NOVEMBER: THIRD WEEK 305 



the candidum or Madonna, the longiflorum, and the spe- 

 ciosum, are better for protection, especially when they are 

 growing in dirt beds. Any bulb or plant naturalized among 

 shrubs or in grass is mulched to some extent by Nature. 

 Beds and borders of spring-blooming bulbs — tulips, nar- 

 cissuses and hyacinths— should also be thoroughly mulched. 



Winter Mulch for Strawberries and Fruits 



In the fruit garden and in the vegetable garden mulching 

 is also required. For strawberries nothing is better than 

 clean marsh hay, which is free from weeds, stays in position 

 well and makes a clean, dry ground covering for the fruit- 

 ing season. Straw is more likely to blow about over the 

 rest of the garden in spring, and to become an endless 

 nuisance by catching in the wheel-hoe teeth through sum- 

 mer. In cold parts of the country the whole surface — the 

 ground between the rows as well as the plants — should be 

 covered to a depth of several inches. In more southerly 

 sections, especially when the rows are far apart, mulching 

 over the plants alone will be sufficient. 



The small fruits — the cane fruits, currants and goose- 

 berries — are benefited by winter mulching, which, in their 

 case, is of double value, as it may be utilized again for a 

 summer mulch after the plants have been cultivated or 

 hoed out in spring. All plants of this class suffer from dry 

 weather at fruiting time, and as it often happens that one 

 is too busy to provide a mulch just when it is needed, it pays 

 to put it on now and have it ready, in addition to getting 

 the benefit during the winter. Late plantings of onions or 

 spinach, to be carried over winter for spring use, should also 

 be mulched; hay or straw is better in this case than leaves 

 or manure, as it may be removed more readily in the spring. 



AU newly planted shrubs or trees, or newly made beds, 

 should be mulched. Be sure that the surface of the bed, or 

 the soil about the trees, has enough slope to drain itself 

 readily before the mulch is put on. Otherwise water may 



