Cultivators are frequently urged in Horticultural papers to _cover the
roots_ of the peach-trees with heaps of snow, etc., that they may be
retarded in the spring, and escape injury from late frosts upon their
blossoms. This direction takes it for granted that the warmth of the
ground starts the root, and the root starts the sap, and the sap wakes
up the dormant branch. By covering the soil and keeping it back, the
whole tree is supposed to be secured. But, unfortunately for this
process, the motion of the sap is _first_ in the BRANCHES, and last in
the roots. Light and heat, exerted upon the branches for any
considerable length of time, produce a high state of excitability; the
sap begins to move toward the bud, its place is supplied by a portion
lower down, and so on until the whole column of sap through the trunk
is in motion, and last of all in the ROOT. But suppose warm, spring
days, with a temperature of from sixty degrees to sixty-five degrees,
have produced a vigorous motion of the sap in the branches and trunk,
while the root, (thanks to snow and ice piled over it to keep it
frozen), is dormant, what will result? The sap already within the tree
will be exhausted, the root will supply none, the light and heat still
push on the development of bud and leaf and the tree will exhaust
itself and die. We not long since observed a remarkable confirmation
of these reasonings. A gentleman of our acquaintance, in reading these
unskilfull directions to cover the peach-tree root, opened trenches
about his trees, and filled them with snow, heaping bountifully also
all about the trees. The next spring, long after his trees should have
been at work, the snow held the root fast; the buds swelled and burst,
lingered, shrivelled and died—and the _trees too_. This might have
been prognosticated. There are partial methods of protecting the peach
from too early development, but they all have respect to the
protection of the _limbs_. If the branches can be covered during the
random and prematurely hot days of spring, the tree will not suffer.
High, and cool-aired aspects, north hill-sides, northern sides of
houses, barns, etc., will answer this purpose. When it can be
afforded, long boards may be set up upon the east and south sides of
choice trees, upon a frame slightly made and easily removed.
The reason why more damage has not been done by covering peach-tree
roots, than has occurred, is, that the ground has been superficially
frozen, and many of the roots extending deeper and laterally beyond
the congealed portions, have afforded a supply of sap after a motion
had been imparted to it in the branches.