38 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of an iron rake, with long, sharp teeth ; if tliis plan is pursued the 

 roots will feed where they ought to feed. Deep culture has a 

 favorable effect in preserving a crop from injury by drought. 



Benjamin G. Smith said that all good cultivators agree as to the 

 benefit of stirring the soil, but in some cases mulching ma}' be of 

 service. He used sand as a mulch under his apple trees, and they 

 appeared to be benefited by it. It is clean, and does not harbor 

 insects or seeds of weeds, does not bake after rain, and is not in 

 danger of fire. It is especially valuable on strong clay or heavy 

 loams. Mr. Smith quoted, from tlie " Report of the Michigan 

 Pomological Society" for 1876, pp. 104, 105, 162, 163, passages 

 concerning the best and worst materials for mulching. 



"William H. Hills said that he was in the nursery business years 

 ago, when mulching was generally recommended, and he is still of 

 the opinion that sometimes it is very valuable. In setting 3'oung 

 pear trees, with few fibrous roots, he mulched with good effect, and 

 sheltered the stems of the trees from the sun with paper. Since then 

 there has been a change in theory and practice with regard to mulch- 

 ing. Some recommend heavj' mulching and others light. The most 

 serious objection to it is tlie drawing of the roots to the sui'face, so 

 that when the mulch is removed they are liable to iujnry in an un- 

 favorable season. The onh* question is whether we can get along 

 without it ; in most winters we can, for a good covering of snow 

 is the best mulch. Hay from the salt marshes, which he gets 

 boated up the Merrimac river, never brings in foul seeds, but swale 

 hay does, unless cut very early, and the produce of the seeds will 

 grow even on high, dry land. Small fruits ripen in the season 

 when most liable to suffer from drouth, and consequently are 

 much benefited by mulching. It also protects strawberries from 

 being soiled. 



Mr. Smith said there are cases where mulching is an absolute 

 necessity. He covers the ground between his rhododendrons and 

 azaleas with forest leaves, whicli are never removed, but added to 

 year after year. 



Mr. Hills asked, Wliat is the objection to applying mulch to a 

 strawberry bed in autumn and removing it in spring? 



Mr. Wilder said that a winter covering is not properlj' a mulch. 

 He covers his strawberries with aftermath in autumn, takes it away 

 in the spring, and replaces it when it is necessarj' to keep the 

 fruit clean. 



President Moore said that a coverinor in the fall is not a mulch 



