Winter Injuries Of Trees

Every ono understands wbat may be called the philosophy of "buruing." The great heat in a forest on fire dries out the moisture trom the ground faster than roots can supply it. ïhen other chemi ■ cal agenta which cannot act when inoisture is present, find an opportunity to work to the destruction of the plantstructuro. This is burning when put in the languago of learned men. We suppose that it is now erencrallv umlf.rstnori that the losses of last winter were something after this kind. The cold, and the wind, and the drouth togetber, ried the inoisture out of the trees faster than the roots could supply it, and death ensued. There were of course many puzzliug cases when one can scarcely see how doath could have ensued in this way ; but still there seems to be a general agreenieiit tbat in a general way this was how the loss occurred. It is hardly likely that this state of things will occur again very soon. We were many years without any sueh visitation, and shall probtibly be free from it for some timo to come. But the lesson need not be lost to us. If trees can be killed by thus dying out, they may be weakened, if not oxactly destroyed, and we may, by sheltering somewhat our gardens from those injurious influences, derive much profit. Wind of course is a dryer out of moisture - therefore plant thickly in windy quarters. Frost is also a dryer ; keep away all the frost from root and branch we eau. In the case of young planta which have not many roots, a dressing of leaves, old litter, or any rubbish over the surface of the ground, will be found of benefit But there is yet one point which we think no horticultural writer has touched on, namely : to endeavor to increase the nuinber of roots, so that when there is much drying out of the sap from the upper surface, there should be a grand army v- íviu aucp a uuu iace to tne enemy. It is, we believc, a principie with many good gardeners, thafc manure not only freds roots, but also increases their nuinber ; that they grow and spread, and divide in proportion to the amount of work they have to do, or rather have the opportumty of doing. ' By manure to the soil, we really give roots to the tree and thus multiply the chances of supplying it with moisture in a dry, cold, windy time. uAii We haTe said U is hardly lilfely we shall have as much to lament in the next year as during the past, but the lesson need not be lost to us. Wo coa make use ofitiuahuudred ways. Evergreen hediges are almost always too poor at any rate, and where a top-dressing can ■be afiforded, we should recommend one to be applied at this geason. It serves the purpose of a fertilizer and