The Portland daily press., 1866-06-05
The Benefits of Mulching.

1t is seasonable now to apply mulching. The
carly spring rains have fallen, Though not
very plentitully in this section,) the sun is
screening, the earth dries rapidly, and weeds
and grass are full of vitality. Every one of
these facts is an argument in favor OF immedi-
ately mulching fruit and shade trees, bushes,
vines, everything, in short, to which the sys-
tenn is adopted. We will just mention, in The
outset, that there are two methods OF mulch
ing; one, the putting on to the soil some dead
substance, which, though it does not wholly
exclude the air from the surface of the SOIL
yet prevents all vegetation from growing; and
The other, turning the soil itself into mulch
or rather three or four inches of the surface
by stirring it often enough with hoe or cul-
tivator to keep it free from grass or weeds
But We will say nothing further of the latter
method, only to hint that to whatever plants
or crops the reader may apply it, the work
should be thoroughly performed throughout
the entire season. OMIT
In the garden, the strawberry bed, if it is
kept in rows or hills, and not allowed to be-
come first matted, should be mulched. Straw
berries are now in blossom; some of the fruit
is half grown, and il will not do to work the
soil down TO the roots OF the plants. Pull out
the weeds and apply the mulching. Nothing
makes nicer, cleaner mulch for strawberries
than grass cut from the lawn. 1t is conven-
place in spite OF strong winds. Grass may he
used for the berry bushes, the currants, dwarf
pears, flowers, anything that grows in gar
den, in a shape adapted to mulching. The
farmers lawn should be large enough to sup
ply grass to mulch his garden, and we repeat
That nothing is more convenient or clean to
use for mulch in the garden than the short,
fresh cut grass, free from all seeds.
In the fruit yard, after thoroughly cultivat-
70,
Coarse manure may be used here. Ii one has
access to leaves from the woods very efficient
mulch may be procured, but mold enough
should be mixed with the leaves to keep them
from blowing away when they become dry
We can conceive of no better method of cult
waiting the orchard, than to thoroughly mulch
the trees after the spring cultivation. Instead
OF plowmg deep and cutting and destroying so
many roots, and cropping the land, would it
not be more rational culture to mulch the
space of ground through which the roots may
extend, and pasture the remainder, thus per-
uniting the soil to enrich itself, as it were
Then in the autumn withdraw the mulch and
manure on the surface. Young orchards
should not, certainly, be allowed to stand in a
close turf; but cannot system of culture be
devised less exhausting to the soils and less
injurious to the roots of the trees, than deep
and frequent blowing and cropping?
Mulching enriches the soil. Cover square
rod i'm your pasture with boards for one sum-
mer, and when, the next season, you plant corn
or sow wheat, the rank growth OF the crop on
the covered spot will mark it plainly from a
distance. Mulching equalizes the temperature
of the ground, and we believe this protection
of the root wards off disease from the tree. 1t
is favorite theory with us, that pear tree
blight is due, in great measure, to sudden
changes oftemperature of the soil, to the effect
Of ascorching sun on slightly protected roots
Therefore compact, cool soil is best for the
pear and quicue in all localities; and it is. the
exemption which the climate in the vicinity
of Boston gives from these injurious effects
that renders thepear SO eminentiy successful in
that locality.-RsrGt Ne,c Yorker.