90 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 



2. Conservation of moisture in the soil by 

 hindering evaporation. From a study of 

 soil cultivation it is found that by breaking 

 up the top layer and leaving it in a fairly 

 loose condition it is possible to reduce to a 

 minimum the loss of moisture by evaporation. 

 This is nothing more than a dirt mulch and 

 stops capillarity, the rise of water in the soil 

 just below the loosened surface. Any ma- 

 terial such as has been mentioned will give 

 the same results as the dirt mulch, and has 

 the further advantage of being more per- 

 manent, not being destroyed, as is the dirt 

 mulch, by the first rain. 



3. Retaining the surface soil in a loose, 

 friable condition. This is brought about by 

 the fact that the soil is not packed down by 

 being tramped upon or by heavy rains beat- 

 ing upon it, but is retained in the same con- 

 dition as it was just previous to being covered 

 with the mulch material. 



4. In some cases plant food is added to 

 the soil. This is particularly so when ma- 

 nure is used as a mulch, principally by the 

 washing of the plant foods out of the manure 

 into the soil. 



5. Cooler soil, the direct results of the 



