to be a 

 powerful germicide and it is possible that some of its beneficial 

 effect on crops comes from^ its influences on these organisms. 



Reason for Protecting Plants. — It doesn't matter in 

 the least how you protect your plants, trees and shrubs this 

 winter so long as you get certain results. We wear clothes, 

 not only to keep us warm but to avoid sunburn and mosquito 

 bites. In the same way we mulch and wrap and bank up the 

 garden for several diverse purposes. Many of our fruits, 

 flowers and vegetables are existing under conditions far differ- 

 ent from those in which they originated, so when the weather 

 gets severe it is only fair to make the surroundings as home- 

 like as possible. These are the dangers against which we give 

 winter protection. Low temperatures and cold winds, actual 

 freezing of the moisture which ruptures and destroys the 

 tissues, the heaving of alternately frozen and thawed heavy 

 soil which tears plants out of the ground, the whipping and 

 breaking of branches and vines by the wind, the scalding 

 effects of direct sunlight, the unnatural winter growth stimu- 

 lated by a few warm days, excessive drying out of the soil, 

 and the breaking of branches overloaded by snow. Different 

 plants are threatened by different dangers. Study their 

 habits, natures, needs and use in your protective work not 

 only straw and leaves but also plenty of reason and common 

 sense. — Garden Magazme. 



