1872 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 63 



how perfectly confounded the beginner in this business is, when he hears facts as opposite 

 as the poles detailed bj' men supposed to be qualified to guide the inexperienced in the 

 paths of truth and success. 



If our future discussions are to be confined to a bare statement of facts, or what are sup- 

 posed to be facts, without regard to the different localities, the different soils, in regard to 

 the adhesiveness and porosity, the different atmospheric surroundings, of our supposed 

 facts, long and weary years will elapse before we will arrive at anything like a correct 

 knowledge of Horticultural science. With one man a certain variety fulfills his most san- 

 guine expectations in one locality, while with another, on a similar locality, not a half 

 mile away, the same variety is utterly worthless. These contradictory facts are not the 

 fault of the tree or plant, for they are both, perhaps, from the same parent, but must of 

 necessity be referable to something in the soil, seeing that the localities and atmospheric 

 surroundings are so analogous that they could not affect the one beneficially and the other 

 injuriously in so sensible a degree. Let us look then to the compo.sition of the soil in 

 each case. There we apprehend a satisfactory solution will be found. Suppose that in 

 both cases mulching has been applied. The one succeeds, the other fails. (And here let 

 it be remarked, that mulching is but a temporary expedient for thorough under-draining.) 

 Where the latter has been well done, there is but little necessity for the former. Now to 

 return to the examination of the soils, on which the two above supposed plants or trees 

 grow with such opposite effects. In each of the cases the soil may have very nearly the 

 same composition in respect to liine, sand and clay ; yet there may be in the one case some- 

 thing added, so as to hold the ingredients eo closely together as to prevent the plant from 

 being duly supplied with nourishment. While in the other case the soil is just porous 

 eneuih to take the water when too abundant down out of the way of doing harm to the 

 roots, and is held in reserve to supply the wants of the plant when drought approaches. 

 These two conditions of soil do all the good or all the harm which is supposed to belong 

 to the variety of the plant or tree itself, without once thinking that it comes out of the 

 condition of the soil, which is really the case. If every person planting a tree or vine 

 would, in every case of success or failure, set about investigating the reason why, our dis- 

 cussions would be vastly more interesting and would be infinitely more successful ; and 

 what has heretofore been looked upon as facts, would be viewed in their true light as mere 

 delusions. Let what has been already said suffice for the unsatisfactory manner in which 

 our discussions have heretofore been conducted. We will now make a few closing remarks 

 upon the 



PHTLOSOPHT OF MULCHING. 



In dry seasons mulching is highly beneficial by preventing a too rapid evaporation of 

 moisture from the soil, and holding it where the roots use it as as a vehicle for conveying 

 plant food along its vessels to be elaborated in such way as will be most conducive to the 

 best condition of fruit or plant. The necessity for mulching is greater when the land is 

 not either naturally or artificially underdrained. Where these latter conditions of soil 

 exist, the moisture lies as in a reservoir, ready to furnish the needed moisture, to supply 

 the waste of evaporation both by the sun upon the surface of the soil and by the leaves 

 in the atmosphere. In wet seasons, mulching is of less importance, and is in fact sometime* 

 a disadvantage by holding too much water around the roots, so that the amount of food 

 necessary for a due development of the fruit and plant is too much diluted, and thus the 

 fruit becomes tasteless, and the plant watery and feeble. Moreover, mulching in wet 

 seasons, is a fruitful source of pestiferous insect.s. But as we cannot tell beforehand when 

 a season is to be wet or dry, no certain rule can be given for mulching on the approach of 

 warm weather. Every one therefore must act according to circumstances — mulch when 

 too dry, and remove it when too wet. 



To avoid all this uncertainty and perplexity, and at the same time, be more uniformly 

 successful than in any other way, uuderdr.^in your land thoroughly. Underdrain at 

 four feet deep and thirty feet apart will at all times so dispose of the rain fall, whatever 

 that may be, as to carry the water down out of the way of the roots, so that the plant has 



