Snow
In most cases, Snow may be regarded as beneficial in its effects on garden produce, inasmuch as it forms a very efficient protection against injury from frost. Plants under a few inches of loose snow suffer little harm from frosts that would prove fatal to hardier species without this protection. But Snow may also act hurtfully in spring by destroying seedlings. This occurs, in most cases, when a slight thaw is followed by frost, so as to cause the formation of a continuous surface-crust of ice. If this continues for some days, the young plants are much weakened, or are killed, owing to the necessary air being cut off; and, when the Snow is all melted, only the decaying remains show where they had been.
Evergreen trees are liable to serious injury from the pressure of Snow, which tears off or distorts their branches. Deciduous-leaved trees are much less liable to suffer in this way, as Snow can seldom adhere to the bare branches in quantity sufficient to cause harm. The danger is greatest during snowfalls in calm weather, with the temperature about the freezing-point, as the Snow then adheres to the branches and leaves, and collects into heavy masses. In windy weather, and at temperatures too low for the Snow to ball together, the risk is comparatively slight. The trees that suffer most from injuries due to the weight of Snow are Spruces, and others with horizontal branches, the leaves on which are so arranged as to afford a considerable surface for the Snow to lie on.
Remedies. It is scarcely possible to do anything to save seedlings from injury, beyond breaking the ice-crust as much as possible. Trees may be saved from being injured by the weight of Snow on the branches, if it is shaken off with long poles while loose. If a branch is entirely broken off, or so far as to hang down, the surface of the wound on the tree should be smoothed so far as possible, and covered with tar or any other convenient application, to prevent the entrance of moisture, or of parasites. If the injury is detected as the branch is beginning to yield, the Snow should be shaken off, and the branch supported by stays of any convenient kind.