252 Agrioultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. T. 



eight inches of snow persisted. Here, then, was an excellent oppor- 

 tunity to study the effects of a cold soil upon the vegetation of plants. 

 On the leSth of April there was still frost and snow under the goose- 

 berry mulches, and yet both mulched and unmulched plants seemed 

 to be starting alike. It was apparent that the temperature of the soil 

 exerted no influence upon the swelling of the buds, for the buds 

 which projected above the mulch were as forward as those upon 

 untreated plants, while the buds immediately under . the mulch, upon 

 the same twig, were wholly dormant. The illustration shows two 

 gooseberry twigs arising from a common branch, in which these dif- 

 ferences are apparent. The tAvig upon the right was under the mulch 

 and is completely dormant. That upon the left was covered up to 

 the point indicated by the string. The protruding portion is seen to 

 have pushed its buds forward, save at the very tip, where the shoot 

 was winter-killed. Shoots of which the tips were caught under the 

 mulch, showed perfectly dormant buds at both ends, Avhile the pro- 

 truding middle portion was as forward as twigs upon unmulched 

 plants. Moreover, the protruding portions of the mulched plants 

 maintained their forwardness, and produced leaves, flowers and fruit 

 at the same time as the contiguous plants which were not treated. 

 Crandall currants, juneberries, roses, grapes, and all the tree fruits, 

 behaved similarly throughout the season. The mulched blackberries, 

 raspberries and Victoria currants seemed to be a daj'^ or two behind 

 the others in starting, but they very soon caught up, and there was no 

 difference in season of bloom and maturity of fruit. 



With the strawberries the case was far different. General Put- 

 nam and Oregon Everbearing were mulched March 25th, when the 

 ground was completely thawed out. The mulch covered the 

 plants and the entire space between the rows to the depth 

 of three inches. On the 15th of May, this mulch was 

 removed. At this time, the unmulched plants were in full 

 leaf and were nearly ready to bloom. The plants under the 

 mulch were just starting into leaf and the growth was weak and 

 bleached. The plants were endeavoring to push themselves through 

 the cover to the light and air. The mulch was forked off the 

 plants, and they gradually assumed a normal color and habit, and 

 bloomed June 1st. The bloom was delayed from ten days to two 

 weeks, according to the dej^th of the covering. The plants did not 

 seem to recover entirely, however, and the fruitage was somewhat 

 lighter than on the normal plants ; but it was delayed about a 

 week. 



