SUMMER DAYS 47 



layer of wet lawn clippings, more soil and a light 

 top dressing of the clippings. 



Mulching is a summer task much more honored 

 in the breach than in the observance. It is always 

 beneficial, and when there is a long period with lit- 

 tle or no rain it is the alternative of tedious water- 

 ing. Sometimes water is so scarce that mulching 

 is the gardner's only solution. 



Either dry soil or lawn clippings and other vege- 

 table matter may be used as a mulch. The dry 

 soil is simply the surface of the ground kept loose 

 by frequent cultivation a good thing in summer 

 even when the season is normal. Lawn clippings 

 are an excellent mulch, but they must be spread 

 very lightly as otherwise they heat. Or a thin layer 

 of wet clippings with a litle dry soil on top may 

 be used. Tall weeds if there are no ripe seeds 

 on them flower stalks and discarded bouquets 

 make good mulch when run through a hay chopper. 

 Then there is leaf mold, but that is rarely at hand. 



Spraying with the hose toward evening always 

 freshens plants in summer. But real watering has 

 to be done only when digging into the ground a 

 little shows plainly that the soil is abnormally dry; 

 do not wait to find this out by the appearance of the 

 plants themselves. Watering having to be done, 

 do it thoroughly rather than frequently. Set the 

 hose where the spray will fall like so much rain, 

 and leave it there until the ground is well soaked; 

 then water the next tract. A still better way to 

 fight drought is to dig a circular trench around 



