The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-11-07
MULCHING.
Its Relation to misunderstanding At
mOspherlc Changes.

Its Relation to misunderstanding At
mOspheric Changes.
A correspondent who asks for the
philosophy of mulching and its correct
relation to moisture will be profted by
reading what the Massachusetts, horti-
cultural report says upon the subject.
Mulching, it remarks, may serve to
keep the surface moist, but it will be
found that the portion in contact with
the ground is apt to mildew, and en-
courages fungous growth. which neither
indicates nor promotes healthful vege-
tation. We are cautioned, therefore,
against the use of easily decaying or
fermenting substances. A careful ex-
animation of the under surface of moist
mulchings will develop the fact that it
is a snug harbor for slugs, snails,
worms and all minor sorts of vermin.
If the material used can not be USE
fully or properly dug into the soil after
its use as q mulch has ceased, as with
tan, sand or sawdust upon light soils,
then the labor of spreading and after
wards gathering it together again is by
no means inconsiderable. A coating
two inches thick ON an acre amounts
to about three hundred single loads of
stuff, which must cost at least fifty or
sixty dollars to spread and remove
How many times could you go over an
acre with a cultivator for fifty dollarsp
Certainly thirty. Mulching induces a
growth of fibrous roots to push up the
surface. Is it not little remarkable
that none of those who have recorded
this fact SO repeatedly have noted that
this is not useful RESULT How can
the temporary advantages of mulching
be otherwise attained permanently
In we'll cultivated field
not more than from one
eighth to one-tenth of the rain that falls
upon the soil finally passes off by per-
collation.; the remainder is drawn to the
surface and evaporated by the process
described. Anything that breaks up
the uniform continuity of the texture of
the soil, by which atom after atom of
water is brought to the surface, will
accomplish the first step in retaining
the natural moisture of the soil within
it.
Now, mulching does not do this at
all; it only checks or moderates the APP
proach of the atmosphere to the mois-
tened surface of the soil, and therefore
retards evaporation to that extent; but
the reason why there is so much mois-
ture beneath the mulch is because the
capillary action of the soil keeps on
pumping up the water faster than it
can evapOrate.
Anything that is good conductor of
heat, and is of loose texture, applied to
the surface of the ground retards the
sorption. Spent tan bark meets this
requirement better than any other ma
terial that can be applied to the land.
1t is light and porous, and therefore
contains cushion of confined air,
which is one of the best non-conduct-
Ors in nature. The gentle showers
which simply moisten the earth pass
through it readily, as do the heavier
rains, which are absorbed by it and
largely retained.
Dry soil is an excellent non-conduct-
or, made doubly so by being loosened
and pulverized, and thus intermingled
with air. This is precisely the condi-
ton OF the soil after a thorough cult
walton. When thus rendered fine and
light the surface becomes truly a cush-
ion of air and dry earth, the continuity
of the insensible process of convection
of the water of the soil is broken, the
point at which the upward passage of
the water of the soil ceases Is removed
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 ef-
tects of mulehing in cheaper, more
intelligent and scientific manner
WesterR RUysI.