The New Student's Reference Work/Mulch

Mulch (mŭlch) is a covering of straw, leaves, tan-bark, manure etc., placed on the soil that is not easily cultivated, to prevent loss of moisture by evaporation, as in closely planted orchards. Soil-mulch is a layer of soil loosened by raking, harrowing or shallow plowing, to break up capillarity (q. v.).