85 



MULCHING 



is often resorted to in nurseries and places where it is not 

 always possible to give to the trees the amount of attention they 

 require. It acts as a screen that prevents the rapid evaporation 

 of the moisture from the ground, keeps the surface cool ; but, on 

 the other hand, it often harbours insect pests, gives to the place 

 an untidy appearance, favours an undesirable growth of the young 

 thread-like rootlets of the tree close up to the surface of the 

 ground, so that when the mulching becomes thin, or when a 

 protracted drought ensues, the trees often perish. Mulching is in 

 no way superior to the thorough cultivation of the ground by 

 means 'of the harrows and horse-hoes, by means of which a dry 

 earth mulch is constituted. By this means, however, the land gets 

 parched, and nitrification in the soil consequently checked, unless 

 the cultivation is frequent and thorough, which is not always 

 practicable. An effective method is to scatter evenly over the 

 ground short fibre manure or litter by means of the cultivator or 

 with the hoe. After some time, when the appearance of weeds 

 make it necessary, the cultivation is repeated. By this means the 

 moisture is just as effectively conserved in the ground, and the 

 roots grow in their proper position. On steep inclines though, 

 where the field implements cannot conveniently be worked, or in 

 raising rooted vines and trees in the nursery, mulching is found of 

 great use for smothering the weeds and keeping the soil cool and 

 moist. 



When rotted manure is used for mulching, it is not only pro- 

 tective, but also nutritive. 



Showing at A the proper place to mulch. 



It is generally wrongly applied right around the stem (B), where 

 there is no need for it and where it may be injurious, instead of in 

 a ring (A) some distance away. When thus placed it effectually 

 protects the active rootlets underneath, and the drainage of any 

 manure which is washed down reaches these roots, which are con- 

 stituted to utilise it. 



