Mulching Bearing Fruit Trees

Thoro is no doubt now by our most intelligent horticulturiats about the practical advantages to be gained by innlching the 8urfaco of the orchard and fruit garden. This should be more generally practicod in fruit-producing districts, for it is tlie least expeiisive and mest eífectiye method of proteoting the fruit trees against the bad resnlts often following the frequent and sudden changes of temperature during the lummor and fall months, when the surface of tho grovind is left cxposed t8 the direct raya of the sun. Again, when the mulch ia put two or thxce inches in thickness, the surfaoe soil is constantly moist and loose, even when no rain falls for a term of everal week, and the trees or fruit receire no check for want of moisture aud food undor sucli circumstances. My method is to cultívate the spaoe batwcen the rows of trees in the orchard, using a Mimll one-horso plow and cultivator, running not more than two inches deep, duriug the early part of tho season. From tho lst to the 15th of July I have put on a heavy coating of salt hay, covering tho surface as far as the branches extended. Aftor this there is no more trouble witli weeds or grass. There may a few scattered ones start up, but they are easily deatroyed. Every fruit-grower Itnows that two or threo weeks before tho time of gathering the main erop of fruit, fine specimens are constautly falling off by Btrong winds. Whon tho greund is mulohcd the majority of such specimens are not bmi3ed or injured ibr sala. This saving alone I considor, pays mo for the trouble of mulching the orchard. Thoro Í9 only ono serious drawback to the opplioation of uiulch, that is, the danger of hay or straw getting on fire whon rondored diy by coutinual warm weather.