Show ill ell MULCH SMOTHERS OUT W WEEDS EDS frequently means Differ difference enca between plenty of berries and norio none at all from raspberry a good mulch means the difference between plenty of berries and none at all from the raspberries rasp berries and blackberries it pays to mulch both for the sake of conserving moisture and the destruction of weeds the briers should be well mulched during the spring and summer bummer up till the fealt matures after that the mulch may be ie removed moved since we desire a well ripened lot of canes for or the next seasons crop it tho the mulch Is ol of straw it should be raked out and hauled away it if the dust mulch has been used cultivation should cease as aa soon as the new shoots have reached the proper height it Is practically impossible of 0 late lata years to produce marketable maike table fruit without some good mulch either cither ol at dust or straw the straw smothers out the weeds and grass thus giving the berries a chance the dust mulch Is the more practical of the two systems the dust mulch can be quickly prepared after each shower it allows the evaporation of 0 all surplus moisture in times of two much rainfall it can be the more easily done dona away with at the end of the growing season and gives the better chanco chance to apply fertilizers in the shape of compost or commercial brands the fertilizer Is easily worked into the soil and la Is thus the more easily assimilated by the plant tho the straw mulch once applied must be kept up since it forces the feeding roots to the surface when removed as it should be each tall fall they are left exposed to the sun |