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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  26,  1904 
Suilace  Culture  and  Mulching. 
There  seems  at  last  to  be  a  definite  break  in  the  continuous 
wet  weatlier  which  so  long  prevailed,  and  under  the  influence  of 
wind  and  sunshine  the  once  sodden  soil  has  dried  quickly — in 
some  cases  too  quickly ;  and  there  is  now  a  general  desire  for 
some  genial  showers.  All  must,  however,  be  thankful  for  the* 
fine  weather  of  the  last  few  weeks,  udiicli  has  enabled  cultivators 
generally  to  push  forward  with  work  which  had  fallen  in  arrear. 
Exactly  the  right  conditions  have  also  prevailed  for  thoroughly 
working  the  soil  between  the  early  growing  crops  so  as  to  give 
them  a  good  start,  as  weil  as  to  destroy  hosts  of  weeds  in  the 
young  seedling  stage.  A  suitable  start  of  this  de.scription  does 
much  to  lessen  the  work  by  keeping  weeds  under  later  in  the 
season,  and  as  long  as  the  fine  weather  continues  every  effort 
should  be  made  to  keep  the  hoe  going  amono;  both  vegetable 
crops  and  fruit  trees,  to  pi-event  further  loss  of  moi.sture,  as 
well  as  to  eradicate  weeds.  Gardens  generally  are  looking  won¬ 
derfully  clean  and  promising,  and  vhen  the  rain  does  come 
crops  of  all  descriptions  should  bound  away  with  great  vigour. 
The  good  cultivator  will  then  be  ever  on  the  alert  to  make  the 
most  of  the  advantage  gained  by  adoj^ting  various  methods  of 
conserving  moisture  so  as  to  prevent  crops  from  experiencing  a 
check  when  the  heat  of  summer  comes,  and  in  this  direction 
mulching  often  proves  of  immense  advantage. 
Very  little  has  been  written  about  this  useful  practice  during 
the  la.st  two  years,  for  the  obvious  reason  that  it  has  been  but 
little  needed,  owing  to  the  heavy  rainfall  and  absence  of  sun¬ 
shine  ;  but  should  the  fast  apirroaching  summer  prove  a  hot  one, 
mulching,  if  intelligently  carried  out,  will,  as  of  old,  play  an 
important  part  in  securing  cultural  distinction.  One  cardinal 
point  in  connection  with  the  xrractice  is  not  to  carry  it  out  too 
early  in  the  season.  First,  thoroughly  work  the  soil,  so  that  the 
sun  may  warm  it,  and  then  mulch  before  “  King  Sol  ”  has 
gained  full  power  to  extract  the  moisture.  Various  materials 
have  been  successful  for  mulching,  but  perhaps  nothing  is  better 
than  partially  decayed  straw  manure  from  stables.  If  this  has 
been  turned  a  few  times  it  is  open  and  silky  in  texture, 
and  thus  prevents  the  escape  of  moisture,  without  altogether 
excluding  warmth  and  air.  Fresh,  crude  cow  manure  is  gene¬ 
rally  nnsuitable,  because  it  sets  in  hard  lumps  or  cakes,  excludes 
air,  and  causes  the  soil  to  become  sour,  and  therefore  prevents 
rather  than  promotes  root  action.  When,  however,  it  has  been 
turned  a  few  times,  thoroughly  divided,  and  in  a  half-decayed 
condition,  it  is  valuable  for  using  on  light,  hungry  .soils. 
Manure  fi’om  horse  .stables  in  which  peat  moss  has  been  used  as 
litter  is  also  good  for  the  same  puiqrose. 
Half-decayed  leaves — of  v.hich  in  large  gardens  a  plentiful 
supply  can  usnally  be  obtained — are  excellent  conservers  of 
moisture,  and  I  know  of  nothing  Avhich  tends  so  much  to  pro¬ 
mote  surface  root  action,  especially  in  the  case  of  Vines  and 
fruit  trees.  Leaves  and  stable  manure  mixed  form  a  splendid 
mulch,  and  spent  tanners’  bark  is  sometimes  pressed  into  service 
with  good  results.  Short  grass  vdiich  has  been  thrown  from  the 
mowing  machijies  is  occasionally  nsed  when  nothing’  better  is 
obtainable,  and  for  crops  v  hich  come  off  quickly,  such  as  Peas 
and  Broad  Beans,  it  often  proves  helpful  in  combating  drought. 
