Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-20
rr.m the American Asriculturist


NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Kinds Of VeSe.
tables and Flowers to Choose.
Prom the American AGricuturist
LATE FLOWER GARDENING.
In many localities 1t is the custom to move
the first Of May, and this is yearly extending.
One may come into possession of q place,
whether village front yard, or a larger piece Of
ground. and find that the previous occupant has
done nothing towards beautifying it. We will
assume that one has to do with ordinary vii
lage front yard, and the same hints will apply to
larger places. The first thing Of all to be con-
sidered is the lawn. by which we mean any piece
of grass kept for ornament, whatever may be
its size. The lawn by itself, if well kept Is an
ornament to any place; it is like the carpet in
the house the setting of whatever furnishing
may be placed upon it. If the grass is thin.
scratch the surface wherever it can be reached,
with sharp rake. and SOW on grass seed In
light soils sow Red-tOp; In heavy ones, Blue
grass or June-grass-twO names for the same
grass and the prefix Kentucky" is often put
before Bluegrass If there are large bare
places. ii may be easier to lay turf. but in all the
gardening, first secure good lawn. 1t may be
that beds have already been made In the lawn;
If so. it is well to occupy them, for the present
season at least. most effective plant for sum-
mer decoration is the Castor Oil plant. good in
its common form. and better in what the seeds
mcn sell as Riciaus sdregt1aeus single plant
may be very effective. and if the space will allow
group may be better. They are easily raised
from seeds. 1t is not too late to get the roots
(rhizomes) of Cannas and a most effective bed
maybe made of these, placing the taller kinds
in the center and the lOwer-grOwing at the
margin. A pleasing bed may be made by plant
in9 it with COleus-the varieties are now almost
without number, but the old velvet COleus &C.
Verschatehi,) is excellent. If expense is con-
sidered. then snowy bed may be made by SOW
ing packet of mixed seed of PhlO1 Drum
Ds0hta-brght and lasting. If the veranda Is
not provided with climbers. plant q few roots of
the Madeira Vine, and the seeds of some of the
quick-grOwing climbers, such as the Hyacinth
Bean. LOphO Spernum, Morning Glories, some
OF the better sorts being really beautiful. One,
with little thought given to selecting quick
growing and effective plants even though he
must begin as late as the first week In May, can
soon put new aspect upon run down and
neglected place. and make ii q source of pleas
ure to himself and his neighbOrs.
WILD FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN
There are many real lovers Of flowers, who
have the first requisite for garden-the land
who let the surroundings Of the house fall into
neglect. merely because they cannot afford to
bug plants with which to ornament them. II is
possible Ia most parts of the country, to make q
beautiful garden without the OUTLAY Of a dollar
for plants Could the persons referred to visit
European gardens, or even see European cata-
logues, they would find that the common plants
around them are elsewhere highly valued
Aside from the trees there are MANY shrubs
that may find place in the garden, and host
OF herbaceous plants from which proper selec-
ton Will keep garden gay the whole growing
season Take our common lilies for example
Aside from the far west, there are three COM
mon in the states east of the Mississippi; two of
them are low, not over three feet high, and
common in meadows. while the taller Superb
Lily, in rich swampy places. is or feet high
hxDa mid <,fI 30 N
If one should make a collection of these native
lilies. he would be surprised at the great variety
they present among themselves not only i'm the
size and number of the flowers. but especially in
their col0ring One could rake collection of
these native lilies. and by careful selection find
great variety among them, so with many other
native plants, which will amply repay the care
that may De given to Them and one can easily
stock garden from the woods and fields 1t is
late now TO take up most wild plants but it Is
well TO mark all attractive specimens for future
removal. For marking shrubs for removal to
the garden it in well to carry in the pocket
piece OF cotton CLOTH and tie strip to any de
slrabie plant; when the leaves have fallen the
ends OF the strip of cloth may be seen at long
distance, and indicate the plant.
WEEDS IN LAWNS AND ELSEWHERE.
We are often asked what will destroy partic-
ufar weed. We have just at hand a letter asking
how to get rid of Chick-weed in q lawn. This
10 not often lawn-weed and as It thriyes only
In damp Soils Its occurrence in lawn shows that
the soil is too wet. land that draining is the
proper remedy. Much future trouble would be
saved If cultivatOrs, whether gardeners or farm
ers. would learn to recognize weeds in their
young state. That worst Of weeds. the Canada
Thistle. In its infancy may be uprOoted by the
rake Let 1t go for q year or two. and the whole
force OF the farm cannot get rid of it, The adj
vantage OF dispOsng CT weeds when they are
young, is not fully appreciated the rake used
seedlings. will save much future work with the
hoe On the same principle. the use of a smooth
ing harrow, which is really large rake does
good service in the corn and potato fields; de-
stroyng the weeds, while the crop plants are
TOO firmly fixed to be disturbed by it. In the
absence or this, common light harrow run
along the rows just as the potatoes break ground.
or nave made but little growth. will greatly
help The growth Of the most troublesome
weed. Is governed by the same law which con-
troll that OF the most valued plants, and there is
nothing that can be applied to the soil to kill the
one that will not injure the other.
THE LAWN MOWER.
There is one question which we can not an
ever; that is, (Which Is the best Lawn Mower
OF late years We have not seen a poor one.
and there are several 30 nearly perfect, that it
can not be difficult to select one that will do
good service Lawn mowers are now offered at
such moderate prices. that one can not afford to
NOV grass plot, OF even moderate size, in the
Old way, with scythe and sickle. The moving
or the lawn is so easily done with the mower
that there Is danger that 1t may be used to ex-
Cess In spring and early summer. while the
grass Is growing, it can hardly be used too often
but as hot weather comes on and the growth of
grass is checked. the cutting should be less fire.
quent- 1t is well to bear in mind that grass is
governed In its growth by the same laws that
hold with all other plants. The amount Of root
growth depends upon that of the stems and
leaves A certain amount Of cutting of the fol-
age tends to Increase its vigOr and at the same
time there will be a corresponding growth of
root But we may cut too much, especially in hot
weather-and weaken both top and root growth
The only general rule that can be given is when
the grass Is growing rapidly, NOW often; when
hot weather checks the growth, NOW less fire.
quently; do not follow any set time for moving.
but be governed by the condition Of the grass
md the weather.
BARE PLACES IN LAWNS
BY lawn" We mean any piece ofgrass kept sole
y for ornamental purposes. 1t may be merely
nont-yard, or on large places 1t may include
many acres These NAV from soma eouso sl,ox,