SOIL COVERING TO HOLD MOISTURE 139 



of this description are usually contrived by local smiths and are attached 

 to sleds or fitted with plow handles, or used with a pair of thills and 

 cultivator handles or other rigging as the operator may choose. The 

 vital point is a blade of sheet steel, very sharp and rigged to run just 

 under the surface. It must be used as often as once each week. 



MULCHING A SUBSTITUTE FOR CULTIVATION 



The use of a mulch or covering of the ground with a litter of light 

 materials to prevent evaporation, is practised to a small extent in this 

 State. Though mainly used for berries of different kinds, recourse has 

 also been had to mulching by vineyardists. The materials used are 

 various, such as partly-rotted straw, coarse manure, damaged hay, corn- 

 husks, corn-stalks, vine prunings and leaves, and even fine brush from 

 adjacent thickets. The practice has been found of greatest value on 

 hillsides where cultivation is difficult, and danger of washing of loose 

 soil is great. There are cases where vines have been grown several 

 years in this way to the satisfaction of the owner. The danger of fire 

 in our dry climate when the surface is covered to a depth of several 

 inches with a dry mulch is considerable. As a rule, the mulch employed 

 by the California grower is a perfect pulverization of the surface soil. 



