Management of the Land 15 



wood-growth is at least open to question. Canes which 

 spring up late in the season, and which apparently go into 

 winter immature, will often come through green to the 

 tip, while large and apparently mature canes will be 

 seriously injured. Much depends on climate, locality and 

 season. In serni-arid climates, like that of the plains, 

 there is little danger of inducing too late fall growth by 

 continuous tillage. Lack of soil moisture is a greater 

 menace. Plants there often suffer from winter drought. 

 The writer found that continuous cultivation gave good 

 results in Nebraska. Some definite, careful experimenta- 

 tion is needed to determine what conditions and methods 

 of treatment are needed to insure least injury in winter. 



Mulching to replace tillage is often suggested. It is a 

 practice which is to be commended under some condi- 

 tions, but those conditions are exceptional rather than 

 general. It is especially adapted to moist soils in regions 

 of abundant rainfall. In the home-garden, where the 

 plot may be small and inconvenient to cultivate or where 

 there is no horse available with which to do the work, it 

 may be the best plan. In field culture the soil mulch is 

 generally the best. On any large scale, mulching is ex- 

 pensive. It is often difficult to obtain material and it 

 takes time to apply it. Mulching is thought to induce 

 surface rooting of the plants. Such roots may be quickly 

 injured if the mulch is allowed to disappear, and may 

 suffer more in time of severe drought. It is thought that 

 its practice will give more satisfactory results with cur- 

 rants and gooseberries than with other bush-fruits. Their 

 rooting habit seems to be shallow and they are easily in- 

 jured by deep cultivation. 



