Mountain Ash. 



Mulching 



that the fungi are filamentous, and discernible by 

 the unaided eye only when aggregated in masses 

 forming a felt or covering to the object attacked, 

 or when making fluids, in which they are living, 

 cloudy. Certain of them have the power of setting 

 up fermentation in fluids containing sufficient 

 nutriment for them. 



Attempts have been made to classify them 

 according as they are white (Mucedines) or dark 

 (Dematiei), but as their life histories are often com- 

 plicated, and themselves diverse in structure, as 

 well as habit, no good purpose can be served by such 

 general classifications. Many of them have been 

 proved to be only the early stages of more highly 

 developed or complicated organisms. A general 

 idea of their nature may be gleaned by taking 

 a few of them as examples. The Common White 

 Mould (Mucor Mucedo) hastens the decay of 

 fruit, but seems only capable of this when the 

 skin has been broken, and especially if the fruit is 

 damp or under damp conditions. This mould is 

 practically a saprophyte ; that is, one that lives on 

 a dead host. The Blue Mould of jam and various 

 articles of food is Penicillium glaucum, belonging 

 to a much higher section. It also is a saprophyte 

 whose well-being is promoted by dampness, and 

 may thus to a considerable extent be prevented. 



Quite different in character are the moulds that 

 attack living plants and destroy them, such as 

 Phytophthora infestans, or Potato disease, which 

 also attacks Tomatoes, reducing their stems and 

 leaves to putrefaction. Here, again, moisture 

 is the agent that enables them to prove so 

 destructive. Many species of Peronospora are also 

 highly injurious to certain cultivated plants, but 

 as they penetrate into the interior of the tissue 

 there is no real remedy for them. By good culti- 

 vation and avoiding the causes that favour them, 

 their rapid increase will be prevented. 



MOUNTAIN ASH (see PYRTJS Aucu- 



PARIA). 



MOWING. 



A very necessary operation where lawns are well 

 kept. Formerly mowing was done with scythes, 

 and to cut the grass evenly without showing the 

 marks of the scythe was considered to be one of 

 the great tests of a young gardener's ability. 

 Now, however, machines which mow, roll, and, if 

 desired, collect the cut grass, are universally 

 used for lawns. When mowing with a scythe, the 

 work is best done when the grass is wet, with a 

 machine when the grass is dry, or nearly so. If 

 the grass is not very long, it is advisable to take 

 the collecting box off ; the cut grass is then scat- 

 tered broadcast, and in addition to acting as a 

 manure adds elasticity to the turf. As a rule, 



Mountain Avens (see Dryas oetopetala). 

 Mountain Samson (see Simarouba amara). 

 Mountain Ebony (see Saukinia). 

 Mountain Green or Pride (see Spatlielia simplex). 

 Mountain Holly (see Nemopanthes). 

 Mountain Mint (see Pycnantltemum). 

 Mountain Parsley Fern (see Cryptm/ramme). 

 Mmintain Plum (see Ximenia avifricana). 

 Mountain Tobacco (see Arnica montana). 

 Mournful Widow (see Scabiosa atropurpurea). 

 Mouse-ear Chiclmeed (see Cerastium). 

 Moussonia (see Isoloma}. 



Moustache Plant (see Caryopteris Mastacantlius). 

 Mwviny Macliines (see Lawn Mowers). 



lawns should be mown weekly in wet, and fort- 

 nightly in dry, weather. 



MUCUNA. 



Strong-growing woody climbers, suitable for a 

 stove or intermediate house (ord. Leguminosse). 

 As a rule, they are shy flowerers, and are rarely 

 seen in cultivation. Increased by cuttings of half 

 ripe wood. They grow well in a mixture of fibrous 

 peat, loam, anil coarse sand. A bright, sunny posi- 

 tion is a great aid to success. 



Principal Species : 

 atropurpurea, 10', sum., prurieus, 12', sum., pur. 



pur. Cow Itch, 



macrobotrys, 40' to 60', sempervirens, 12'. 



yel. 



MUEHLENBECKIA. 



Hardy or half-hardy, shrubby or climbing plants 

 (ord. Polygonacea?) of value for large rockeries. 

 All root readily from cuttings, and succeed in sandy 

 loam. 



Principal Species : 

 acVpressa, lilf-hdy., long, platyclada, 4', grh. shr. 



weak branches. sagittifolia, strong cl. 



cornplexa, hdy., long, varians, hlf-hdy., long, 



weuk branches (see p. weak branches, small 



91). Ivs. (syn. varium). 



naua, a good garden plant 



for small rockeries. 



MULBERRY. 



The Mulberry (Morus nigra) (sec />. 93) has been 

 in cultivation from a distant period on account of 

 the use of its leaves as a food for the silkworm, 

 and also for its fruits, which have been used for 

 making wine, as well as for dessert. Their sub-acid 

 flavour when ripe is grateful to many. M. alba i> 

 now used for feeding silkworms. 



The Mulberry is hardy in Great, Britain and 

 Ireland, but its fruits will not ripen in the colder 

 districts without the shelter of a wall. Almost 

 any good garden soil is suitable, but it should be 

 one of considerable depth, and not too dry. The 

 propagation of the Mulberry is by means of layers 

 in November or February, and by cuttings of the 

 young wood, with a piece of the older attached, in 

 autumn or spring. These may be about 1' or 2' 

 long, and ought to be planted deeply in autumn or 

 spring in a shady border. Seeds are also sown in 

 the open in May, or under glass a month or two 

 earlier. Inarching is also practised. 



Pruning of trees on walls or fences is performed 

 by thinning out or stopping the stronger-growing 

 shoots in summer. Others may be thinned out 

 where too thickly crowded. The fruit is produced 

 on both spurs and short-jointed wood of the 

 current year's growth. 



MULCHING. 



It may safely be said that great benefit to 

 gardens would result were the practice of mulching 

 more generally followed, especially by amateurs, 

 who are often slow to avail themselves of its help. 

 It consists in placing some material on the surface 



Mul/erlia Saxteri (see Oxylobium scandens). 



Mueedinei (see Mould). 



Mudar Plant (see Calotropis gigantea). 



Mud Plantain (see TTeteranthera reniformis). 



Mu/in;ort (see Artemisia rulgaris). 



MuJtia (see Melotliria). 



Mulberry, Indian (see Morinda). 



