28 HEDGES, WINDBREAKS, SHELTERS, ETC. 



unexcelled in all ways for mulch. It is pervious to 

 the air and it retains moisture. It does not permit 

 weeds to grow readily, and it keeps clay soils from 

 hardening. Use all that you can get, in your com- 

 post piles and lor mulching. When it is more con- 

 venient, fine cut straw or fresh cut grass makes a 

 fair substitute; yet it is liable to attract mice, and 

 will be blown away unless held in place by a sprinkle 

 of earth. 



(?), Renewals. The first year will certainly 

 develop gaps in your hedge, whatever care may have 

 been used in planting and mulching. These gaps 

 should be filled the next spring without fail. It will 

 not be easy at best to give these new plants a good 

 chance between the older ones. It will be well to 

 select as large plants as possible, and to take special 

 care in setting and puddling them. Let mulching 

 be very carefully and promptly applied. 



(8) Watering. It frequently occurs, as in set- 

 ting trees, that a dry spell follows. Whatever care 

 may have been used in thoroughly watering the 

 hedge when planted, it will be necessary to keep up 

 the supply for some weeks afterward. At all events, 

 the hedge plants must be well started into growth, 

 and the young rootlets be well developed before they 

 are given over to nature. Watering is always a 

 science. As it is usually performed it kills more 

 than it benefits. It should never be superficial, for 

 that will solidify the soil and then bake a crust, from 

 which the showers will flow quickly off. TV's 

 crust also prevents the natural absorption of mois- 

 ture from the air. To water correctly, dig a hole 

 by the side of every tree or bush, and pour in enough 



