228 AMERICAN POMOLOGY. 



able purpose, though not mentioned in the above list ; it 

 is mellow earth — yes, mellow earth admirably fulfills most 

 of the conditions of a good mulching material, but it 

 must be kept mellow by constant stirring. The air is thus 

 admitted, and deposits its moisture whenever the earth is 

 cooler than the atmosphere ; the presence of the air among 

 the particles of the soil makes it a worse conductor of 

 heat tlian when it is compacted together. 



Mulching the newly-planted trees is a very valuable 

 application, whether in summer or winter, and should be 

 practiced wherever it is possible, always remembering that 

 we can not well combine with it culture, which, for the 

 summer treatment, is most essential to the successful 

 growth of trees, and in winter we shall present a harbor 

 to the mice if the mulch be placed too near the tree. He 

 who may have been induced, by the recommendations of 

 high authority, to plant an orchard in a stift' blue-gi-ass 

 sod, or who may allow such sod to surround his trees, in 

 the belief that this constitutes a good mulch, will be sadly 

 disappointed; for, though the surface is shaded, the grass 

 will absorb the moisture from the soil at the expense of 

 the young trees; Clover, on the contrary, makes a denser 

 shade, and seeking its supplies more deeply, is less injuri- 

 ous, while its abundant broad foliage attracts ample sup- 

 plies of dew to irrigate the soil. In this respect it resem- 

 bles the Indian corn, which is considered the best crop 

 to put among young trees, as it produces shade, attracts 

 the dew, and, more than all, it demands and receives the 

 thorough culture which the trees also require. 



