CAKE OF THE VINES DURING THE FIRST YEAR. 95 



of three or four inches, and give at least a pailful 

 to each plant, working the soil as little as possible, 

 lest it be converted into puddle. Such an application 

 will last for ten days during even very dry weather, 

 and will do more good than frequent sprinkling. 



MULCHING. But if abundance of grassy weeds, 

 litter, stable manure, or similar matters can be ob- 

 tained, the best plan is to mulch the plants deeply 

 for at least three feet every way from the stem. Of 

 this process, A. J. Downing says : " Covering the soil 

 in summer is, in this country, one of the most valu- 

 able aids to good cultivation ever put in practice. The 

 best mode of doing this is, by what is technically 

 called mulching. This consists in spreading over the 

 surface of the ground, so far as the roots of the tree 

 or plant extend beneath it, a layer of tan bark, saw 

 dust, barn yard litter, straw, salt hay, sea weed, or the 

 like, of sufficient thickness to maintain, as nearly as 

 possible, a uniform state of temperature and moisture 

 for the roots. From an experience of some years, we 

 do not hesitate to say that mulching the surface of the 

 ground over newly-planted trees, is not only far bet- 

 ter than any after-watering, but that, if the layer is 

 thick enough to keep the surface cool, it renders 

 water wholly unnecessary. In the case of bearing 

 fruit-trees, especially the more delicate kinds, as dwarf 

 pears, apricots, etc., mulching not only precludes the 



