70 



ORAjfGE CULTURE. 



The first of these statements is true — mulching does produce 

 more roots at the surface ; but what then ? 



It is to these very surface roots that the citrus family is in- 

 debted for its chief supply of food ; these are the main purvey- 

 ors of the tree, the large roots serve as anchors and canals through 

 which nourishment is conveyed, but the tiny, fibrous roots that 

 creep here, there, and everywhere, are ever on the look-out for 

 food supplies, and where they find it most abundantly, there 

 they go. 



They seek shelter and warmth, beneath the shelter of the 

 mulch they always find it ready for them. The warmth they 

 might have had without the mulch, but not the moisture. The 

 more of these surface roots there are the better ; as the orange is 

 a surface-feeding tree, and as the mulch rots away, a rich vegetable 

 mould accumulates around the tree, which is of immense benefit. 



A grove w^here the trees are well mulched does not need 

 half so frequent cultivation as one where the ground is left en- 

 tirely bare. Whatever j^ortion is kept covered by the mulch is 

 kept free from weeds and grass, the ground is rendered porous 

 and friable, and the roots which w^ould be near the surface, even 

 without the mulch, are protected from their greatest enemy, 

 drought, very effectually. 



Some advocates of mulchino; o-o so fiir as to recommend shad- 

 ing the entire surface of the grove, ^ow this is profitable under 

 some circumstances, where the trees are large, and shade a good 

 portion of the ground by their foliage, so that the mulch need 

 only cover the intermediate spaces, but when the trees are young, 

 it would require so great an expenditure of time, labor and'money, 

 as to be almost impracticable. It is all-sufficient that the ground 

 be covered to a depth of several inches, leaving a bare space of 

 about a foot around the tree. The mulch should extend about 

 two feet beyond the outer roots. This is very important. Never 

 allow the mulch to touch the trunk ; it will soften and rot the 

 bark, and encourage insects to settle around it. 



We have not yet touched on the second objection of the 

 anti-mulchers — that " of increased liability to frost." 



