Nebraska advertiser., 1869-01-07


We have so long been a believer in
the practical effects of liberal Mulch
ing, and having derived so much good
from it, that we feel that too much
cannot be said or written upon the
subject. We extract the following
main points from a quite lengthy ar
ticIe on mulching by II. T. Williams,
of the New York Independent:
There are so many instances of ben
eficial results from mulching applied
to all kinds of fruit, that I would like
fruit growers to pay more attention
and practice to the subject.
1t is simple, so practical, so easy,
and so excellent in increasing the
health and prOductiveness of fruits,
that, Notwithstanding its moderate
expense, fruit-growers will find it
one of their most efficient aids.
Noman should spare time or trouble
in horticulture, if he wishes to save
his fruits and increase his crops.
That good man downing said, eff
we were asked what practice founded
on principle had been most beneficial
ly introduced into our horticulture,
we should answer mUjchiRg-sugges-
ted by the need OfmOisture i'm our dry
climate, and the difficulty of preser-
wing ~itarOund the roots of fruit trees
In this peculiar climate Of ours, fur
nishing at one period of the year the
scoTching rays of the sun to witheT
and exhaust the vitality of many of
our best plants, and then succeeded
by the frOsts Of a stormy and severely
cold winter, trying all varieties and
putting them to the severest of tests,
with, alas! too little comfort and sue
cess. / see one way by which we can
maintain the life of a majority of ON
plants, and increase their health, Wig
or and productiveness-very careful
n1uJehiRQ.
Mulching means any sufficient COW
eTing Of the surface of the earth, and
its object is three-fold:
1st. To protect and preserve the
plant from the excessive heat of the
sun.
End. To equalize the temperature
and preserve the soil and atmosphere
uniformly moist around the roots.
Sd. To keep the plant secure from
the repeated frOsts Of the winter.
With all newly. planted trees or
vines, a uniform degree Of moisture is
necessary; and the more perfectly this
is furnished, the better viii they flour
ish. If absent, however, they will
languish for the need Of it.
The materials to be used are various,
but the following are cheapest and
most efficacious.
Decdying LenUes, is the very best of
all mulches, as it is not only a protec-
ton, but contains the highest kind Of
fertilizing material, to be absorbed
quickly by the plant.
SGWdUSt. Very many live where
they can obtain an abundance of this.
1t may splash some on the plants du-
ring the heavy rains, but it is better to
apply it than nothing at all. 1t has
the merit Of cleanliness, and may be
incorporated in the soil as a fertilizer
or ameliOratOr.
Tan bark is also excellent. I have
used il with excellent success. Apply
ing il one inch deep to strawberries, it
formed handsome path up and down
between the rows, perfectly clean and
free from weeds-fOrming a nice bed
for the fruit to rest upon when ripe,
and easily heaped over the hill at COM
mencement of winter. The fannie ac-
id it is said to contain, be it little or
much, is assuredly quite a benefit. If
used around %evergreens it should be
applied two inches deep.
Even stones and boards have their
use. l have seen trees growing up
from stone-heaps, and I could not help
but notice and admire the size, vigor
and luXuTiance of their stalks, and yet
1 was too young to understand the
cause. Also, 1 have observed other
trees growing by the side of a heap of
boards loosely thrown about, or out of
a lot of rubbish, or heaps of brush
wood, that were far more thrifty than
those in rich ground but more exposed.
The use of mulch is a great saving
IA labor. If the ground iswell mulch
ed, no labor is necessary to till it.
StrdU, which some farmers waste
far too freely, is also one of cIeanest
and best but like old hay it is liable
to the objection O~fcOncealing the seeds
of weeds, which, in course Of time,
will grow and take possession Of the
soil.
The best time for application, in my
judgment, is just at the beginning Of
summer, but it often happens that the
material for mulch is scarce at that
time, and there is no resource but to
wait till a later date, September usu-
ally finds an abundance in every d.
raetiOn, and a very convenient time.
Method Of dppIicdtiOB.-For straw
berries apply between the rows, cover
ing the ground completely on the
approach Of frost, takes fork and COW
er the plants well. In the spring I'M
cover, and allow the mulch to cover
the ground again, 1t is well, once in
May and once in September, to push
the mulch aside and pass up and down
with the cultivatOr. 1t has the effect
of stirring the soil and increasing its
power of absorption; and also pre-
vents it from becoming hard and stag
nant.