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Show PRINCIPLE OF SOIL MULCH Loose, Dry Material Covering Wet Land Retains Movement of Moisture to the Surface. (Hy mOKKSHOrt Kltr-Ert. rr.lora.1o AK-ruultuml AK-ruultuml Colli-r. A mulch la anything applied to the surface of the anil, primarily for I he purpose of preventing evaporation, and occasionally to keep down weed and prevent winter killing of plants. There are two general kinds of mulches: (1) Foreign material, aucb as straw, leaves, sawdust, manure, atubble and sand applied to the Bur-face; Bur-face; (2) Those composed of natural soil modified by tillage. One of this kind Is called "dust mulch" or dust blanket," and Is simply a layer of soil which has been loosened up and dried out. Mulches of foorelgn material play a very small part In general farming, but are extensively used In horticulture horticul-ture lu some localities. The principle of the mulch Is as follows: fol-lows: Ixjose, dry material covering wet soil retards the movement of water to tho surface, and keeps the dry, circulating air from contact with the. moist soil, thereby greatly reducing reduc-ing the loss of water. The finer the munch the looser It must bo to give good results. Ordl nary soil mulches two to three Inches deep are. usually most effacilve. When a mulch becomes wet Its effectiveness effective-ness Is gone until It dries out again. IJght rains and Irrigations on a mulched soil are worse than no appll-wullou appll-wullou of water, because they only wet and destroy the mulch and al low the witter from below to escape, without adding any to replaco It. Ad ditlonal expense In incurred by the cultivation which must be Immediately Immediate-ly started to restore the mulch. A (inutility of water retained by ctil tlvatlon Is of far greater value, even where water Is plentiful than thfl same, amount applied to the soil. One of the great principles of dry farming Is to keep a good mulch on the soil all the time to prevent loss of water by evaporation. |
