June 1, 1909 
‘oil, Experiments have proven that. a 
mulch 8 inches deep prevented a loss of 36 
percent, of the ‘moisture’ lost where no 
mulch was used. The average saving by 
Means of mulches ranges from 25 to 50 
per ceat., varying with the depth of the 
nulch, To be the most effective, these 
mulches must be formed as soon as the 
Soil is fit to work in the spring, as well as 
after every rain in summer, if the crop 
Will permit. A delay of one week in 
Spring, or after a heavy rain, will result in 
4 loss of moisture by evaporation equal to 
one and three-fourths inches of rain, or 
ough to tide a crop over two weeks of 
drought, From this data. the advantage 
Of seeding at the earliest possible hour is 
apparent. 
The first effect of mulching is greater 
‘evaporation, due to the larger surface of 
Wet soil exposed. This loss, however, is 
from the stirred soil only. Very little 
Water can pass throagh a mulch after it 
becomes dry. Should the mulch settle 
back and appear moist, a second stirring 
Will be necessary. Mulches should not be 
Made too deeply. They are made of the 
best soil. and when this is dry it is of no 
Use for plant feeding. Mulches should be 
Made as thin as is possible without per- 
Mitting too heavy waste of the deeper soil 
Water, The depth of mulches must 
Vary with the seasons and with tho 
crops, 
Spring seeding is closely connected with | 
18 great problem of conserving soil 
Moistures, Early seeding enables crops 
to use the water otherwise lost by 
“vaporation. It may also save plant food 
Tom leaching in the drainage waters by 
ving made use of this water in the plant 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
(rnin apres rT ie VTS TEAS TE FCS IT I SS A EET 
economy. There is danger in too great 
‘haste in seeding, however. One might 
better be a little too late than too early. 
If too early, the plants come weak and 
sickly or the seed rots in the soil. The 
effectiveness of tillage in conserving soil 
moisture is greater in the spring than at 
In the spriig 
there is invariably a wet surface exposed, 
almost any other time. 
and this wet surface carries the water off 
much more rapidly than can.dry soil. Too 
frequent stirring of the soil is undesirable. 
One should aim to keep simply a dry, loose 
blanket of soil, which will make the effec- 
Tt frequently happens that 
owing to the area to be covered, it is not 
tive mulch. 
possible to work it allas early as would 
give the best results. In such cases, where 
one has not time to form a thorough 
mulch, a single cut of the disc, or even 
of the spiked tooth harrow, will work 
wonders in conserving soil moisture. 
All mulches need not be made from 
soil. Some of the best and the most 
effective are made from manure, By 
applying barnyard manure as atop dress- 
ing one obtains a physicel, as well as a 
chemical benefit from it. The seasons? 
rains wash the fertilising constituents into 
the soil, where they will be available to 
the plants. The refuse remainiug on top 
makes an effective mulch for retarding 
This double 
manure, when applied as a top- dressing, is 
evaporation. action of 
« strong argument for pursuing this prac- 
tice and for making use of the manure- 
spreader, in order that the manure may 
be more advantageously applied. 
The problem of soil moisture is 
intimately involved in the methol of 
cultivation practised for rootcrops. With 
33 
the action of the atmosphere; hence there 
is less evaporation and consequently 
larger crops. It is well known to all that 
root crops, when grown on ridges in 
seasons of drought, have small chance of 
This accounts for the 
growing popularity of the level system of 
culture, 
Under-drainage is also a large factor in 
succeeding. 
“conserving soil moisture. It is a matter 
of common experience that crops on well- 
drained soils will with-stand drough;, 
better than those on similar soils not so 
well drained, although the crops at the 
commencement of the drought were 
equally good. The explanation of this 
phenomenon is, that drainage always im- 
With this 
improved texture comes increased capacity 
for retaining water. 
proves the texture of the soil. 
Windbreaks and hedges are highly 
beneficial in conserving soil moisture. 
Especially is this true in times of high 
wind, and particularly in connection with 
lighter soils, The clearing of forest areas 
and the diminishing size of our wood lots 
is involved in this question. The winds 
attain a greater velocity than ever, and a 
consequent greater loss of soil moisture 
is the result. Windbreaks and hedges, by 
holding the snow in winter, also add 
greatly to the moisture content of the 
soil through the melting of the snow in 
spring. 
When we realise the full force of the 
tremendous loss of soil moisture through: 
the agency of evaporation, we will look to 
it in future that this loss is held in check 
hy the timely use of the simple, yet effec- 
tive, means.at our disposal. 
—‘Agricultural Journal’ of N.S.W. 
ARAB COFF 
IE: 
‘a 
7 
Sad 
flat cultivation, less surface is exposed to 
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