Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-08-20

mr.. PoTreR 9o'c
We have frequently spoken OF mulch
ing as the ne plus ultra, the nothing be-
orcharding; but have not particularly re-
icrrcd TO the manner in which trees are
benefited thereby. We will now do 1t.
Mulchiug Kills the sward above the tree.
No tree can flourish with hide bound
sward above it. Trees planted in rich
So NAV attain q good growth, although
surrounded by or. - sward; but in the
cnd will not he productive.
Swaol i easily killed by anyth ing that
shades the ground. A foot of any kind
Of litter. or covering. as of boards, APP
Piled in the summer months, will Kill the
grass in four weeks. We saw this exon.
plicd in the yard of j. ". Humphrey.
y. GRAY. A pile of shingles in four weeks
hal completely killed the grass under
them. This Killing tho sward renders the
soil light and permeahle.
~ Mr.. Wing OF I.ivermcre says. You
can thrust your hand into the soil readily
Il i, prepared TO receive the kindly inhn-
cnceS of the air. sun. light. rains and dew.
Air ha, much to 10 with the roots ot We 2
station. Il i said They breathe. II So.
how much more readily in hne, perme-
able soil than when they arc covered with
an impcrmcable swarj. Truly j. would
not lee healthy operation 20 clog our res
pirator, organs with coverlet. No per-
son can enjoy health 10 breathe through
blankets.
II i somewhat thus with vegetation.
All obstruction 10 the acton of sun. light.
lainS. dews and air mus; Ice removed to
insure the health, the thrift and prrduc-
ti,cncs, oftb tree. Mnlohiag AerPs the
soil moiS, in tie summer time, and cOnSc-
G3cuuy in>urc> the living OF the newly
irlr>pia,tcd tee. From this cnnsidcra-
ton. !, i, more beneficial to DRY than to
,uoi>, soil, |, prevents the freezing of
the grcuuj in inter- Most people are
not aware of the damage 10 trees hy hard
freezing. Orchards and parts Of orchards.
where the ground lies NAKED in the VIM
ten. nave been Killed We 81, piece OF
IaaI thus afflicted, with ,gce> three times
aaG no, a tree j. alive on il. Ey covering
the crouud about the tree with good
coa, %: mulch, Ibis trouble may be avoid
cJ.
Lastly, In, 20. lcastly, match i ma
nurc. without which no tree can obtain 4
healthy aad sound growth Vegetable
manure i Indispensable on our old. worn
plow-d,ld> Time, with = constant stir
ing ol the soil, has Leroii the soil of its
original vegetable manure, and 10 trce
can grow without it. How can wood bc
formed except from woody matter
Would We ihiak TO grow forest tree as
rea,til, on an old plow-.ield, rs on forest
land coveted with heavy coat of vcge-
Table mould? Mos: a>suredlynot. Now
the apple.trec requires the same condi'
tons for it, success a. the forest tree.
Who has no, observed that fruit tree:
that stand beside woodward, cr stump
oi log heap, are always ilouriShing? One
great reason why orchards do not succeed
a. in oldcn time j., the soil has been be
rcn OF lis vegetable matter. Time wa'
when a tree put the right end under the
sod would flourish. Not SO now. Oui
trees must receive mulch in order to sue,
coed
Animal manure alone will not grow 3
healthy and productive tree. We find
nanny Instances ia or gardens and highly
manured orchards of trees that are black.
wooded and diseased; the acrimonious
sap oozing from the wounds and canker-
sca5S. and killing the limbs and trunks
below. This might have been remedied
bv the application of less animaland moro
vegetable manure Mulch, through
chemical action, has a tendency to enrich
the soil Whenever the soil is covered,
a. by stones, boards, wood. Sc, the sol
becomes lerililed. Upon removing them
ws produce fine crops. As II proof that
vegetable mulch is Il manure, we ret ei
! 70 the fact, observed by the observing,
I that the roots of fruit trees seek it. We
have seen them come from the trunks oil
| old and thick-barke1 trees, las thick as
Toe hair in your head" where muck had
been heaped two years about the trees.
Where mulch has been applied two years
you will find the surface soil filed witt,
rootlets which have sprung up from the
| leading roots beneath.
Nature knows her wants and attends to
them. The tree seeks what is beneficial
Not so always naa. If roOtlets will seek
vegetable matter, why, give it them.
We might give the reader very long
chapter on benefits ofmulching chronicled
during our forty years sojomn in the LAND
/ III orcharitlom. We have seen an old
orchard on lean, grayelIy soil, and never
plowed, engraited, and then covered Will
mulch So that the grass was completely
killed, and bear fruit to the establishment
of the surrounding country. We have
seen an orchard set on open. sandy. oil