, SUGGESTIONS FOR PAPER-MULCH TRIALS 5 
° 4 
of suitable size were made in the center for single-stalk plants, and 
round holes with a slit to the outside were made for those with bushy 
tops. These sections were placed about the plants at the time they 
were set out in the permanent field planting, all outer edges being 
depressed and embedded in soil to insure protection against wind 
damage. For larger plants two sections 3 by 6 feet were cut from 
36-inch rolls of type-B paper, each section was notched at the center 
of one long edge, and the two were overlapped slightly about the 
plant stock. All outer edges were covered with sou, and bricks, 
stones, or sods were placed on the overlaps. The type-B papers as 
above used were left in place until disintegration had destroyed their 
effectiveness. 
The particular desirability of a single application of paper lasting 
several years as compared with an annual application of paper last- 
ing for the growing season only is-complicated at present by the lack 
of information regarding the influence of paper mulch during the 
winter season. The application of paper to well-developed orchard 
trees did not appear to be of genera] economic promise. 
In the second 
method, as apphed ee ad ae 
to the growing of ee ee oe 
fs Sng Ro VY ee eens 
such crops as =. 7" eee 
tomatoes, peppers, == Pee 
] NS v ae 
eggplant, cabbage, od eee 
and tobacco, the Nee 
type-A paper 36: ie 
inch id FicguRE 2.—Method of applying extended strips of paper 
inenes wide Was ruich, as used with various crops in field culture 
unrolled over pre- 
pared soil, and the edges covered with soil. The paper-covered area 
was slightly ridged so that the heat-absorbing value of the paper 
would not be reduced by any deposition of soil on top of the paper 
-by subsequent rains. This method with type-B paper is the one used 
with pineapples, and the machine laying of the paper in such a way 
does not involve any mechanical difficulty. The young plants were 
set through cross-shaped slits, or in some instances suitable-sized 
disks of paper were removed. Double staggered rows of plants were 
set through at the desired intervals. The openings made for the 
plants also facilitated the entrance of rain water. The machine 
preparation of the slits may be readily accomplished at the factory 
if continued trials indicate the desirability of extensive application. 
With this method the middles required machine weeding. I¢ is quite 
possible that if wider papers were available more than two rows of 
plants could be grown to greater advantage. For the present, how- 
ever, the double-row system appears best for trials of the above-listed 
erops when hand set in the field. This method is shown in Figure 2. 
With strawberries a similar system was used, a type-A paper be- 
ing used in the Southern States, where this plant is grown as an 
ge and 2 type-B paper being used elsewhere. Since the paper 
nds to prevent the establishment of runner plants, all plants de- 
sired were set out when the bed was made. 
In the second method, as applied to the growing of such crops as 
sweet corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, and tobacco, when the 
eventual adaptation of the system to machine planting was projected 
