WHAT IS MULCHING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1597, 28 September 1882, Page 4

WHAT IS MULCHING.

Having used the term Mulch, for these many yeais we were desirous of learning its origin, and after much search through cyclopedias and dictionaries, find it is derived from the Hebrew word for partly rotton 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 soil, and in American practice is even extended to mellow , earth, keeping 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. Chips, sticks, tan-bark, sawdust, straw, litter from the stables, leaves, grass, or stones — whatever will cover the ground and prevent evaporation — may be used as a mulch. We have known coal aßhes to be used, and much virtue ascribed to the ashes, while they only prevented too rapid evaporation. 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 neighbouring 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 nction 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 every one that the earth beneath a stone, a board, or whatever has laid upon the surface is always moist. The condition may be produced over a large surface, by merely covering it with any material that wiil prevent evaporation . With all newly set plants, whether trees or small plants the garden, a little litter, or whatever may ho at hand will be of great benefit. Let any one who doubts its value mulch a part of his strawberry- bed, and leave a part of it uncovered ; we are sure that he will be com inced of the value of mulching.