go MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
2. Conservation of moisture in the soil by 
hindering evaporation. From a study of 
soil cultivation it is found that by breaking 
up the top layer and leaving it in a fairly 
loose condition it is possible to reduce to a 
minimum the loss of moisture by evaporation. 
This is nothing more than a dirt mulch and 
stops capillarity, the rise of water in the soil 
just below the loosened surface. Any ma- 
terial such as has been mentioned will give 
the same results as the dirt mulch, and has 
the further advantage of being more per- 
manent, not being destroyed, as is the dirt 
mulch, by the first rain. 
3. Retaining the surface soil in a loose, 
friable condition. This is brought about by 
the fact that the soil is not packed down by 
being tramped upon or by heavy rains beat- 
ing upon it, but is retained in the same con- 
dition as it was just previous to being covered 
with the mulch material. 
4. In some cases plant food is added to 
the soil. This is particularly so when ma- 
nure is used as a mulch, principally by the 
washing of the plant foods out of the manure 
into the soil. 
5. Cooler soil, the direct results of the 
