The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-01-15

High Intelligence Demanded to be Sue.
cessfui asa Farper-Curing Meats.
LEAvES As FERTILIZERS.
II is reported that II large number OF
beautiful and valuable trees in Kew
gardens and several of the parks neal
London have died from somc mysterious
cause during the past few years. II
was thought by those who had charge OF
the grounds that they had received the
best of care. II was certain that great
pains had been taken in pruning them
and in removing all the branches that
presented n sickly appearance. In mos
eases grass had not been permitted to
grow over their roots. Expensive fertil-
izcrs had been applied to the soil where
they grew. sometimes OF the surface and
sometimes below il. During periods of
drought water had been applied Il the
ground occupied by the trees. Obser-
walton, however, showed that trees of
same varieties in neighboring groves
and forests that received scarcely any
attention were in II very healthy and
vigorous condition. They were grow
ing finely, nth only such care as ma
lii' StN' tll'tt. III tItpSt Ill tIt'
parks and botanical garden were dying.
Ii then occurred 10 someone that natures
way with forest trees was the best. The
park managers way was to rake up ill
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 il
moist by preventing evaporation and to
prevent the growth of grass which APP
p%rOpriates plant food, which would
otherwise go TO sustain the trees. Grad
ually, however. the leaves decay and
form the best fertilizer that has yet been
found for promoting tree growth. They
contain not only humus but all the aka
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
II 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-
TEN. so the leaves of trees contain all
the ingredients required to furnish food
for most kinds of plants. They consti-
tute Il safe 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 o
much free ammonia, and sometimes too
much potash and lime. They can only
be applied to hardy plants in an adj
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-
ton. They are free from the seeds of
grass and weeds that are generally
found in all kinds of stable manure
They are very lasting i'm their action.
They decay slowly, and the decomposed
portions constantly furnish plant food.
Leaves that collect and rot in a forest
furnish the best soil for filling flower
pots that are TO be kept in the house.
They are also excellent for placing in
garden-beds where flowers and Veoe-
tables are TO be raised. Decayed forest
leaves import no offensive taste or smell
to vegetables like radishes and lettuce
that are eaten without being cooked.
They form an excellent fertilizer for
squashes. melons and cucumbers. They
retain moisture well, and will absorb
soap-Snds. When placed in hills in
which vines are To grow, they should be
trodden down so they will become COM
pact.
Tn the west. where much of the land
is flat prairie, and where powerful winds
prevail during the fall, most OF the
leaves that fall from trees are carried to
places where they will be of no benefit
TO the farmer, gardener, OF florist. They
are blown into ponds, streams, ravines
and bitches. where they become incor-
poratcd with the mud. In Scotland for
est leaves are utilized for fertilizers. In
many places they are raked up and
placed in heaps, which are covered with
sod. There they are allowed to remain
Until they become decomposed. In some
eases they are forked over two or three
times n veal with Il view of Fastening
their decomposition. They are often
applied in the condition they are in
when raked up to claycy land and
plowcd under. They are of benefit TO a
clay soil by rendering il lighter. and by
adding to il substances that aid in pro-
noting plant growth. In some places
forest leaves are used for bedding cattle
and horses and for putting into yards
and pens of pigs. When they become
saturated with liquid manure they will
quickly rot. and become converted into
n most excellent fertilizer. Decomposed
forest leaves form one of the best ma
nures for fruit. trees. grape vines, bushes
that produce fruit, and ornamental
shrubs. They are also excellent for both
sweet and common potatoes. 1t is Oft
en- easy to collect large quantities OF
leaves i'm the corners of fields by yea
ing hazel and other bushes between the
wires that constitute the fence. Leaves
often accumulate in considerable guam
titles in ~ravines and gather on the farm
and in the deep bitches by the sides OF
the roads. They can be taken from
them late i'm the fall with little trouble
and placed in heaps where they will be
converted into good manure. The heaps
should be covered with turf, which will
prevent the leaves from blowing away,
will cause them to settle close together,
and hasten their dccompOsition.-Ct-
cago Times.