Its  great  fault  is  that  it  hai-boin’s  insects,  especially  millipedes, 
and  on  that  account  should  be  kept  off  the  StrawbeVry  bed. 
Before  a  mulch  of  any  description  is  applied,  the  soil  should 
be  loosened  on  the  surface ;  and  in  the  case  of  fruit  ti'ees,  if  it 
is  very  dry,  a  good  Avatering  .should  be  given,  as  but  little  good 
can  be  done  in  the  Avay  of  consei’A’ing  moisture  if  the  bulk  of  it 
has  pi’eA'iously  been  alloAved  to  escape.  During  very  hot  seasons 
mulching  must  not  be  expected  to  do  aAvay  enth’ely  Avith  the 
necessity  for  Avatering,  but  crops  and  trees  so  treated  Avill 
continue  in  a  satisfactory  condition  Avith  feAver  applications  of 
AA'ater  than  AAdien  the  surface  of  the  soil  is  left  uncovered. 
Peas,  Beans,  and  fruit  trees  growing  against  Avails  are  usually 
^ome  of  the  fir.st  crops  in  the  open  air  to  need  this  attention. 
A  little  later  on,  Onions.  Carrots,  and  other  root  crops  may  Avith 
advantage  receive  similar  attention.  After  the  thinning  is 
completed,  and  the  yonng  plants  are  large  enough,  in  their  ca.56 
I  put  mushroom  manure,  or  fresh  horse-droppings  AA'hich  have 
been  passed  through  a  riddle,  should,  if  possible  be  used,  because 
such  materials  serve  as  a  top-dressing  to  feed  the  plants  as  well 
as  a  covering  to  conserve  moisture  in  the  soil,  and  often  to 
prevent  an  attack  of  maggot  at  the  root. 
V  hen  time  and  materials  can  be  spared,  fruit  trees  in  open 
quarters — e.specially  those  carrying  heavy  crops — amply  repay 
the  trouble  of  mulching  in  hot  seasons;  and  our  famous  Rose 
groAvers  are  Avell  aAvare  of  the  Amine  of  a  thick  covering  of  dung 
over  the  soil  AAdien  drought  sets  in  a  feAA'_  Aveeks  before  a  great 
shoAv.  Many  a  cup  has  been  Avon  in  various  horticultural,  con¬ 
tests  by  paying  due  attention  to  mulching,  and  some  have 
undoubtedly  been  lost  through  failing  to  take  advantage  of  so 
excellent  a  cultural  practice. — H.  D. 
Leicester  is  having  a  Japanese  garden  laid  out  in  one  of  its 
principal  parks.  It  Avill  contain  miniature  mountain  ranges, 
clumps  of  Bamboo,  the  dry  bed  of  a  mountain  torrent,  and  a 
lake  Avith  an  island  in  the  centre.  There  Avill  also  be  a  number 
of  stone  lanterns,  Avithout  Avhich  no  garden  in  Japan  Avould  bs 
considered  complete. 
The  Late  Mp.  Thomas  Smith. 
Mr.  Thomas  Smith,  of  Thomas  Smith  and  Sons,  the  Avell 
knoAA'ii  Rose  groAA'ers,  died  at  Blackpark,  Stranraer,  on  ^lay  18. 
For  over  half  a  century  Mr.  Smith  aa’es  one  of  the  stalAA’art 
figures  of  the  Rhins  of  Galloway,  and  for  integrity  and  upright¬ 
ness  Avas  highly  respected  by  his  numerous  acquaintances.  He 
Avas  famed  throughout  the  United  Kingdom  as  a  groAver  of 
Roses,  and  took  many  of  the  leading  aivards  at  the  principal 
horticultural  exhibitions.  Mr.  Smith  Avas  the  oldest  niiiAsery- 
man  in  Scotland,  and  Avas  in  his  eighty-fourth  year. 
