The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1889-01-16

"A WeTange OF TACT and INnCY-OrlglnaI and
selected on many subjects Of direct and remote
interest to rural readers-aiming to assist in cul-
tivating the soil and the mind, and in some de-
gree broadening the horizon of life in Florida.]
PoTAToEs UNDER MULcH.-It was, at
one time, quite common in Georgia and
other Southern States, to grow potatoes
under heavy mulch of straw, in what
was then called Clay bed" We see
that our Western neighbors have adop-
ted that plan; for, at the Colorado tate
Agricultural College, where potatoes
have been thus grown for three seasons,
it has been decided that the best mulch
is composed of either partially decayed
materials or clean Dat straw. It is re-
ported that the yield under mulch ia or
dinarily greater than without, especially
in uncOngenial climes. The shading of
the ground furnishes the proper condi-
tons OF temperature and moisture at the
root, az we'll as assuring the necessary
mechanical condition of the soil so desir-
able in securing uniformity and the great
est possible development of tuber. \
mulch, to be of any value in dry eli
mate, should, according to the report in
question, be quite foot thick, using
large seed pieces, however, to enable
the tops to push through the cover.
The opinion is expressed that mulch
culture is only practicable on a small
scale and in localities, soils and seasons
nm favorable to the proper development
of the potato under ordinary culture.
***
DRAlNAGE-How 1T AFFECTS VEGETA-
TIoN.-If a sample of common soil is eX-
amined with amanifying glass, it is found
to he composed of numerous fragments
of mineral of various kinds, humus,
muck. and often of undecomposed vege
table or animal matter. These frag-
ments are very irregular in form and
size, and are in contact only at their
more prominent corners. They might
he compared to mass of coal Of various
sizes mixed together, the difference
being that the fragments of coal are all
of one substance, whereas the soil is
composed of various substances. Now
we know that if we ponr water over a
basket nf Goals, thin layer Of water adj
heres to each fragment, and the rest
passes off through the meahes of the
basket. Just SO, when soil is wet by
the rain each tiny fragment is surrounded
nv thin film of water, and the rest if
the soil is in normal condition, filters
through and flows away. AS the frag-
ueIlIH OI Tie SUI are Wei
tn an those Of the coal, while the film of
water that adheres to the particlesis per-
haps inst as thick. it follows that the
amount IF water retained by a given
bulk of soil is vastly greater than by an
equal bulk OF coal.
Suppose we put The coal in light pail
instead Of a basket, and then pour on
water. OF course the water fills the in
terstices between the fragments and the
air is all driven out, except a few bub
bles that become entangled. This is
precisely what happens when heavy
rains fall upon the soil that has an
impervious clay subsoil. The spaces be-
tween the particles become almost filled
with water, and the air, with the oxy-
gen it contains, is mostly driven out.
BotaDists tell us that the root-hairs,
that supply the roots with wa er and it's
nourishing substances in solution, can
not live without oxygen. If the oxygen
is shut away from the roots, therefore the
roots will die In dying they not only
iniure tho plant to which they belong,
but the matter of which they are formed
soon undergoes decomposition, and gen+
crates gases which are injurious to other
healthy root-hairs in the neighborhood.
TO be sure, the rain water, as it falls
upon the soil, is charged with oxygen,
but in passing downward part of this
is Uttered out; another part unites with
organic matter in the SOIL 50 that after
the water remains for time it becomes