WHAT IS MULCHING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1035, 25 November 1882, Page 3

WHAT IS MULCHING.

Having used the term 1 Mulch’ for those many years, we were desirous of learning its origin, and after much searbe through cyclopedia-, and dictionaries, find it is derived from the Hebrew for partly rotten straw. London says:— { Mulching consists in laying a circle of litter around newly-planted trees to retain the natural humidity of the soil.’ Really, mulching is whatever will prevent evaporation from the sore and in American practice is even extended to mellow earth, keepir.g the surface of the soil light by constant stirring so that it will be a poor conductor of heat. Still, by mulching is generally understood the placing of material upon the soil that will prevent evaporation, and it is of little consequence what the material may be l Chips, sticks, tan-bark, saw dust, straw, litter from the stables, leaves, grass or •tones—whatever will cover the ground and prevent evaporation-—may be used as a mulch. We have known coal ashes to be used, and much virtue ascribed to the ashes, while they only prevented too rapid evaporatson. We once visited a place upon which there were many fine evergreens ; the owner claimed that his success in planting was due to placing flat stones from a neighboring quarry around the newly set trees. The stones no doubt, did excellent service as any other stones would have done—they simply served to keep the ground beneath them moist—as a mulch. The action of a mulch being merely mechanical, it makes no difference as to the material. The natural mulch is leaves, which not only prevent evaporation from below, but allow the rain to pass between them to add to the moisture of the soil. It is no doubt within the experience of everyone that the earth beneath a. stone, a board, or whatever has laid upon the surface is always moist. The condition may bo produced over a large surface, by merely covering it with any material that will prevent

evaporation. Willi all newly set plants whether trees or small plants for the garden, a litter, or whatever may be at hand will be of great benefit. Let anyone who doubts its value mulch a part of his strawberry bed, and leave part of it uncovered ; wore a sure that he will be convinced of the value of mulching.—Exchange.