110 Strawberry-Growing 



is desiccated, or dry, it is likely to be winter-injured; 

 hence, some growers, especially in the Rocky Mountain 

 states, saturate the soil with water late in the fall, after 

 growth has ceased. A heavy mulch prevents transpira- 

 tion from the leaves to a large extent. It may be as cold 

 beneath the mulch as above, but the temperature is more 

 equable and the loss of the moisture small. If the winter 

 mulch is left on in the spring, it conserves soil moisture 

 nearly or quite as well as tillage. If thick enough, it 

 smothers various winter weeds. These matters are con- 

 sidered in the chapter on Tillage. 



Retards the ripening season. 



The berries on unmulched plants ripen several days 

 earlier, often more than a week, than mulched plants. 

 This is a decided advantage in the Norfolk region, and the 

 South generally. It may be a disadvantage in those sec- 

 tions of the North that suffer from late spring frosts. 

 Mulched plants are late because the mulch keeps them at a 

 lower temperature, since all parts are covered. If a straw 

 mulch is used, it may be due, in part, to the light color of 

 the straw. When only a light mulch is used, the weeds are 

 likely to push through it in the spring and give more trouble 

 than if the rows had been kept tilled. In those parts of 

 the North where it is necessary to use six inches or more 

 of mulch, there is danger that some of the plants will 

 be smothered. 



Increases danger from frost. 



If a heavy winter mulch is left around the plants dur- 

 ing the blossoming season, it may increase the danger of 

 injury from frost to a slight extent. W. R. Lazenby of 

 Ohio has reported the comparative readings of thermom- 



