Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-04

II is often the case that many very i'm
portant operations that ought to be per-
formed on farm are entirely neglected
because Of the extra labor occasioned
thereby For that reason mulchiDg is not
practiced on farms where it would be of
incalculable benefit, and many farmers
experience losses every season from
causes that might be prevented by
proper protection TO trees and vegetables
that need covering Of some kind, both in
summer and winter And it Is not for
want of material with which to mulrh.
for loads Of leaves rot annually in the for
est. and heaps Of straw and stalks go a.
complete waste on farms when such ma
terials might az we'll be put TO good SER
vice against frosts in winter and excessive
dryness in summer.
Mulcfno I'm the winter answers the
same purpose To plants that coverings do
10 animals. The roots are protected from
extreme cold, and no matter how severe
the weather NAV be, even if the ground
is frozen solid. some heat, be it ever 80
small degree. will be retained. and the
frosts will not penetrate the earth so deep
" as il does on uncovered soil. And
though it NAV not be known I" some, vet
it j. fact that the roots iof plants will
grow 10 the coolest weather, but more so
If the earth above them is properly
mnlched a. q protection to them The
cold penetrates the earth slowly under a
mulch, and on the return of warm weather
when the ground il being torn to pieces
and thrown up by the frOsts. the mulching
prevents this sudden change and again
protects the plant with its friendly COW
erin0 against rapid thawing
Mulching in summer is equally bene-
fetal for through il moisture is retained
near the plant by preventing quick evap-
Grafton, and the heavy rains are not so
liable To leach the manure and soil around
it as il would without the mulch. There
are seasons in which SHOVE are scarce
and heavy rains II blessing, and such want
Of moisture often proves very unfortunate
10 those " no have risked all on a crop.
Much loss would be prevented from this
cause by the action of the soil itself,
through capillary attraction. by thor
ough mulchiDg.
There is another important advantage.
In the growing season mulching not only
saves manure by protecting it from the
heat of the sun. washing and heavy winds.
but assists in the chemical processes ever
taking place around the growing plant.
Plants likewise need shade over the roots,
darkness. heat and moisture. and these
conditions are afforded BY the mulch in a
manner to be derived from no other
source. As water completely decom-
poses, with the assistance Of the air, all
vegetable substances, covering on the
ground retains the necessary water con-
stantly needed for that purpose, as well
as always admitting the air to the roots.
which is not allowed on uncovered soils,
as they often get baked by exposure to
sun and rain. such baking causing extra
labor with the harrow and cultivator.
Any farmer can try the effects of a COW
ering by experimenting with board.
placed on the ground aud allowed to re-
main in position for u length of time. If
then examined. it will be found that the
soil under it is moist. full of earth worms
and richer and blacker than before. This
proves that mulching not only protects
the plants in winter and summer and as
sists their development. but to certain
extent enrchcs the soil. for the board
serves only the purpose of mulch or
covering, and any other substance that ei-
iectually shields the plant from exposure
will answer as we'll 1t may be argued
that extra and costly labor will be oc-
casioned but if we will consider that this
labor can be applied at Il period when all
other work tor the season has ceased no
great outlay of expense is necessary. The
generous care thus givan the plants will
be reciprocated by them in return when
the crop Is gathered; aud after all it is
but round about way of employing idle
time in winter and waiting till harvest
time for tho ROT I'm lob
the farm is sure to bring its reward with
good management and in this process of
mulching. il good judgment is exercised
the time thus employed will be profitable
in the end, not only in more abundant
crops but in the better condition of the
soil SO treated.