CHAPTER VI 

 MULCHING 



Strawberries are mulched primarily for two purposes, 

 — to protect the plants from winter injury and to keep 

 the fruit clean. In the North the same mulch is com- 

 monly used for both purposes ; in the South a mulch is 

 used for protecting the fruit only. These two objects 

 are quite distinct, and different methods may be necessary 

 to accomplish them. Mulching for the conservation of 

 soil water has been discussed in Chapter IV. 



The practice of mulching strawberries is nearly as old 

 as the garden culture of this fruit. Some are of the 

 opinion that the name of the fruit is derived from the 

 ancient practice of laying straw under the ripening 

 berries. But little attention was given to mulching in 

 North America until after 1870. Many of the early 

 cultivators followed the English practice of growing 

 strawberries in hills, mulching them heavily with "long 

 manure"; but most growers did not mulch at all. The 

 Wilson succeeded without mulching, since it was grown 

 in thick, matted rows and the beds frequently were kept 

 for ten or more years without renewing. About 1865 

 John Knox, of Pittsburg, demonstrated the value of 

 mulching hill plants of the Jucunda, which led to a more 

 general adoption of the practice. Since 1870 mulching 

 has steadily grown in favor. 



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