Huntsville gazette., 1885-10-24
MULCHING THE SOIL.
Dry Earth the Cheapest and Most Easily
Applied Material.

Dry Earth the Cheapest and Most Easily
Applied Material.
Mulching the soil prevents rapid
evaporation of moisture and protects
Foung plants against the direct action
Of the sun in dry seasons. But while
benefits may accrue from the use OF
mulch there are also some disadvant-
ages to be considered. The use of un-
;ermented manure, or matter that is
subject to decay, encourages mildew
and fungus growth, as well as serving
to protect insects and parasites. Yet
there are some plants that thrive best
when afforded a covering, and such
protection should be afforded. One OF
The methods of mulching is to cover
The entire plant removing the cover
.ng early in the spring. The object of
1 mulch in winter, however, is not to
Keep out the cold from the plant, as
40 amount of covering can effect
such object. What is desired is to pre-
vent sudden freezing and thawing of
the soil, which upheaves the plants
and causes injury. A mulch should
therefore be applied around the roots
Of the plants only. allowing the plant
TO receive all the air and light possible.
1t is claimed that mulching assists
in retaining moisture by preventing
evaporation, and also supplies moist
ure in dry seasons by capillary attrac-
ton of the soil. which gradually sup
plies moisture at time when it is
most needed. There are many con-
dieting opinions and theories regard
ing the effects of mulching, although
many of the difficulties may be traced
to the material used for the purpose.
The Massachusetts Horticultural So
ciety has given the subject much at
tention, and the conclusion arrived at
s that dry earth is the proper material
TO use, it being cheap and more easily
applied. If the material used be ma
nure the labor of spreading and re-
moving it is often greater than the
value Of the crop. A coating two inches
thick upon one acre, amounts to three
hundred loads, which will cost from
fifty to sixty dollars in labor alone, and
This sum is still further increased if the
manure is dug into the soil, while
coarser material, such as straw, leaves
and cornstalks must be applied and
afterward entirely removed in order to
allow of cultivation.
1t is not necessary to mulch with dry
earth by hilling or banking up around
the plants, as the earth should be
porous, and kept loose. Dry earth is
an excellent non-conductor, and holds
between its particles large volume OF
air, thus forming cushion of earth
and air, which not only prevents the
attack of frost to certain extent, but
retards loss of moisture and heat.
Every rain, however, compacts the
covering of earth, forces out the air,
and lessons the utility of the earth as
mulch. To avoid this the farmer must
resort to frequent cultivation or stirring
Of the soil. 1t is due to its service as
mulch that dry earth is capable of NIT.
igating the effects of drought by being
frequently lOosened with the cultivator,
and for a long time this fact in con-
nection with cultivation was not prop.
erly considered; but the value of cult.
vation is due to the entrance of the all
into the SOIL which not only is mulch
but assists in fastening chemical action
and the preparation of plant food
while the constant working of the soil
destroys weeds that would deprive the
growing plants of food and moisture
Thorough and frequent cultivation
is therefore the best mulch for spring,
summer and fall, which induces the
roots to seek food in ever direction,
thereby becoming more numerous and
deeply embedded, as we'll as going
further beyond the penetration Of the
cold in winter. In this condition it is
only in climates where the cold is Sc
we're that covering of straw will. ,be
required. Such covering should be re.
moved as early in the spring as the
season will permit and the cultivator
used, if the crop is such as to permit OF
its use. Even in the fall thorough
stirring of the soil will admit the ail
and afford protection in winter-PhiL
tdelphia Record.