262 Agriculthkal Experiment Station. Ithaoa, K. Y. 



Parker Marie, Ocean Springs, Miss., has observed a retardation of 

 of four to six days. 

 T have had no experience in mulching strawberries for purpose of 

 retarding bloom, but have observed that our mulching for cleanliness 

 and to prevent heaving out by frost, has had a retarding effect — I 

 should say, to the amount of four to six days. 



Parker Earlb. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



1. The early bloom of fruit plants depend very largely upon the 

 appropriation of food stored in the twigs, and it is more or less inde- 

 pendent of root action. This is proved both by direct experiment and 

 by study of the physiology of plants. 



2. It must follow then, that the temperature of the twig or branch 

 must be reduced if its vegetation is to be much retarded; or, in other 

 words, the top of the plant, as well as the soil, must be mulched, and, 

 in practice, this is possible only with strawberries and other very 

 low plants, or those which are laid down during winter. 



3. There is danger of injuring plants by heavy mulch which is 

 allowed to remain late in spring. If it is desired to retard flowers or 

 fruit by mulching, the practice should not be violent and the plants 

 should be carefully watched. 



4. Many strawberry growers are able to delay the ripening of fruit, 

 by mulching, from two days to two weeks; but a week's delay is 

 usually about the limit of profitable results. 



L. H. BAILEY. 



