STONE MULCHING IN THE GARDEN
Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1949. FIRST EDITION. Hardcover. 8vo (9.25" x 6"), clothbound, burnished-red boards, with encircled graphic to front, and black lettering to spine. Light rubbing to extremities. and two bumped corners, one normal drop-result, the other quite slight. Peach-colored endpapers. Binding solid. Black and white photographs. 164 pp.
Part One chapters include a handful of general topics -- Stone Mulches under Trees, Farming with Stones, Reasons, the Stone Vegetable Garden. Part Two covers a series of articles by practicioners and experts with such specific examples of plantings and quality/quantity of resultant yields asan orchard, a lemon tree, baby orange tree, hedgerow, strawberries, and even fuchsias. Very Good. Item #73453
Calling rocks, the "parents of the soil" author/publisher/master gardener-mulcher Rodale cites and discusses sound reasons for mulching with stones. These include the fact that "a rock-mulch does not permit grass or weeds to spring up in its domain, its conservation of water (with softer rocks, an actual sponge-like effect can occur, modulating an even release of moisture), aeration of the earth, the dark, moist atmosphere beneath rocks attracting bacteria, earthworms and insects; windbreak; provider of minerals; heat retention and radiation, etc.
Price: $95.00