The  British  Gardeners’  Association. 
Will  you  kindly  alloAV  me  to  inform  your  readers  Avho  are 
interested  in  the  proposal  to  form  an  association  of  professional 
gardeners  to  include  all  sections  of  horticulture,  that  the  pro¬ 
visional  committee  AA'ill  submit  a  definite  scheme  for  its  imme¬ 
diate  formation  at  the  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  E,ssex  Hall, 
Strand,  at  6  p.m.  on  June  1.  The  committee  have  had  assur¬ 
ances  of  support  from  many  gardeners  of  all  classes,  including 
nurserymen,  seedsmen,  park  superintendents,  &c.,  and  there  is 
noAV  every  prospect  that  the  association  Avill  be  a  success.  There 
is  seating  accommodation  for  600  only  in  the  Essex  Hall,  and 
as  it  is  hoped  that  the  proceedings  Avill  begin  at  six  o’clock, 
those  Avho  de,sire  to  get  a  seat  .should  be  in  time. — W.  Watson, 
Hon.  Sec.  Provisional  Committee. 
Notes  from  Newton  Wiearns,  N.B. 
May  is  noAV  more  than  half  gone,  and  has  not  been  an  ideal 
month.  With  the  exception  of  one  or  tAvo  days,  the  month  has 
been  exceptionally  cold.  Vegetation  on  the  aaUoIc  has  conse¬ 
quently  suffered.  HoAvever.  despite  the  coldness  and  Avet,  thbre 
has  been  an  entire  absence  of  May  frosts ;  and  should  the  present 
climatic  conditions  prevail  for  a  feAV  days  more,  Ave  may  look 
foi'Avard  to  heavy  crops  of  frnit  this  year.  The  Pears,  Plums, 
and  Cherries  are  in  full  bloom,  but  the  Apples  are  not  yet 
shoAving  their  beanty,  bnt  will  in  the  course  of  the  next  Aveek. 
The  bees  are  not  doing  much,  and  although  there  seems  to  be 
plenty  of  forage,  still  they  cannot  get  out  on  account  of  the 
coldness ;  hence  SAvarming  Avill  be  delayed.  The  birds  of  passage 
have  noAv  all  arrived,  the  cuckoo  appearing  on  the  10th  and 
the  SAvalloAAAS  on  the  13fch. — N.  R. 
Condition  of  the  Fruit  Market. 
The  fruit  season  is  commencing  in  real  earnest.  Dealers  at 
Covent  Garden  say  that  Avithin  a  feAv  days  London  Avill  be 
flooded  Avith  Cherries.  France,  Belgium,  and  Italy  all  have 
double  crops,  and  a  feAv  days  hence  Cherries  Avill  be  obtainable 
at  ridiculons  prices.  At  the  present  time  over  4,000  half-sieves 
are  being  handled  daily  at  Covent  Garden,  and  large  quantities 
go  direct  to  provincial  toAvns.  England  has  received  its  fir.st 
shipment  of  StraAvberries  from  France.  English  dealers  do  not 
Took  Avith  favonr  on  the  French  StraAvberry,  but  they  are 
expecting  great  things  from  the  English  crop,  Avhich  Avill  un¬ 
doubtedly  be  good  and  plentiful.  In  ten  days  or  a  fortnight 
large  consignments  Avill  be  arriving  from  CoriiAvall  and  South¬ 
ampton,  the  Kent  crops  folloAv  a  feAV  days  later'  and  soon  prices 
will  be  loAV.  The  Smith  Australian  and  Tasmanian  Apple  season 
is  at  its  zenith,  and  vast  quantities  are  being  imported.  Dealers 
complain  that  the  last  three  shipments  arrived  in  such  bad 
condition  that  there  has  been  a  loss  of  several  thousands  of 
pounds.  Thonsands  of  ca.ses  of  Murcia  and  Valencia  Oranges 
are  also  arriving,  and  luscious  Pineapples  from  EgyjAt  are  plenti¬ 
ful  and  cheap.  Asparagus  is  .still  being  imported  largely,  but 
the  English  crop  is  so  good  and  abundant  that  foreign  com¬ 
petition  is  materially  affected. 
