The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-21
OUR FARM BUDGET.
Improved Method OF Summer Mulch
ing--Seeond Crop Potatoes.
Cottage Cheese Profltable-Insects
on Garden Vegetables
What Can Be Sown
in June.
Farm Facts-Poultry and Plums-Musk
and Water Meions-Farm and Work
shop Notes.-The, Etc.


Improved Method or summer mulcnins.
Our chief obstacle in summer is drought.
How TO prevent it is unknown. but to Gull
4ivate in such manner as to mitigate its dis
advantages IS what all cansdo. The best of
all remedies in dry spells is mulchlDg.
These who practice it do so for the purpose
of protection in winter; bat a mulch is
really of more advantage in the warmest
DAYS of summer than when the temperature
is at zero. Contrary to expectation, those
who live in sandy locations can bear testl-
mony TO the fact that the apparently dry,
sandy soils retain more moisture
than those of heavier nature,
but are almost burning hot at the
surface during midday in times of drought.
This great heat at the surface is TOO severe
for tender and young plants. When wsrm
at the surface the moi sture by capillary at
traction is usually sufficient for growth, but
much loss occurs from evaporation. A re-
tention of moisture enables plants to pass
through the dry spells and increases yield.
As proof of this we know that in places
where a loose board has fallen and
covered the ground earthworms get at work,
humus forms, the color is darker and the
place evidently richer. This is owing to the
shade and darkness afforded by the cover
ing. Shade is natures implement OF reno
walton. Clover usually leaves the ground in
better condition than before being seeded
and adds much valuable heterogeneous mat
ter to the soil by the decay of its roots when
turned under; but we are satisfied that
much OF the benefit gained by the soil is de
rived from the shading afforded by the
thickly-grow clover. The denser the
shade the richer the soil becomes and
plants with broad leaves are better for
the purpose than straight-stocked ones,
which we know by comparing the benefits
derived from crops of buckwheat and rye.
The buckwheat shades the ground COM
pletely, but the rye is better for turning I'M
der when young.
Mulching can be done with leaves, straw,
grass that has been hoed up, and even news
, papers. The latter are available, and can be
made serviceab bic by painting them with
some substance that is insoluble in water.
A good homemade article for such purpose
is to dissolve glue in vessel of water 10 the
consistency of thin syrup. In another vessel
dissolve, in the same quantity of water, as
much bichroma;e of potash as it will take.
Then pour the two liquids together. The
mixture remains fluid in the dark, but be-
comes insoluble after exposure to the light.
A bundle of paper prepared In this manner
will cover a large surface, and, though
not applicable to field culture, answers
well in gardens. When it is considered
that the covering prevents weeds and grass,
dispenses with cultivation, and checks the
cut-worm, the expense is not as great as may
be supposed. A paper mulch can be of sew
eral thicknesSes, if necessary, and with a
hole IN the center and a slit for convenience
of application it is held down not only by
stones, cornstalks, laths or other unused
material, but also by the plant itself. Dark
paper is better than light
A summer mulch promotes the formation
of humus, retains moisture, moderates the
surface heat and facilitates the production
of ammonia, nitric acid and the phosphates
Mulching is not new thing but the prac-
tice of it is rare, especially in summer
Those who have not tried it will be well re-
warded by experimenting, using such ma
.terial as answers best for the purpose.