HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



MUL 



en fruit from bruises. Spinach is pro- 

 tected in the same way, and Carnations, 

 Pansies, Roses, and other partly hardy 

 plants, are mulched in the same manner. 

 The rooting of a layer is by some gar- 

 deners thought to be facilitated by plac- 

 ing a flat stone over the buried branch; 

 the fact being that the stone acts as a 

 mulch, and prevents the soil around the 

 cut portion from drying out, and greatly 

 favors the rooting process. Even in the 

 vegetable garden mulching is found use- 

 ful, especially with Cauliflowers, which 

 find our summers quite too dry. The 

 material of the mulch is not of much im- 

 portance; mostly one kind of litter will 

 answer nearly as well as another. The 

 material will be governed in great meas- 

 ure by locality; those living near salt 

 water will find salt hay, as hay from the 

 marshes is called, the most readily pro- 

 cured; those who live near Pine forests 

 use the fallen leaves, or Pine needles, as 

 they are called; in the grain-growing 

 districts straw is abundant, and nothing 

 can be better; it can be applied more 

 thoroughly if run through a cutter. 

 Leaves are Nature's own mulch, and 

 answer admirably; if there is danger of 



NEE 



their being blown away, brush laid over 

 them, or even a little earth sprinkled on 

 them, will keep them in place. One of 

 the best materials to use for summer 

 mulching is the green grass mowed from 

 lawns. This, applied to the thickness of 

 two or three inches around the roots of 

 all kinds of small fruits, will be found not 

 only to greatly benefit the crop, particu- 

 larly in dry weather, but will save great- 

 ly in labor by preventing the growth of 

 weeds. Stable manure, particularly that 

 of cows, is extensively used in Eose 

 growing in winter, two or three inches of 

 which is placed over the soil when grow- 

 ing in pots or benches; Moss mulching is 

 also used for this and other purposes. 

 See page 208. 



Multifid. Divided half-way into many 

 parts or segments. 



Multiplex. Where many of the same parts 

 or organs occur together. 



Muricated. Covered with sharp points, as 

 in Panicum muricatum. 



Musci. An important tribe of Cryptogams, 

 comprising the true Mosses. 



Mycelium. A word equivalent to spawn. 



Myurus. Long and tapering, Like a mouse's 

 tail 



. Where a surface is destitute 

 of pubescence. 

 Naked Seeds. Seeds having no pericarpel 



covering, as in Conifers and Cycads. 

 Nanus. Dwarf. 

 Napiform. Turnip-shaped. 

 Nebulous, Nebulose. Clouded. 

 Neck. The upper tapering end of bulbs is 



called the neck, as in Crinum, Amaryllis, 

 etc. 



Nectarium, Nectary. An organ which se- 

 cretes honey. 



Nervation. The manner in which veins are 

 arranged. 



Nerves, Nervures. The ribs or principal 

 veins of a leaf. 



