The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-03-04
852
Rather Against Mulching.

haCner Against Mulchlng.
From an article read at a recent meet
ing of the Mass. Horticultural Society by
Col. Henry w. Wilson, we CLEAN the
following
With most plants warmth is as neces-
sary to success as moisture. Any cover
ing OF the earth, though it may by its
non-conducting qualities prevent evapo
ration, will nevertheless surely prevent
the absorption of heat by the soil, al
though it may obstruct the radiation of
heat previously acquired The warmth
which stimulates vegetation III those
ATTITUDES comes from without, and must
be absorbed. 1t is also inevitable that
the covering which screens the surface
OF the earth from the action OF the sun
and air deprives it of the most active
and useful agencies in celebrating food
for plants, and thus promoting fertility.
The Stimulating action of heat, light and
air is the leading essential of success.
Moisture is contributory element, and
can be either supplied or reserved in va
rious ways. 1t is easy to see how any
substance that simply retains moisture
will counterfeit or diminish the beneficial
effects of heat, light and air. If the ma
terial used cannot be usefully and
properly dug into the soil after its use as
mulch has ceased, as with tan, sand or
sawdust upon light soils, then the labor
of spreading and afterwards gathering it
together again is by no means incon-
siderable. a coating two inches thick
on an acre amounts to about three humid
red single loads of stuff, which must
cost at least $50 or $50 to properly spread
and remove. How many times could
you go over an acre with a cultivator for
1sfciTo lxr11
1t has always been observed and men
toned by eXperimenters, that the use of
mulching induces q profuse growth of
fibrous roots to push up to the surface in
their search for moisture and nonrish-
ment, more particularly and decidedly
when the mulch contained heterogeneous
matter or other element which stimulat-
ed the growth of the plant 1t is not a
little remarkable that none of those who
have recorded this fact so repeatedly
have noted that this is not a useful re-
suit. AS a permanent condition of a
plant, to enable it to resist all the yicis-
STUDIES of our climate, the surface is no
place for its feeding roots, and although
the i'll effects may not be apparent in
those crops which are annual, such as
the strawberry, yet with all plants of
permanent character, like fruit trees or
vines, the pushing of these tbers to the
surface should always be discouraged.
Vegetation should be encouraged by all
means to go downwards for its moisture,
wherever it may ramble for its nutri
ment. Dry soil is an excellent non-con-
ductor, made doubly so by being loos-
ened and pulverized, and thus inter-
mingled with air. This is precisely the
condition of the soil after thorough
cultivation. When thus rendered fine
and light the surface becomes truly
cushion of air and dry earth, the CONT
nuity of the insensible process of invec-
ton OF the water of the soil is broken,
the point at which the upward passage
OF the water of the soil ceases is remov-
ed to the depth of the cultivation, the
free access of the air to the continuously
moist surface is hindered and you have
accomplished all of the beneficial effects
OF mulching in cheaper, more intelh-
gent and scientific manner. In CON
Guiding, the essayist admitted that there
are times when mulching around newly
planted trees and some small fruits may
be satisfactory, but he. believed that,
generally, mulching is an indifferent's
stitute for tilling the soil, and that an in
dustrious man with the rake or cult
vator will obtain vastly more satisfactory
results by their diligent use.