MULCHING AND PRUNING. 81 



CHAPTER IX. 



MULCHING AND PRUNING. 



In the question of "Mulch or not to Mulch," we come 

 to another disputed point. Some advocate mulching 

 orange trees both old and young, advocate it most emphat- 

 ically ; others oppose mulching at all, just as vehemently, 

 while others again say, "mulch young trees and those just 

 set out for a year or two, but never mulch otherwise." 



Who is right and who is wrong ? No doubt in this, as 

 in other questions where opinions differ, there is some right 

 and some wrong on all sides. 



Taking it altogether, however, there is much more to be 

 said in favor of mulching than against it. Its opponents 

 are in the minority now, and likely to become still more so 

 as time rolls on and brings greater experience in orange 

 culture. 



In one of our most reliable agricultural works we find 

 the following concise declaration as to what mulching does : 

 * ' Mulching holds moisture in the soil and retains the at- 

 mospheric ammonia, breaks the force of the rains, and 

 thus prevents the ground from being baked ; prevents also 

 the soil from freezing so easily as when exposed ; prevents 

 rapid thawing during the heated season, and cools the 

 earth. These are the principal advantages to be derived 

 from mulching, and yet they are sufficient to make any 

 farmer think favorably of it." 



And we will add, not only farmers, but especially orange 

 growers. Mulching their trees has been practiced by our 

 oldest growers, and the fact that they still continue the 

 practice speaks volumes as to the result of their years of 

 experience. 



