Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-02-23
Abest Malehlng.

which plants are growing, with any kind
Of fibrOus material, is termed in hOrticM-
tura language mulching" The results
sought are various, but they are usually
some one or all of the following:
l. To prevent Q too rapid evaporation
of moisture.
2. keeping the soil about the roots cool
and porous, thereby admitting air, and, as
a natural sequence, condensing or extract
ing moisture therefrom.
B. Protecting the roots against any ex-
treme in temperature, either in summer or
winter FsF - 10
a, Preventing the frequent freezing and
thawing of the soil, causing separation
OF the roots of small, delicate plants and
cuttings therefrom. $1,000
5. 10 enrich the soil by the decay of
the materials used as mulch.
6. To prevent fruit from becoming dam
aged by being splashed with earth during
heavy rains, as usual with strawberries
that are cultivated in rows or hills.
Z. To prevent the larger fruits, (for in
stance, pears, being bruised when blown
from the tree
Mulching, upon the whole, Is only a
precautionary measure, and as such, the
circumstances under which it is TO be APP
piled, as we'll as the results sought, should
be carefully studied and understood before
its adoption. Upon naturally dry soil,
and in hot, dry climate, mulch may be
used more unfortunately than where
the conditions are Of an opposite char
acter
If we could only foretell the weather,
and know positively what it would be in
each succeeding season, mistakes might be
avoided; but as future conditions cannot
be known, we must take our chance in ap-
plying or withholding mulch. Neither
will it do to adopt any general system of
mulching all kinds of plants, grown in
any one locality or soil, for there are spe-
cies like the grape, which requires q
warm, dry soil, while others, like the cur
rant and gooseberry, demand cool and
moist one. Throughout the Middle
States, and in large portion of the
Northern, it is positively necessary To sue
cess in currant and gooseberry culture,
especially in dry seasons, and even in a
wet one they are seldom injured thereby.
Strawberries do not require cool soil,
but large amount Of moisture Is required,
and we do not know of more economi-
cal method of furnishing supply than
by applying liberal quantity of mulching.
Fruit-growers should observe the effects
Of mulching upon each and every kind OF
soil where applied, and then they will
know from practical experience whether
the benefits are sufficient to pay the cost.
Every experiment should be made In such
manner that some practical information
may be gained therefrom. For instance,
if man has field of raspbcrries that do
not succeed as we'll as the conditions
seem to warrant, a portion should be
mulched and the remainder carefully cul-
tivated during summer, and then notice
the difference in results. 1t is certainly a
very easy matter to ascertain the value OF
mulching upon any plant or in any
particular locality, provided the seasons
are not too variable We have found
mulching of inestimable value on light
loamy soil, particularly in the following
/. Upon the soil, around the roots Of all
newly planted trees, applied as soon as
possible after they were SET Evergreens
are not exceptions, although we object to
the use of coarse barn-yard manure for
the trees.
O. Small evergreens planted in rows
and whether obtained from the woods OF
nurseries, will be greatly benefited by
being literally mulched the first season.
g. Cuttings of all wood plants, such as
currants, gooseberries, ornamental shrubs
and trees, require large amount OF
moisture while producing roots, and
mulch is great assistance in furnishing q
supply.
A. On localities and soils where raspber-
ries and blackberries are liable to fail from
high temperature and deficiency of moist
ure at the time the fruit is ripening,
mulching should be literally applied early
in the spring.
p Although we are strongly disposed to
favor the liberal use of mulch, still we are
aware that there are two sides to this
question. It's constant use will cause the
roots of plants to grow near the surface,
and, in such position, be liable TO injury
in time Of drouth or extreme cold. Mulch
ing, should, therefore, be used con
tinuously, or every alternate season, and
cultivation Intermediate Mulching also
becomes the harbor of insects, and they
will often become more abundant where
used than elsewhere.
The materials used for mulch may be
divided into two classes /. Those which
contain large amount of nutriment, and
Will, upon their decay, add considerably to
the fertility of the soil. In this class we
place upland hay, straw, leaves, hair
sweepings from wooden mills, waste hops
from breweries, and coarse litter from the
barn-yard.
2. Tanbark, sawdust, hay from low,
fresh or salt water boys, pine leaves, and
wood shavingS.
Upon soil that needs enriching, mulch
ing Of the first class should always be used,
as they will add in fertility to the land suf
ficicnt to pay for their total cost. But
upon rich land the latter will be prefer
able, inasmuch as they seldom contain
weed Or grain seed, or aid those which
may be in the soil to make vigorous
growth, and If applied in liberal quantities
will prevent the growth Of all .noxious
vegetation. G1
We have, always practiced mulching
quite extensively, and believed that IL used
judiciously and upon deep and well drained
soils, that the losses which almost annually
occur from severe drouth would be entirely
obviatcd.-Rurdl NeU Yorker.
THE BIBLE AS A LAW BooK.-Thc I'LL
nois Supreme Court once decideds case by
the final authority of the Mosaic law. II
was suit brought by q man to recover
of another for injuries caused the
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