CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING 3IULCHING. 31 



inches deep. He had never lost any of his plants as a result of 

 this practice, but thought that the_y were greatly benefited. The 

 only covering which he permitted to be placed over the plants in 

 the winter was a slight litter of straw, and this was removed earl}* 

 in the spring, or as soon as the warmth began to stimulate the 

 plants to growth. 



Another cultivator says that one inch of tan bark is enough for 

 a mulch ; three inches will produce fermentation, and greatl}' in- 

 jure if not kill the plants. He thinks, however, that, according 

 to his experience, the best mulch is a highl}' tempered steel rake, 

 with eight-inch prongs, applied at least once a week during the 

 season. This conclusion is worthy of note as being the first pub- 

 lished intimation which I have met, that tiltJi is the best method 

 of promoting a moist condition of the soil, and enabling vegeta- 

 tion to endure a drouth, and this was thirty years ago. 



I have here recounted tlie experience of horticulturists of a gen- 

 eration gone by, because it is identical with what is heard con- 

 stantl}' nowadays, as men go on repeating the experience of 

 their fathers, without stopping to inquire to what their success or 

 failure was owing. Perhaps I ma}' say right here, that within the 

 last twenty years I have tried pretty much the same line of ex- 

 periments, as far as they are stated, and have come to identical 

 results. 



I am not insensible to the claims that are urged, that tan bark 

 contains more or less tannin, and that tannic acid is an element in 

 the strawberry plant, and, therefore, a coating of spent tan is bene- 

 ficial to the plant. In either wish to start anew, or to be drawn 

 into a controversy upon this subject, on which volumes have been 

 alread}' written. We are considering mulching solely as a means 

 of promoting the moisture of the soil. 



I am also aware that in the culture of the gooseberry the soil 

 in June and July seems to be too hot for the plant, and a covering 

 of leaves seems to impart coolness tO' the soil, and thus obviate 

 this difBculty ; but every one who has tried this expedient has 

 before long found all of his roots on the top of the ground, which 

 is just where the}- ought not to be. 



I know of a vineyard where the cultivator covered about one- 

 half of the surface with rushes, chips, and weeds that were washed 

 ashore on the beaches of an adjacent river. An unexpected 

 advantage was noted, which was, that although rose-bugs were as 

 abundant as the year previously, when a half-dozen lads gathered 



