Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-11
THE HOME GARDENER
Practice the Beautyn of
PAPER MULCH

Just what the future Of paper mulch
I. Is to be in the home garden is still
q question, but it certainly looks at
the present time as if paper mulch is
en- up and coming proposition that
cannon be overlooked by the home
gardener, whether he grows flowers.
fruits or vegetables. just about year
ago DR.. L. H Flint of the Department
of Agriculture published his report:
Crop Plant Stimulation with Paper
Mulch" Technical Bulletin No. rs.
Since that time tests have been con-
Quoted in great many parts OF the
country, mostly with favorable results.
The greatest handicap has been the
high cost of the paper and also the
difficulty IN obtaining the right kind.
Both these handicaps are being over
come. With greater production, paper
Is becoming less costly and Washing
ton and vicinity is now served by local
distributors.
There are, according to DR.. Flint.
two general types Of mulch paper one
for annual crops in the field and the
other for perennial plants or for re-
peated use with ANIMALS. This latter
grade is the type adapted to the home
garden. The cost for 50X50 foot gar
den completely covered would range
near $12, but 1t must be recalled that
the paper may possibly be used for
the second season If handled properly.
Advantages aCcruing from the paper
are larger and earlier yields, less cult
vation and a chance for the vacationiSt
to go away for few weeks and not
have his garden go all to weeds.
The prospective user of mulching
paper shouldn't get it into his head
that paper will replace fertilizers or
do away with the need of preparing the
soil. Paper will increase the returns
from fertilizer and organic matter such
as green manures, but it doesn't supply
any plant food Of itself. Paper mulch
Is effective because of its warming eff
feet on the soil and in dry periods in
conserving moisture. There is also a
likely beneficial effect to the minute
plant and animal life in the soil DR..
Flint is working on these phases of the
subject and will have more to tell us
in the near future.
Some of the ways and means of using
mulch paper are indicated in the ac-
companying illustrations. Where mulch
paper Is used about ornamental plants
the unsightly effects may be alleviated
by strew1ng pine needles over the paper.
For tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, egg
plants and cauliflower, a successful
method 10 to lay down paper SO inches
wide and plant double row of plants
through Sits cut for the purpose. AS
seen in the picture the paper may be
held in place by a wire device shaped
like croQuet wicket or by simply plac-
ing stones or bricks on the edges.
Many interesting reports of success
with the mulch paper appear in the
garden magazines. One grower reports
fine success with muskmelons. There
are evidently very few crops that are
not benefited. but apparently seasonal
conditions modify success as might be
expected. In year of plenty of moist
ure and warm growing weather the
benefits are less than in cool, unfavor- |
able seasons. But in the home garden, |
where the suppression of weeds is al |
ways an acute problem there would |
never be year but that mulch would |
be acceptable. Many local gardeners
are giving mulch paper a trial in a |
more or less limited way. This is a |
senttble plan and one that is recon- |
mended by DR.. Flint and in fact, by
the paper manufacturers. Once the
value of the paper is established the |
rather high cost will be partly forgotten. |
As q matter of fact the paper will |
undoubtedly be much cheaper when t
larger quantities are used.
Flower Arrangement.
Those of us who have attended |
flower shows or, better yet. helped to |
arrange flower shows realize quite well |
that the arrangement of flowers to Sc
cure the maximum effect is indeed an !
art. We are pleased to publish the
following list of annotated titles pre-
pared for us by courtesy of the Public
Library of the District of Columbia, Dr.
George F. BowermaE IN charge:
Books on flower arrangement are few
In number. The Public Library Sug-
gests the following titles for those de-
string to study this fascinating art:
Japanese Flower Arrangement" by
Mary Averill.
The japanese have made a more
thorough study of the decorative value
of flowers than any other race. There
is no occasion which cannot be sug-
gested by the manner in which the
flowers are arranged" Miss Averill says
in her book in which she tells of some
of the fundamental principles of the
art
THE Flower Art of Japan" by Mary
Averill.
This book supplements and completes
the authors first book The choice of
flowers. short stem flowers. the arrange
ment Of them in shallow bowls. and the
proper use Of foliage are discussed
among other subjects.
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