ATLANTIAN GROWS PLANTS WITHOUT WATER

One gardener in Atlanta isn't worrying about the drought. He doesn't even water his garden. But it flourishes anyway. The secret is his mulch of cotton motes, which holds moisture in the ground. Dr. E.O. Silveus who will be 80 years old this month has built nearly two acres of garden paradise. On two terraces he has planted a myriad of fruit trees and vegetables--rare for this time of year. He is proud of his giant okra, which he calls white lightning, and he takes good care of his seven dwarf fruit trees, two pears, four apples and one plum. He also grows raspberries, blueberries, grapes and strawberries. However he is having bird trouble....too many birds but not enough berries....for a pie. Outstanding in the garden is a 1-year old Chinese Chestnut tree. And the unbelievable thing about this tree is that it is immune to blight. Besides other garden vegetables, corn, beans, butter beans, cabbage, peppers, broccoli and tomatoes...., Dr Silveus is cultivating cantaloupes and sage. He also has Juba [?] or Zysaphus which he claims the Turks used when they wanted to fatten their wives. They simply mixed the crushed bark with sugar and used the result as food. In the flower line, Dr. Silveus boasts old fashioned blossoms, a Mexican sunflower, zinnias dot the lawn of Zoyzia Martrella Grass. Dr. Silveus' pride, however, is a potted orchid plant, around which he has arranged a grass cloth which holds in needed moisture. In his machine shop, Dr. Silveus has a variety of implements to aid him with his plants. He has constructed a bean sheller from an old wringer and a washing machine engine. On the spray side, he has an electric spray to use on his trees and a specially rigged watering can for his vegetables. For harassed gardeners he suggests mulch once a year, a handful of salt in runways to prevent mold and a tetraethyl pyrophosphate to smother nosey bugs, and he invites gardeners to visit him. Coming to Atlanta from Ashtabula Ohio, Dr. Silveus ran an optical company for 21 years. He is now retired.

Thanks to Doris Silvieus for sharing the story of this interesting man with us.