The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-09-20
M uiClling.

MANY of our readers are doubtless fam Hr
with the simple op.';ti''ll, and have AIr' au\
proved its v,lup. For the benefit "t those VIII"
are still unacquautcd with it, We propose t"
offer !; lew hints on the subject.
Mulchu. is the addition of some loose matter
to the surface of the soil its value dcpen' IN
The decpc,iug of the soil and itsprotectIon from
the direct RAYS of the sun, during The period "t
d,oulh. afchiI,g the surface and rxh ustlns 1t
of its su, tici Il moisture, 50 Necessity Tor 'he
nail liu ESQ spread around from the stem "i Il
plant or tree To procure nut rIment. Lac mate
rial used may consist of dccayed 'aves from
the woods, partial, dcc"mp"sed stal l:na' Il e.
litter, shori gras>, straw: or III fact any sucn
substance as will prevent the rays OF ii @ sun
from reaching the sulace, and hinder the 'n"l''
turc OF the soil from evaporatimg during very
dry wcatDer. Partially dccompoSvd leaves
tr m Tie muods-i> perhaps one Of the best
things that can be used. In the case OF lately
tanspIantcd trees no ,n" should neS lect this
operation. Spread the mulchmg material
around the tree to the depth of nine inches Or
Il foot, aud t. the distance Of three or four feet
from The stem; stir the surface a little with
hoe before it is settled, and if the soil is at all
favorable and the tree properly planted, there
is every prospect of its heimg able to withstand
the severity Of the ensuing dry weather. Char:
coal dust might also be empl"yed with advan-
ta.e as it ahsorbS various gases from the at
mo>rhere, valuable us food for plants. Ian
bark has been used with advantage, and vari-
Gus other substances which may be ut hand,
are substituted for the materials recommended
above.
The value of muching in protecting the sur,
face of the soil from eAtrcme evaporation is
very great; and the condition Of crops whr'c
it Is rcsorled to, is much more vigorous than
where the sun has been permitted to exert his
full influence upon the surface. MuIchimg is
much more advisable method Of securing sup
o of moisture to the surface roots of pssn's,
than the application of water. The moisture
from below, which a>cvndS to the suffice lhrU'
the soil frequently takes up the lertilizing mat
ter contained i'll it, aud the young roots are
enabled TO appropriate these matters. While
ed and hard, that the, would perish or become
no longer conductors of the necessary substan
ces to the plant.
When watering is rcsoIted to- in very dry
weather, mulchiny should invariably follow, lis
by this means tie supply will be preserved in
the soil Until it has produced the desired effect.
The sun cannot tnciI rvaiorate 1t IN Il few hours,
with greater inlnry to the young roots than 1t
it had never been supplied. 1t is a received
opinion that much OF! the valuable gaseous mat
lers supplied hy mamu,es III the sol. is drawn
from it in summer, Oh very sandy soils, by the
sun !; and to prevent this mulchng is strongly
recommended for such soils. There can be llo
doubt but u,dmy of these substances 'vi"-
tile if not fixed by the application Of tn proper
al events, moisture is extracted,
and this always contains more or less OF am
nonia, which is Il valuable food for plants.
From repeated experiments it has been proved
that trees which have had several inches OF loose
material spread around them, have surpassed
others planted with equal care, but with the
surface exposed to the iatuence OF the summers
sun. Ia tho general routine OF gardening,
nuch;ng is we'll understood and Va ue1, as
,ol> eniclil mode Of adding ierlilzinS material
10 CROWN" ants wh,n IL is unsafe to disturb
The soil to any considerable depth. 1t is IN
,I but :. very convenient operation, aud should
never be lost sight of while so much disap.
ponlmcut occurs by the Iailnrc OF trtcs winch
,ipcar to succeed well for tme, bu, cvrntu
ally PERISH when exposed unprotected, t" the
severity of our Summer weather. Those who
are not familiar with the lcrm by which this
operation is generally known, may prefer top
] es>ing AS more expressive Of the process, al
hpngh this is USED principally to convey the
dea Of apply ins manure. There is no differ.
.nce. however, Between tAc:n.
The soil around riants is tupdre$2cd with
litter, to prcveut undue evaporation, prepared
,on;po,t is sometimes added as Il mulct!; 80
a, in fact, the terms are sy nomin"'iS., Many
persons dislike technical expressions, aud many
nay have avaIcd themselves Of The benefits" OF
nuching under Il different name.