The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-17
THE FARM AND THE GARDEN.
MATTERS or INTEREST To AGRI-
CULrURIsT AND HOUSEWIFE.

MuIchinE Crcps-Lucern I'm Febru-
ary-Gapes-PckinE Ducks - The
Loofa-Oid Diseases aud New
Namcs-1hree Crops on the same
Land-CuttinE Feed-Rabbits
Pcst-Mnnure Needed for Various
Crops.
Whether mglchlng 81 on economic prac-
tice or can De- made such d. nds upon
certain clregms .ances-the nature and
/ kind % crop to be- ml.chcd ana the ease
w,b which the material Tor tne purpose
can BE- procured aud applied. The most
/ common use % the mulch Ia tho South o.
Identified with strawberry and Irish po-
/ tato culture and a good many persons.
no doubt. have had some experience 90
vroHing THESE crops with the aid OF
mulehlrg
/ In me spring and summer we use the
mulch with he idea chiefly Of retaining
/ che moisture in the soil Tor a longer pc
rI1d than d otherwise would remain II tho
soil was lcft without shade. 10 the win
Ter time We use the mulch 10 protect
young plants from cold and % secure
more uniform temperature TO the surface
soil
There are numerous plants Of the gar
I den. such as spinach. onion. peas. beets.
7 satisfy etc. which when young may cas-
. ily boz destroyed hy cold as the result OF
/ the soil freezing and ,nlwing rather than
by any effects upon the tissues Of the
/ plant as in tho case OF tomatoes.
I To preserve those hardy plants such as
I arr named. We use the mulch 90 prevent
/ that freezing ana thawlng which breaks
| the young roots aud thus sewers their con
uection with the soD
We can - mulch tho soil tina, in our
mild climate win keep Il from forming
frozen crust 40 all or We can apply the
mulch after the coil has been frozen
I and keep o. from thswing until
the nnal e.ose of freezing weather. II is
the alternate freezing and thawinF % the
soil that works The damage 10 our hardy
/ crops OF the Eorden and the grain and
I cover OF tho fields
Here iu tho south where We have any
/ real winter at ALL which rarely occurs be-
I fore tine last day q December che
cold wave rs soon followed by a
/ hot one. Even when unprotected by
a mulch O. O. rare that the soil remains
steadily frozen for a week anywhere be-
low Atlanta. As rule the surface soil
VIII freeze and remain hard frozen for a
d4} or two. then hot sun will thtw
T. and keep 70 soft FOR week or NOR.
then another cold wave OF a day or two,
and thus IL abernates.
To prevent this frequent alienation Of
freeze and thaw IS tho object OF a win
ter mulch
To an extent greater or less Il is an
economic measure in the market garden.
and with certain small fruits. though &
may not Doe such for any OF tine farm
crops
In the thickly-settled sections Of the
country mulching material is not easily
procured
our stable manure viii go a very n',le
ways toward supplying mulch. The lit
tie grain straw. that Of oats. rye wheat.
etc. that is made. Is more economically
used az forage Tor stock
BY FAR the most economical mulch FOR
the southern gardener or trucker is found
On our Pine straw There are very many
truckers and gardeners who cannot pro
cure Il cheapy enough 70 allow OF any
extensive use % &.
The majority Of strawberry cultivators
however. can usually procure a sum riency
81 the straw for their purpose. two
. horse crate full-packed. as 81 should he
Tor hauling will go long ways IN
mu'chiug straw berries and then also in
mulchng along the rows of the early let
tuce. spinach. beeis. cabbage and the
Young onions grown from the seeds sown
To October or November.
There are no harder economic y lanfs
than onion and spinach. and yet while
they are young and lacking IN root devcl-
opmcnt are easily heavcd out by a good.
hard freeze.
a. A. -
the soil from view oftcner than not will
save both OF she crops. 4 double hand
fIl Of pine straw placed lightly
uron and about a cabbage or caulinower
plant viii assure their complete protec-
ton from the effects Of sudden colo
wave iu January or February.
or late years &c has been common oc-
currcucc for normal February 10 be
followed by severe cold wave in March.
ON several occasions these have proved
/ very disastrous and there Is little THAI
can be- done in the way OF anticipating
/ these unreasonable freezes.
The warnings are not and cannot be,
I timely The plants OF al kinds arr 50
succulent they ore highly susceptible 10
/ the effects Of cold at that period.
Fortunate would be tae grower who
Is ubuudanGy supplied with the ma
/ ierials for mulchng ana the force to APP
I plv Il promptly. 4 crop might be saved
/ that otherwise must be lost.
For Outdoor see,i-hods whore lettuce.
onions Orom the seed, cabbage, bsets.
/ etc.. were sown iu November or earlier.
{ the plants can BE- carried through the
/ winter re1dily boy covering The plants with
straw. scattering % over them gradually
ur+u they are well covered. with pitch
fork the straw can De taken on as the
weather moderates. but there should be
no sudden exposure to the suns rays.
/ The mulch should be- taken on Just before