The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-12-26
MuLcHINo THE SOIL.
Dry Earth tho Cheapest and Most Easily
Applied Material.


Applied Material.
Mulching the soil prevents rapid
evaporation Of moisture and protects
young plants against the direct action.
pf the sun in dry seasons. But while
benefits may accrue from the use Of a
mulch there are also some disadvant-
sgas to be considered. The use Of I'M
lermenked manure, or matter that is
subiees to decay, encourages mildew
and fungus growth. as well as serving
10 protect insects and parasites. Yet
thn1e are some plants that thrive best
when afforded covering, and such
protection should be afforded, One OF
the methods Of mulching is to cover
the entire plant, removing the cover
ing early in the spring. The object Of
knulch ia 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
"a the plants only, allowing the plant
torooeive oil the air. and light possible
"a Is claimed that mtlching assists
In retaining moisture by preventing
evaporation, end also supplies moist
nre in dry seasons BY capillary attrac-
llon 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
10 the material used for the purpose.
The Massachusetts, horticultural So.
ciety has given the subject much at.
Eention, and the conclusion arrived at
s that dry earth Is the proper material
20 USE 1t being cheap and more easily
applied II the material used be ma.
nure the labor Of spreading and re-
moving it Is often greater than the
yalue Of the crop. A coating two inches
thick upon one acre. amounts to three
hundred loads, which viii cost from,
iitY to sixty dollars in labor aippe, and
this sum ID stiIl further increased II the
manure i dug into the soil. whlld
soarser material. such as straw, lleages
and eognstalks must be applied and
afterMard entirely removed in order TO
hlloWtof cultivation.
ltienot necessary 10 mulch with dry
earth BY killing or banking up around
tbs plants. a. the earth should bel
porous. md kept loose. Dry earth IL
An excellent Observation-Disclosures, and holds
between ito particles a large &oln1dR oi
air. thus forming q cushion of earth
and air. which not only prevents the
attack Of frost to q certain extent, bnt
reiards less 0f moisture and heat.
Every rain, however compaots the
covering Of earth. forces out the air,
and lessons the utility of the earth as
mulch. To avoid this the farmer must
resort 10 frequent cultivation or stirring
o. the soil. It's due to its service as i.
ineleh that dry earth is capable 81 nit
sgating the effects of droualll by being
frequently loosened with tlid cultivation,
and for along time this fact in con.
nection with cllltiyation was not prop.
erly considered but the value Of Guilt
vasion IS dna ~ 4he entrance Of sthe all
lntofhe soil, which not only Is 4 mulch
but tRslSta in hasteping chemical action
and he preparation Of plRnt food
llslIt il Constant working. "a the soil
aEs weeds that would deprive the
qiRln plants Of food and moisture.
thorough and frequent cnIliSatipn
tlIeft orc the host mulch for sprih&
Entnef aud fall. which induces the
roots to seek food IN ever directions
lheFeby becoming " IVA numerous and
deeply emhed0A wall Is going
lsFther beyond tie punctuation Of tha