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CHAPTER XVI. 



The advantages of mulching fruit trees. 



What is generally termed mulching of 

 fruit trees is of very great advantage to them, 

 for in winter it in a great measure preserves 

 the roots from the severity of frost, and in 

 summer keeps them from drought. 



This practice is particularly necessary to 

 trees that are newly planted, the new fibres 

 which such trees make for the first year or 

 two, require protection and encouragement; 

 for they being of a tender nature, and gene- 

 rally weakly, are therefore more liable to 

 injury from severe frost and drought. A 

 strong frost always naturally forces the soil 

 upwards, and the deeper the frost penetrates 

 the ground, the higher the soil is forced up 

 at its surface: and when trees that have been 

 newly planted are not mulched, the tender 

 roots of such are generally forced up with 

 the soil; displaced, and sometimes broken 

 from the stronger ones, and they suffer 

 equally as much from a root being torn 

 in pieces, as what they do from a branch : 

 and when the soil comes to thaw, and is dis- 

 solved, the tender roots if not damaged and 

 broken, have to strike afresh and establish 



