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Show TREES DESTROYED IN WINTER To Prevent Killing Soil Must Be Kept Moist and Unfrozen as Long as Possible. (By C. B. WALDRON, North Dakota Agricultural Ag-ricultural College.) It Is commonly supposed that it trees are given a sufficiently moist soil during their growiVj period, that their, winter condition in this respect is a matter of little Importance. As a matter of fact, trees are giving off moisture at all seasons of the yeari1 though to a much less extent, at course, in cold weather. During the warm, sunny days in winter, there la a considerable loss of moisture through the twigs, and except for veryj severe weather, the roots are able to furnish this loss, though the soil about them be frozen. The ability to do this is naturally less If the soil be dry or frozen very hard. In that case, tha loss of moisture results in a more or less complete drying up of the tissues of the plants and this often results In the death of the tree. What is known as root-killing majt in some instance be due to the immv ture or unripe condition of the plant when winter begins, but in most cases, root-killing follows dry seasons like the one just closed. If the soil has been kept moist by; cultivation or mulching, the trees are safe, but if the soil is dry, It should be thoroughly wet before freezing and then mulched with old straw, chaff o stable manure, to prevent drying out) The mulch delays freezing and tbia in itself is an Important item, as It la the long continued frozen state of woody plants that Injures them to a fatal degree. A moist soil then, kept In an unfrozen unfro-zen condition as long as possible, la the surest means to prevent winter willing of tree. In a season like this, root-killing is very likely to occur. |