MULCHING. 115 



it had obtained a vigorous condition, and when the 

 soil was in a comparatively low state of humidity, 

 the weight ot* the vessel with its earth and tree was 

 ascertained. 



In a warm July day, a given weight of water was 

 supplied, and the earth protected from surface evapor- 

 ation by a cover. In forty hours, the whole was again 

 weighed, when it wiis found that seven gallons of 

 water had been thrown off by the leaves of the tree, 

 or more than twice its own weight. 



Prof. Mapes narrates an experiment which lie 

 performed upon a pyramidal pear tree three years 

 planted, and seven feet high. A hole was dug 

 beneath one of the largest roots, which remaining 

 attached to the tree, and with all its spongiolcs as 

 nearly entire as possible, was placed in a pail of water, 

 and the whole carefully covered with a blanket. In 

 twenty-four hours the tree was found to have appro- 

 priated nearly two gallons of the water. Xo small 

 benefit derived from mulching, is owing to the fact 

 that trees so treated need no watering ; and the excuse 

 for the barbarous practice of frequently drenching 

 their delicate rootlets with cold water is removed. 

 Poorly-rooted trees, or such as have been exposed 

 before planting, or are rpiite withered and dry, or 

 indeed all ])lants which survive transplanting witli 

 much difficulty, can in many instances be saved by 

 mulching deeply for five or six feet about the tree. 

 The loose texture of the mulch does not prevent 

 atmospheric contact with the soil, and being con- 

 stantly damp, both the mulch and the earth absorb 

 ammonia and carbonic acid vapor. Some varieties of 



