Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

| them, his trees in place, or his shrub:
sitting neatly around the yard. Sup.
pose the very garden itself would go ir
revolt, because it did not get enough
food, and decide to migrate?
Happily, the gardener is not troubled
by such hayward tendencies on the par
OF his plant life. 1t is rooted in the
soil; where 1t is put. it stays, in mosi
cases.
Perhaps amateur gardeners do moi
ordinarily think how much of theil
pleasure in their plants Is due to this
very fact. that the growing green things
cannot up and leave as it suits them
In TACT, plants have no minds OF
their own, and are but living reactions
TO universal will. This will has been
the speculation Of man since the be-
ginning. and probably will continue tc
De until the end, If there is an end
Lnere seems to be an end to everything
eise, !nere might well be one to this.
II Is because the plant answers this
nlgn call without question that it re-
mains an interesting object in a world
wnere tnere Is SO much questioning. II
cannot be called a slave to routine be-
cause II knows no alternative. It's orbit
mas been fixed from the beginning
1nere are no ambitious plants.
X X r.
IL Is the duty, therefore, of every one
interested in horticulture to bridge ovel
Tor the plants the space between Their
lacK OF consciousness and mans under
standing, such as it Is.
Inc plant cannot know when It needs
wateT IL SIMPLY hourishes or does not
Hourisn. 1t Is for the gardener to watch
carefully, because he possesses the
power Of watching, and to supply his
plants with the drink they need. This
moisture Will be more than drink alone
ior plant life receives its nourishment
IN solution. Plants live, in essence. on
SOUP. Some of them can get along
witnouL water, but nearly ali of them
demand IL, and in large quantities.
Inc question of food elements them
selves looms even larger as a point
the so-called cultivated plant. II has
neen found that cultivation. by itself,
wont 40. Gardeners everywhere are
coming more and more to question the
ancient ways, and In this regard are
reaching the conclusion that cultiva-
tlon, or stirring the soil. or mulchinp.
Is almost waste of time, with the
exception OF controlline weed growth.
many alert gardeners discovered this
a long time ago, but were afraid to
VOICE tner opinion, in the face of the
NAAo oAlu WTlUGIS, WHO so
sCrenuous!y spoke up for the holy rite
OF mulching
It Is water and food and intelligent
care which cultivated plants need.
care includes watchfulness against
pests and fungus enemies. It is here.
eVe9 more than in the matters of
proper feeding and watering, that the
human being must be the brains of the
plants, must assume conscious control
in their behalf and take pride in his
lntellgence. which is denied these
other growing things.
The plants beneath the porch can
do but one thing-push toward the
hight; but the home gardener can be
little god to his plants, If he is in
terested enough in them, as living
things, to help them on their Wav.
The motive Of beauty and the influence
OF PRIDE are not enough, at least they
are not all; there is this other un-
Outstanding, that these shrubs, these
pushes, cannot think for themselves,
ana That the gardener must think for
them, to the best of his ability.
This is the third great factor in gar
dening, one which even transcends
Nature, for she, ruthless mother. is
willing to put living things ION their
own, whereas the kindly interest of a
civilized being extends to a far-reach-
ing care sometimes approaching a
futile business.
This arises because human nature is
not perfect and does not seem to be
able to put itself in the role of ad-
wiser without becoming insister, too. If
those plants beneath that porch could
talk, no doubt the succeeding honey
Suckle vine would say to the poor sas-
safras tree, Lean over more to the
west, you fool. You'll never get any
place by going straight up"