Evening star., 1932-07-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
Man proposes, but God disposes.

Man proposes, but God disposes." i"
goes the saying.
Robert Burns had few words to say
about "the best laid plans Of mice and
men"
All such aphorisms are illustrated In
humble ways, as we'll as in mighty.
One has but to start water lily pool
in his back yard to find out that Ma
ture often steps in and alters things.
Especially If one thoughtlessly plants
a cattai, Typha latifolia.
This Is a variety of bulrush, famous
since ancient times. still very much In
vogue for use in making rush seats and
SO on.
| When a plant of 1t is placed in the
lily pool, 1t Is rather innocent look
ing affair, with several tall slender
sword-like leaves, resembling those OF
the iris or giadiolus.
1t is just a bog plant like any other
bog plant, the beginning water car
dener, as he calls himself with pride,
reasons with himself.
There Is no reason to be afraid OF
the cattail, for surely water lily can
take care of itself.
Well, maybe it can, in its native
pond, but 1t Is far cry from natural
pond, with surface many square yards
in extent, and the limited circumfer-
ence of the small artificial pool in q
garden.
The cattail grows by leaps and
bounds.
The gardening heart rejoices in it
despite its invasion of the remainder OF
the pool, and especially of that portion
Cf n Ieejed fn the Uafer 1ilV
In two months the water lily pool
becomes a cattail pool.
Even the sturdiest advocate of lilies
in all their glorious beauty, is forced to
admit that, in the survival of the flt-
test, the cattail is a true feline.
Although this pool was planned from
the beginning with water lily in mind
the cattail has demonstrated its eff
cheney by deliberately hogging the nu-
triment which was buried beneath the
sand.
Placed in the first place at one ex-
treme side of the pool. the Typha lati-
folia proceeded to send up several long
green leaves, more nearly resembling
those of the japanese iris than any
thing else, to a height of nearly feet
This was not enough, however.
No sooner was this done than the
uSIl W Idhc pOSoCoSlOll vi
the entire pool by right of its immense
root system.
The water gardener will know about
that root system next time and make
allowances for it.
One has to learn by experience. how
ever. in a great many cases. There i;
great deal of question whether there
is any other sort of knowledge which is
as good.
The next time he decides to plant q
cattail, he sees, the best thing to dc
would be to C0ntlne Its roots In pol
and then place the pot in the pool.
This strategy ought to put a severe
qUietuS on the growth Of any ordinary
cattail.
AS it is. with the entire pool bed al
its service. the one specimen of cat
tail in the miniature garden has grown
to quartet.
The new trio is the result Of one
weeks growth.
Even as each shoot or collection OF
leaves, started from the bottom, 1t wa.
round and compact, almost as sturdy az
the parent plant.
Within a week a height OF almost
feet had been attained.
Plenty of water, plenty Of sunshine
what more could Typha latifolia want
evidently?
Nothing" fairly shouted the happy
plant.
1t was growing all over, much to the
chagrin of the water lily, whose leaves
occupying the center of the pool, were