Tillage and Mulching 99 



A system of partial mulching practiced on the Thayer 

 farms at Sparta, Wisconsin, seems to have given excellent 

 results under their conditions, and may be worthy of 

 more general use. The plan followed was to grow clover 

 in a field by itself, cutting it when in bloom. It was then 

 drawn to the berry field and applied as a mulch along the 

 rows, the central space between the rows being kept well 

 cultivated. Such a plan applies mulch where tillage is 

 most troublesome and expensive. If the mulch is heavy 

 enough, it tends to discourage weed growth and excessive 

 sucker production in among the plants where most dif- 

 ficult to control. The part most easily tilled on the other 

 hand, where tillage is simplest and cheapest, is left free 

 to be handled in this way. A thorough mulch is more 

 effective than surface cultivation in retaining soil mois- 

 ture. Coupled with this is the additional advantage that 

 the decay of the mulch is constantly furnishing humus to 

 the soil. The principal objection to the practice lies in 

 the cost of the material and its application. If cheap 

 mulching material can be conveniently secured, the 

 method is worthy of careful consideration. 



Where clean tillage is practiced, the use of cover r crops 

 will aid in maintaining the humus supply, and in securing 

 air nitrogen. The crop or crops to be used for the purpose 

 will depend largely on the nature of the climate. Crops 

 which do not survive the winter gather less nitrogen and 

 add less humus but are more easily managed. A strong, 

 thrifty growth of clover or vetch in among the plants is 

 difficult to subdue in spring. If left undisturbed it is 

 scarcely less objectionable than weeds in its immediate 

 effects on the berry crop. 



