Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-11-05
Mulchlng Wheat in Winter.

Mulching trees and shrubs is extern
sively practiced by gardeners and
orchardists to prevent injury from
drought in summer, and we can see no
good reason why the same practice
should not be extended to the small
grains or even vegetables raised upon
every farm.
There are many localities where little
or no snow falls in winter to protect the
small grains sown in autumn, and these
frequently suffer greatly from exposure
to frosts and drying winds during the
colder months, droughts beng probably
the more injurious OF the two, through
quite extended wheat-growing regions OF
the West and South. Mulching, or, as it
usually called, top-dressing the grain in
fall with some coarse kind of material,
such as half-decayed straw, lowland or
prairie hay, will, in great measure,
prevent losses from the causes named.
In addition to the benefits derived from
the application in the way of preserving
moisture and protection from cold, such
materials will add something to the fer
tility of the soil, and at the time and
place most needed. The low average
yield of winter grain in Kansas, Missouri
and other comparatively mild climates,
and where the land is naturally very
rich, shows that there is something lack
ing to bring the crops up to standard
which might be reasonably expected
under the circumstances, and we have
not the least doubt that winter protec-
ton in the form of mulching is just the
thing needed There are localities
where the materials suitable for mulch
ing cannot be obtained in sufficient
quantities or at a cost which would ad-
nit of their extended application; but
we may safely presume that in regions
where they are most needed they are
abundant. In fact, we know that mill
ions of tons of straw have been burned
up to get rid of it in the prairie States,
and lust where it is most needed for
mulching.
The straw from this years harvest, if
spread out into wide, low piles, will be-
come decayed sufficiently to be used for
mulch by the time cold weather sets in,
at which time it should be spread thinly
over the field. Fresh, dry straw will be
too light to remain where placed, and
would soon be carried off by the winds.
Coarse, strawy manure from the barn
yard Is still better, adding fertility to the
soil, besides afiordiEg protection to the
young grain.
Where SHOWS cover the ground the
greater part of winter the mulching is
not needed, and if applied in any corsid
cradle quantities it might smother the
grain, thereby doing more injury than
good. But wellrotted barnyard manure
may be applied quite literally in the
autumn with benefit to all kinds of
winter grain, Some of our best farmers
practice this method of applying manure
in preference to hauling out upon their
summer fallows and blowing under If
straw cannot be had then use the weeds
and coarse sedges from the swamps and
low grounds; even sawdust or tanbark
is far better than nothing.
If those farmers who complain of
winterkilling of their wheat would
practice this system of mulching we be-
lieve they would find it beneficial, and
in the end profitable. Neither manure
nor other kinds of mulch should be APP
piled until cool or cold weather. or as
soon as the ground is hard enough to adj
nit of driving over it without injuring
the roots of the grain. -Neac York Sun.