MULCHING OF FRUIT. 203 



it in other places. I cannot account for it, and so far as I know- 

 there is no remedy for it. 



Question. At what time does it come on ? 



Mr. Hyde. It usually comes on before the ripening of the 

 fruit and remains during the season. I have not noticed it par- 

 ticularly after the fruit is taken off, because the bed begins to 

 grow brown after the fruit is taken off, any way. 



Mulching is beneficial to all kinds of fruit, if you can afford 

 it. I once mulched a pear orchard with meadow hay ; it was 

 somewhat expensive, but I have no doubt it was a good thing 

 for the orchard. But there is one objection. Some object to 

 shutting out the light and heat. That is the only objection I 

 see to mulching. I do not think we can get such good pears or 

 apples, in flavor, where the ground is covered. I do not think 

 we can get our crop so forward where the trees are mulched in 

 that way as where the sun's rays are allowed to strike upon the 

 ground. But on dry soil that effect would not be seen so much 

 as on more moist soil. 



I believe in mulching strawberries for another reason : it will 

 have a tendency to keep them clean. It is very disagreeable, 

 after a rain, to find the berries ripe but with dirt scattered 

 all over them. Pine leaves make a first-rate mulch. Cheap hay, 

 straw, or anything of that kind answers a very excellent pur- 

 pose. I would not use sawdust, nor would I recommend the 

 use of tan. It brings with it a great many insects and causes 

 the growth of fungi among the beds. I would recommend 

 leaves of any kind. Some may ask the question why I do not 

 cover with leaves. You are aware that in winter time it often 

 happens that there is no snow on the ground, and then the high 

 winds blow the leaves off; but something might be used to 

 keep them down. I usually mulch just about the time the 

 plants come into bloom ; sometimes a little later, though I 

 should prefer to do it before. 



Question. What is the best manure for the crop ? 



Mr. Hyde. I am free to answer that question. I am a great 

 believer in well composted stable manure. I apply it to the 

 extent of three or four hundred dollars to the acre. The 

 heaviest application of manure I ever knew to be made was six 

 hundred dollars' worth to the acre. The income from that 

 acre was a little over a thousand dullars, after deducting com- 



