154 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



the whole surface and run so often that the plant is never allowed 

 to show a shoot on the surface. It is of no use merely to cultivate 

 or "weed-cut" as for other weeds. This spreads the pest more and 

 more ; but if the rising shoots are continually cut under the surface, 

 and never allowed to get the light, it will kill the plant surely, but 

 it may take two seasons to do it. Weed-cutting knives of this 

 description are usually contrived by local smiths and are attached to 

 sleds or fitted with plow-handles, or used with a pair of thills and 

 cultivator-handles, or other rigging as the operator may choose. 

 The vital point is a blade of sheet steel, very sharp, and rigged to 

 run just under the surface. It must be used as often as once each 

 week. 



MULCHING A SUBSTITUTE FOR CULTIVATION 



The use of a mulch or covering of the ground with a litter of 

 light materials to prevent evaporation, is practiced to a small extent 

 in this State. Though mainly used for berries of different kinds, 

 recourse has also been had to mulching by vineyardists. The mate- 

 rials, used are various, such as partly-rotted straw, coarse 

 manure, damaged hay, corn-husks, corn-stalks, vine prunings and 

 leaves, and even fine brush from adjacent thickets. The practice 

 has been found of greatest value on hillsides where cultivation 

 is difficult, and danger of washing of loose soil is great. There are 

 cases where vines have been grown several years in this way to 

 the satisfaction of the owner. The danger of fire in our dry climate 

 when the surface is covered to a depth of several inches with a 

 dry mulch is considerable. As a rule, the mulch employed by the 

 California grower is a perfect pulverization of the surface soil. 



