The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-08
The Advantage of Mulching.

Chicago Times.
The process of muching has many advan.
tageS over that of the ordinary manuring in
raising many kinds of plants, especially
fruits and ornamental trees, shrubs, bushes,
and vines. Most OF these do not do well in
u naked soil in a climate as subject to ex-
IRENE changes of heat and moisture as ours.
Their roots require protection from the
action of the sun in summer and from the
effects OF the cold during the winter. When
evaporation goes on rapidly, as it is likely to
do in a region subject to winds it is advisa-
BILE TO check it. and this may be accom-
plished by means OF mulch. Water finds
its way through mulching material by means
of its weight, but the mulch, by keeping it
cool and protecting it from currents OF air.
greatly retards evaporation. A suitable
mulch accordingly prevents drought in the
portions of the soil that are covered with it.
1t also lessons the action OF the
frost 1t renders the soil be-
meath it mellow and keeps it in that con
dition. In the course OF time it supplies the
clements OF fertility. 1t also saves the appli
cation Of water in seasons OF protracted dry
ness. and by preventing the growth OF grass
and weeds obyIates tue necessity OF constant
cultivation. As it is not necessary to work
soil covered with mulch, the roots it contains
are protected from injury
1t is advisable to mulch trees shrubs,
bushes and vines which have been recently
planted IN all parts OF tile country, except IN
places where the rainfall is abundant and
we'll distributed throughout the growing
season, and where considerable snow falls
during the winter. 1t is also advisable tn
continue the application of mulching ma
terials till the trees and other vegetation be
come well established and have attained a
large size. In portions of the country sub
ject to protracted drought during the sum
mer as in most of the Southern States great
advantage will be found in mulchihg com
mon potatoes Mulch is a great aid i'll
raising straw berries. 1t keeps the soil
in a good condition in respect to mois-
ture and mellowneSs, protects the roots
from frost, and affords clean
material for the berries to grow
and ripen on As with other crops, it saves
much labor in cultivation. The choice of
materials for mulching will depend on the
vegetables to be grown and the supply most
easily obtained. Coarse barn-yard manure
is excellent for trees, bushes and vines pro
ducing fruit, but is less desirable for forest
and ornamental trees. Forest leaves are ex-
cellent for mulching all lands of vegetation,
and would be preferred to almost any other
material but for their liability to be blown
away. When easily procured it is advisable
to apply them, and to keep them in place by
means of long and heavy material like corn
stalks. Flax straw the straw of common
grains old hay. sawdust tanbark and peat
can be employed to good advantage In some
places coal screenings and the waste of coal
shafts can be probably employed. For
muching strawberrysplants there is nothing
superior, if, indeed. anything is as good as
freshly-cLt grass. 1t serves every purpose
that other materials do and furnishes a clean
mat for tue berries to grow and ripen on