The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-14
LEAVES AS FERTILIZERS.

1t is reported that large number of
beautiful and valuable trees in Kew
gardens and several of the parks near
London have died from some mysterious
cause during the past few years. It
was thought by those who had charge of
the grounds that they had received the
best of care. 1t was certain that great
pains had been taken in pruning them
and in removing all the branches that
presented sickly appearance, In most
cases grass had not been permitted to
grow over their roots. Expensive fertil-
izers had been applied to the soil where
they grew, sometimes on the surface and
sometimes below it, During periods of
drought water had been applied to the
ground occupied by the trees. Obser-
walton, however. showed that trees of
same varieties in neighboring groves
aud forests that received scarcely any
attention were in very healthy and
vigorous condition. They were grow
ing finely, W 18th only such care as ma
fure gave them, while those in the
parks and botanical garden were dying
1t then occurred to someone that natures
way with forest trees was the best. The
park managers way was to rake up all
the leaves shed by the trees as soon as
they had fallen to the ground and to re-
move them, SO that they would not in
Jure the beauty of the place. Natures
way, however, was to allow the fallen
leaves to accumulate over the roots of
the trees and to remain there until they
became decomposed. At first they only
serve to mulch the ground, to keep it
moist by preventing evaporation and to
prevent the growth of grass which ap-
propriates plant food, which would
otherwise go to sustain the trees. Grad
ually, however, the leaves decay and
form the best fertilizer that has vet been
found for promoting tree growth. They
contain not only humus but all the alka-
line substances essential to the support
of continual tree growth.
Leaves are valuable for other pur-
poses than fertilizing the soil about
trees, shrubs, and bushes. They con-
tain all the mineral constituents of
plants in the proper proportion. Unlike
most fertilizers, they can be used with
out any of the dangers arising from an
excess or deficiency of some Ingredient
essential to plant growth. As wheat
contains all the substances necessary to
produce every part of the human sys-
tenn, SO the leaves of trees contain all
the ingredients required to furnish food
for most kinds of plants. They consti-
tute safe manure for every kind of
plant in any stage of its growth. Some
kinds of fertilizers can not be applied to
soil containing seeds or very tender
plants, because they would prevent the
termination of the first and cause the
death of the last. They contain too
much free ammonia, and sometimes too
much potash and lime. They can only
be applied to hardy plants in an ad-
vanced stage of growth. They are too
stimulating for very tender plants. De-
cayed leaves, however, are never inju-
rious to seeds or the plants that spring
from them. They are mild in their ac-
tion. They are free from the seeds of
grass and weeds that are generally
found in all kinds of stable manure
They are very lasting in their action
They decay slowly, and the decomposed
portions constantly furnish plant food.
Leaves that collect and rot in forest
furnish the best soil for filing flower
pots that are to be kept in the house.
They are also excellent for placing in
5garden-beds where flowers and vege-
fables are to be raised. Decayed forest
leaves import.no offensive taste or smell
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