MORNING -GLORY MULCH 153 



and are covered with flowers through a long season. They 

 may be used with fine effect in vases or large hanging 

 baskets. Give a full sunny exposure. May thrive on soil 

 that is not very rich. They grow 1 foot high. Half-hardy 

 annuals. 



Mulberry. Both for fruit and ornament the 

 Mulberry should be more generally planted. Even if the 

 fruit is not to the taste, the tree is naturally open-cen- 

 tered and round-headed, and is an interesting subject; some 

 of the varieties have finely cut leaves. The fruits are in 

 great demand by the birds, and after they begin to ripen the 

 strawberry beds and cherry trees are free from robins and 

 other fruit-eating birds. For this reason alone they are a 

 valuable tree for the fruit-grower. Trees may be pur- 

 chased cheaper than one can propagate them. 



If planted in orchard form, place them 25 to 30 feet 

 apart. About the borders of a place they can go closer. 

 The Eussian varieties are often planted for windbreaks, for 

 they are very hardy and thrive under the greatest neglect ; 

 and for this purpose they may be planted 8 to 20 feet 

 apart. The Russians make excellent screens. They stand 

 clipping well. New American, Trowbridge and Thorburn 

 are leading kinds of fruit-bearing Mulberries for the North. 

 The true Downing is not hardy in the northern states ; but 

 New American is often sold under this name. Mulberries 

 thrive in any good soil, and need no special treatment. 



Mulch is used both in protecting plants from 

 the severe freezing of winter and the severe drought of 

 summer. The same material may be used in either case, 

 although it is now considered best to make an earth Mulch 

 to prevent evaporation and retain the moisture through the 

 dry season. This earth Mulch is made by breaking the 

 crust of the soil and leaving it in fine particles. This may 

 be done with a horse cultivator, a hoe or a rake. In fact, 

 any tool which leaves the top of the soil loose will be in- 

 strumental in preventing evaporation of soil water. See 



