-H 



of Rural Art and Taste. 



241 



with potatoes. The mulch, if a thick one, 

 will keep moist, will prevent weeds and the 

 crusting of the surface, thus giving access to 

 air, which it is now understood is a benefit. 

 Besides, it will keep the ground cool — what 

 the potato wants. 



The best mulch for this, as well as for 

 shrubs and young trees of all kinds, is one of 

 green grass or weeds, applied immediately 

 after the last stirring of the soil, and sprinkled 

 well with leached ashes. The ashes will 

 draw moisture from the air and protect the 

 green coat which in turn will protect the soil 

 below. This, also, will add fertility. We 

 have used it for several years with the most 

 gratifying results. The severest drouth has 

 but little effect ; there is a fine growth, seem- 

 ing in defiance of the weather. We also 

 apply it to grapes, and with benefit. 



This for summer mulching. For winter 

 there needs equal protection. Grass must 

 have itself or the snow to protect it. A good 

 aftermath or well drained soil is sure to do 

 this. It will lessen the leaving ; and there 

 will be considerable fertility, furnished by the 

 plant itself, which is not lost, but goes at once 

 to form pabulum for the roots, the plant thus 

 reproducing itself, being an addition to the 

 usual growth where the ground is fed close. 



Straw is a good mulch for winter wheat. 

 In some parts it is a rule to apply it. You 

 protect the strawberry by evergreen boughs, 

 the best protection, among the many, that can 

 be applied. It prevents smothering, and it 

 keeps off the cold. The roots of grape-vines, 

 shrubs and small trees should be covered 

 with leaves held down by a little soil. It 

 will lessen the frost both in intensity and in 

 depth. The winter of 1871-72 was a test. 

 Besides, the leaves will add manure in the 

 spring, and of the right kind. — Cor. TJtica 

 Herald. 



The Best Deciduous Hedge 

 Plant. 



Discussion nt JRochester, 



ESSRS. Maxwell, Barry, Ellwanger and 

 Graves all agreed in naming the Honey 

 J^ocust as the best. 



If) 



Mr. Chas. Downing has seen old hedges of 

 it a complete failure. 



Mr. Smith has a Honey Locust hedge about 

 100 rods long, which has stood sixteen years, 

 and is nearly perfect. Never knew a plant 

 to die from effects of insects. Honey Locust 

 is the only deciduous hedge he would recom- 

 mend. 



Mr. Graves knew a Honey Locust hedge, 

 from fifteen to twenty years old, the most 

 perfect hedge he ever saw. 



Dr. Beadle considered it a nuisance, so 

 small a portion of the year in leaf, and if a 

 root was broken would sprout. 



Mr. Smith had never known them to sprout. 

 It was agreed that Osage Orange would 

 winter-kill, even when several inches in 

 diameter. 



Mr. Patrick Barry has seen very fine 

 hedges of Japan Quince. 



j Mr. Hooker — Probably only objection, slow 

 I growth. 



Mr. Downing said the Berberry,'as far as 

 tested, was a promising hedge plant, but more 

 time was needed to decide fully. 



Dr. Beadle — Mice will not eat it. 



Dr. Sylvester had one five or six years old, 

 and was satisfied it would make a good hedge. 



The following note on hedges was sent to 

 the Society by that venerable and eminent 

 horticulturist, Charles Downing : "I began 

 to cultivate hedges over fifty years ago ; have 

 tried the I^uropean Thorn, two kinds of native 

 American Thorn, three-thorned Acacia, or 

 Honey Locust, Buckthorn, Sheppardia, Osage 

 Orange, American Arbor Vitse and Hemlock, 

 and all failed to make a hedge suitable for 

 protection against cattle on the public high- 

 way. The Osage Orange would answer t|\e 

 purpose effectually, were it not for an occar 

 sional extreme cold winter ; Arbor Vitae and 

 Hemlock make beautiful hedges, and would 

 answer for inside or divisipn fences, where no 

 cattle were allowed to run. No pains were 

 spared \9 piake the above hedges all they 

 should be, but all failed to make a barrier 

 against cattle." The report is the more 

 praiseworthy, and available for ready refer: 

 ence, ii^ consequence of the ut^er absence of 



