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SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1858-59. 
President — Dr. J. C. W. McDonnald. 
Vice President — Col. Wm. Gregg. 
Treasurer — H. W. Ravenel', Esq. 
Secretary— V.. J. C. Wood. 
Directors — Messrs. J. G. Steedman, Jas. Purvis, W. G. 
Mood, A. De Caradeuc, J. D. Legare, Judge A. M. D. 
Robertson, and Col. W. P. Finley. 
Anniversary, Third Thursday in July. 
Quarterly Meeting, Third Thursday in July, October, 
January and April. 
Regular Monthly Meetings in May, June, July, August, 
and September, 3rd Wednesday. 
ON niUIiCHING. 
BY WILLIAM SAUNDERS, GERMANTOWN, PA. , 
“'If we were asked to say what plactice, founded on 
principle, had been most beneficially introduced into our 
horticulture — we should answer rnulching — mulching sug- 
gested by the need of moisture in ouifMry climats, and the 
difficulty of preserving it about the roots of plants.” — A. J. 
Downing. 
At the late meeting of the Am, Pomological Convention 
the subject of mulching was brought up and an opinion un- 
favorable to the practice prevailed among those who par- 
ticipated in the discussion. As there was no vote taken 
on the question, it would be unfair to conclude that the 
sense of the meeting was opposed to the practice, as 
might be inferred from the published reports of their pro- 
ceedings. 
It is, perhaps, to be regretted that the Convention should 
undertake the discussion of such subjects, its time being 
too limited to do them justice ; otherwise we can hardly 
conceive it possible that a practice so generally conceded 
as being in the highest degree beneficial, should be brand- 
ed as injurious, at least without some explanatory qualifi- 
cations. 
The object of mulching is to maintain a uniform degree 
of moisture in the soil by aiTesting surface evaporation 
This is most eflfectually secured by the interposition of a 
statum of air in repose. Bodies are said to be good or 
bad conductors just as they are solid or porous. 
Iron is a better conductor than wood ; granite stone a 
better conductor than brick. Hard pressed soil is a bet- 
ter conductor than soil that is loose and porous. A beaten 
path is warmer in summer and colder in winter than the 
cultivated ground alongside of it; its particles being in 
close contact, its conducting powers are Increased ; the 
arid winds of summer passing over uts surface carries off 
the moisture which the heat evaporates, and renders it 
unable to support healthy and vigorous vegetation ; there- 
fore, in covering with manure, tan, or charcoal dust we 
apply a materia! that contains more air than the soil, and 
in a position not easily disturbed. 
As to the value ofmulchingas an auxiliary to success- 
ful cultui’e, the result of practical experiments fully con 
firms all that theory propounds; and in the case of newly 
planted trees the preservation of a uniform degree of mois- 
ture in the soil surrounding their roots is the most impor- 
tant point of management, and, other things being equal 
trees will languish or grow just in proportion as this con- 
dition is secured. 
One of the speakers at the Convention alluded to, ob 
served that, “mulching had always proved of no value, 
but rather injurious 1 have found that the mulch dries 
out in summer when most needed, so as to be of little 
value, and the trees cast their leaves.” This might well 
be taken as an argument in favor of mulching, as the 
trees lose their leaves when the mulching fails. The evi- 
deiit course to pursue in such cases, would be to renew 
the mulch and so maintain vigor and preserve the foliage. 
The drying out of the mulch is no argument against its 
value. Such materials as tan bark, wood chips, charcoal 
dust, or even barn yard manure does not readily dry out 
or decay. It cannot be considered a fair test to allow the 
mulch to dry out “when most needed.” 
Another objection to mulching is the harbor it provides for 
mice and insects. When mulching has been left on dur- 
ing winter I have seen much destruction from mice eat- 
ing the bark and roots, but I have never seen mice do in- 
jury to trees in clean, cultivated ground, whether mulched 
or not; and in regard to insects I would express a con- 
trary opinion, and assert that were it convenient to keep 
the soil constantly covered with a suitable mulch, we 
would abridge, to a considerable extent, the increase qf 
insects; the shade and moisture of the mulching being 
inimical to their habits. 
A further objection was brought forward, “that a heavy 
mulch absorbs all the water from a light shower, and the 
soil below is dry,” This, as an objection, is practically 
unimportant. 
Although mulching is apparently a simple operation, 
yet care is required in its application. Before mulching 
a newly planted tree, if in the spring, shape the soil 
in the form of a basin, extending the rim beyond the 
extremities of the roots, thus rains will be retained and ar- 
tificial waterings effectually applied, if found necessary. 
If planted in the fall, the soil should be mounded slightly 
to the stem and well firmed round the roots ; in either 
case be careful that the mulch does not approach nearer 
than within 10 or 12 inches of the stem of the tree. Win- 
ter mulching should be heavy to prevent frosts from 
reaching the roots, and will be found of great benefit in 
clean ground, but if rough and weedy so as to encourage 
mice, no mulching should be applied during winter, and 
every precaution taken to prevent them from eating the 
bark, such as tramping around the roots after heavy 
snows, and keeping the soil well pulverized, clean and 
compressed. 
To be effectual it is not necessary that the mulching in 
summer be heavy, three or four inches in thickness of 
well rotted manure I consider the best that can be applied ; 
if tan or charcoal dust, a thicknesss of two inches is suf- 
ficient ; the short grass cuttings of the lawn forms a very 
suitable material, but it must be spread thmly so as not 
to ferment, which it is very sure to do if applied wet in 
quantities; a mouldiness frequently originates after fer- 
mentation ceases which is very injurious. Some years 
ago my attention was directed to a plantation of young 
trees that had suddenly and prematurely lost their foliage. 
They had been carelessly mulched with rough hay, and 
it was discovered that a peculiar fungus had originated in 
it and spread over the roots, and in some cases enveloped 
the stem of the tree. The mulching was immediately re- 
moved and the soil forked over ; the growth of the fungus 
was arrested, but several of the trees died. I mention this 
as a warning to inexperienced mulchers. 
The benefits of mulching may be carried into the veget- 
able as well as the fruit garden. Mulching between the 
rows of growing crops I have found to be of great value. 
The soil is not compressed by rains nor baked into a 
crust by sun, weeds are kept down, evaporation arrested 
and the crops materially mcteixsed.— Horticulturist.. 
Travel. — Traveling is good to take conceit out of man, 
"to shake out his ideas, and enlarge the bounds of his men- 
tal vision- It makes men wiser, but seldom happier. 
After all, home is the place for comfort; we are always 
happiest where the heart is. As Holmes says: “The 
world has a million roost for a man, but only one nest. 
Others may roost where they please ; give us the nest.” 
f He that v.'ould have his business well done, must 
either do it himself, or see to the doing of it. 
