Nebraska advertiser., 1861-07-11
GJgGtllgut0ms.
Try MulchIng.

Dy IulCuluBs lHe inexperienced reader
will understand that we mean The placing
Of leaves. straw, refuse hay, grass, or
other material, upon the surface of the
soil, aroahd the base Of fruit trees, and
various other plants. We hope every
reader Of the agricultural will look into
the benefits Of this process. Ills possible,
doubtless, tv Over-rate the importance of
the practice, but there is little danger of
1t. To our view, il is one of the most
useful processes In orchard aud garden
Culture. OF course, It Is not 10 be en-
ployed withcu, regard 10 time aud season.
It's value appears chiefly in times OF
drouth, preserving heauhsul moisture Of
the surface of the soil. Italso saves hoe
labor Ia keeping down weeds and scaaify-
ing the earth about trees and plants.
If fruit-garden is not carefully titled
In midsummer, the ground becomes hard
and cry, and an army of weeds invade it,
which by the evaporation from their leaves
pump the soil still drier than it would be
If bare of vegetation. But cover the
ground between and around the trees with
few inches thick of forest leaves, or
straw, or tan-bark, and the soil will con.
tinue moist, and few weeds will appear
The tress, too, will make better growth
Yet mulching should be applied with
some care and discrimination. For in
stance; it should seldom be used in early
Summer, except in the case of newly
planted trees. From April to June, it
would be better to keep the soil clean and
loose with the cultivator and hoe; for, if
covered earlier, 1t would keep out the
genial heat of the sun, and so retard the
growth of both leaves and roots. Wait
until the ground gets we'll warmed and
vlvified, until the manures have been well
worked into the soil by the hoe, and until
the ordinary rains and dews of early
| Summer seem insufficient to keep the
ground properly most; then put on the
blanket OF leaves, or straw. or refuse hay.
or cut weeds. So treated, it will matter
litter whether il rains or not, tor several
weeks at time, for the mulch viii arrest
the moisture always rising from the sub.
SOL and prevent its evaporation. The
hoe. too, may cease It's fight of the weeds
AOl q tOiS tltlSs
Again; the mulch should, in most cases,
be removed before the close of the season.
If kept on late into Autumn, it will serve
TO keep the ground about the roots of the
trees warm and moist, and so excite con-
unued growth at a time when it should
have ceased, and the forces of the tree
he spent in riPening off is wood prepar-
atOry to Winter. The neglect of lhi;
precautlon may account, in part, for the
winter-kllling of many fine dwarf anc
other pear trees. There is another rea'
son, too, for this; if the mulch of hay Of
straw he left around young trees in Win
Ter, 1t will be quite sure TO afford a nest
ing place for mica. Let it then be re-
moved, say about the middle Of Septem
ber or first Of October. Early in Noven
ber, supply its place with a hiilock 0
common soil around the trunk, to repe
vermIn.
As already minated, mulchirg is yer,
important in the case Of newly pIanl''
trees. shrubs, aud vines The mangle,
roots very soon send off all the mJistur
they possess, or can gather from the sur
rounding soil, and it Is v-ry important 1
supply their lack ar,ificidlly, until the
get re-establlshed. and In cOuLItion L
gather water for themselves. This ca
7 be done, either by watering The roots FIRE
quently or by mulching them. The frs
method every experienced planter know
= is open TO many objections; it is an un
natural remedy, it usually packs th
ground too much, it is labOrious, and IS nc
always successful. The latter has every
thing to recommend it: ills natures pla
for protecting roots, it is easily and quick
ly done, and is generally successful
Water may perhaps be wisely apple
once, at the time of replanting, bat II WI
seldom be needed again. Among de
cidous trees, there is none that demand
) This treatment more than the cherr!
From neglect Of it, many fine collection
perish every year.
And If deCiduous trees require mulcf
, ing. much more do evergreens. The
foliage always fully expanded, serves
evaporate the moisture Of the roots v5r
= fast. Al the time of Te-settlng, the
l. should be ple;ifully watered, aud then u
C. soil over the roots should be covered wit
leaves and fat stones 10 keep them dow
or with spent ian.bark. With this lin
care, even the fastidious Hemlook will a
o: commodate itself to new soils and exp
- sures. For shading grog nj about new
planted shrubs, grape-vines, strawberrie
cuttings and the Ike. nothing is betI
: than chopped straw, or (Which looks be
teri newly mown grass. If water Is q
piled soon from a watering pot, II "
n make the mulch lie fat upon the groun
y and it viii remain there all Summer
.9aeTiean .7gricuiturist.