The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-31
From the Northern Cultivator.
MV4lRiafn0.

MulchinS.
This process although known and practiced for
many wears by few cult;vators has become ex-
tensivey adopted only at very late period. II
seems peculiarly adapted 10 our lot and dry sum.
mers, and operates chiefly in preserving the mos-
ture of the surface, and preventing the growth oi
weeds The moisture the surface of the earth
from rains and dews is quickly disspated under
hot sun; and if this surface is allowed to be-
come covered with dense growth OF living grass
and weeds, these pump out of the soil and throw
off into the air a much larger quantity Of mois-
ture than Is eyaporaed by bare surface OF
earth only.
But if this surface is covered with few inches
of old straw, hay, or leaves, the moisture Is re.
tanned in the soil, and the growth Of weeds pre-
vented. AS a general rule, we have found II
most advantageous TO leave the surface bare and
keep the soil we'll mellowed hl near mid summer.
and then to apply The muchIng. For covering
of litter while it promotes The humility, also pre-.
vents the heating Of the soil, and in this way may
retard early growth if applied too soon. These
are exceptions, however; one in the case OF large
deeply rooted trees not effected BY nor needing
muching, and the other where small plants, which
are removed in summer, need the careful and con-
slant retention of the moisture of The earth. We
have succeeded, with scarcely failure in fifty,
in transplanting the strawberry in the drouth and
heat of summer, by simply giving the surface
muching of two inches of barn manure, and on
which the watering was poured when necessary.
Indeed, there is nothing that better prevents the
ill effects of baking by surface watering, than
covering of this sort of moderate depth. Mulch
ing WILL however, promote moisture IN the soil,
even when neither artificial nor natural watering
is given, simply by arrestlng such as rise upwards
through the earth. In one instance striking ii.
ustraon of this effect furnished during a
very Aapg season of drought, which injured and
threatened 10 destroy row of newly transpanted
apple trees. Their leaves had already begun to
turn yellow, and growth had ceased, but on coat.
ing the ground about them with a coat of mown
weeds, change was soon effected, and in three
weeks the leaves had returned to their deep green
hue, and in some instances growth had recon-
menced. But on no kind Of tree is mulchlng
more necessary than on new transplanted cherry
trees. Thousands of these are lost every season,
after they have commenced growing, by the dry
ing heat of the midsummer, and the evil is some.
times increased by superficial watering. A deep
muIching will generally prove complete remedy
if seasonabIy applied.
Some interesting facts this subjects were
stated, and valuable suggestions made at one of
the conversational meetings Of the Massachusetts
Horticultural Society. S. Walker remarked that
he had used tan, dust, litter, leaves. &C., bat
he believed short, newly mown grass of The
best things had muIched a great deal with
it, and found it laid close to the soil. He also
commended the succuEent weeds of the garden
roadside. He found tan and saw dust to be USE
full merely by retaining the moisture. d. Hag-
gerston had found sedge from salt marshes best,
particularly if cut short; good watering upon
it made it lay close TO the ground. He found it
excellent for strawberries. He had also found
tree leaves excellent if they had partly decayeds
not likely 10 be blown away. Old hot bed
particularly fine. Several spoke of the ill effects
Of too deep muIching, but think the more
common error is in spreading the covering of the
soil too thin.
Muching is very easy and cheap practice,
and the season is now at hand when our readers
may prove by varying experiments the best mode
of performance.