Effects of Mulching. 97 



jury to the plant ; but, in practice, it is fortunately 

 impossible to hold the frost in the soil so long. 

 It is evident, too, that the covering of strawberries 

 and other low plants for the purpose of retarding 

 fruit must be practiced with caution, for a mulch 

 of sufficient depth to measurably delay vegetation is 

 apt to bleach and injure the young growth, and to 

 lessen the crop. Yet it can sometimes be used to 

 good effect, and fruiting can be delayed a week, 

 perhaps even more. Some skilful strawberry -grow- 

 ers are able to delay fruiting upon small patches 

 as much as two weeks by means of mulches. 



We may draw the following conclusions upon 

 the effects of mulching to retard bloom : 



1. The early bloom of fruit -plants depends very 

 largely upon the appropriation of food stored in the 

 twigs, and it is more or less independent of root 

 action. This is proved both by direct experiment 

 and by study of the physiology of plants. 



2. It must follow, then, that the temperature of 

 the twig or branch must be reduced if its vegeta- 

 tion is to be much retarded ; or, in other words, 

 the top of the plant, as well as the soil, must be 

 mulched, and in practice this is possible only with 

 strawberries and other very low plants, or those 

 which are laid down during winter. 



3 There is danger of injuring plants by heavy 

 mulch which is allowed to remain late in spring. 

 If it is desired to retard flowers or fruit by mulch- 

 ing, the practice should not be violent, and the 

 plants should be carefully watched. 



