FRUITS. 421 



than any thing- else that conld be devised. As much as we our- 

 selves have said, as much as has been written, in regard to the 

 matter, we think the subject is by no means exhausted, and that 

 the various benefits of mulching arc but very little understood 

 in regard to its action upon fruit trees and fruits. 



1st. In regard to its effect upon the tillage of the soil. If 

 the farmer has little time and means to expend in enriching 

 the ground about his trees, let him cover the surface above their 

 roots with fresh-mown grass or leaves, — the best mulching, — 

 or with hay, straw, shavings, chips, or sawdust, and he will find, 

 not only that the moisture that contains the food of the tree 

 will be preserved, but that the earth is kept as light, as friable, 

 and almost as pulverulent as though it were continually tilled. 

 And when the mulching has become sufficiently decayed he can 

 increase its beneficial effects by turning it under, previous to 

 applying new. A gentleman whom I have long known as a 

 very intelligent, skilful, and highly-successful arboriculturist, — 

 I allude to Henry L. Penniman, Esq., of Dedham, — makes no 

 other application than that of new-mown grass to his thrifty 

 and productive trees. Nature herself, in her fresh, green, 

 waving groves and gigantic forests, often growing out of the 

 bed of decaying rocks, always thus mulches and nourishes her 

 trees and keeps them flourishing and vigorous. This kind of 

 nourishment, though deficient doubtless in exhausted soils in 

 certain necessary elements of growth, has the advantage of 

 never being injurious to trees by its over-stimulating qualities, 

 as is the case sometimes with stable manure, super-phosphate, 

 guano, &q. 



2d. The protection afforded to the roots of trees in winter 

 by mulching is such as to prevent the violent action of heat and 

 cold, that so often proves fatal to the peach especially, and not 

 unfrequently, in high northern latitudes, to the quince and pear. 

 Indeed, few peach orchards or pear orchards will be allowed to 

 remain in coming times without this protection. 



3d. Mulching in times of drought prevents evaporation, and 

 thus secures sufficient moisture, and a consequent abundant 

 supply of the gaseous elements contained in the moisture, 

 which compose the food of plants aud trees ; for, deprived of 

 the nutritious elements thus held in solution in water by the 



