CCLTR'ATION. 2 1 5 



as they will grow a little before being killed by tlie 

 frost, when they will fall down, thus affording a very 

 beneficial mulch to the soil. 



^V^lien farmers spread coarse manure on their fields 

 in the fall to be plowed under in the spring, they ben- 

 efit the land by the mulching, perhaps as much as by 

 the addition of fertilizing matter, because they give 

 it the protecting influence of the straw, etc. 



It is an old and true saying that " snow is the 

 poor man's manure." One reason why it is so bene- 

 ficial is, that it acts as a most excellent mulch. It 

 contains no more ammonia than rain-water does ; 

 and, were it not for the fact that it protects the soil 

 against loss of heat, and produces other benefits of 

 mulching, it would have no more advantageous effect. 

 The severity of the Avinters at the North is largely 

 compensated for by the long duration of snow. 



It is well known that when there is but little snow 

 in cold countries, wheat is very liable to be winter 

 Mlled. An evenly spread mulch, and thorough 

 draining, will greatly prevent this. 



This treatment is peculiarly applicable to the cul- 

 tivation of flowers, both in pots and in beds out of 

 doors. It is almost indispensable to the profitable 

 production of strawberries, and many other garden 

 crops, such as asparagus, rhubarb, etc. An excel- 

 lent treatment for newly transplanted trees, is to put 

 stones about their roots. A good mulching, by the 

 use of leaves, copying the action of nature in forests, 

 has nearly as good an effect ; for it is chiefly as a 

 mulch that the stones are beneficial. 



