Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-22

plants so fresh and tender that when the first
frost comes many roots viii be killed There
Is no doubt that considerable injury is
done to lawns by. unduly prolonging the
growing period of the grasses. Spraying acts
principally upon the top growth of tho plants,
and most OF the water is absorbed before it can
sink into the ground and reach the roots. AS
result the tops of the plants are stimulated,
while the roots lanyuish and weaken. Nearly
all lawns that are literally sprayed late in the
fall are thus poor and feeble in growth the
next year. no amount OF watering being able to
bring them up to their former standard. The
spray should be used only to keep the grass
from suffering from drought late in the season.
and not for stimulating the plants to undue
growth. IL autumn manuring of the lawn is
also practiced there is all the more reason for
not spraying the grasses late in the year. The
injury would only be increased TO add manure
to an already over-stimulated lawn. The plants
should be allowed to die at the proper time. and
then stable manure applied This should be well
decomposed, and no foreign seeds conveyed to
the lawn in it. Wood ashes is even better than
stable manure. for no seeds of weeds can posi-
bly, be introduced by using this fertilizer.
s. w. CHAMBERS.
The Flower Garden In Summer.
To have towering plants and shrubs through
the warm season one must needs take good
care OF them, and not trust too much to nature.
The fault with many is to think that in the
summer time everything will bloom and look
its best no matter how little attention is
bestowed upon it. But the garden of the ex-
perienced fower-lover will always look much
heater, prettier and fresher than the one pre-
sided over by an ignorant amateur TO saw
that weeds should be kept out OF the garden is
an unnecessary precaution, for all understand
the need OF such work. But there are other
little odd Jobs that can be done about the
Hover garden with satisfactory results. If the
blooming season Is to be prolonged all flowers
should be removed as soon they begin to
fade. The strength Of the plant that would go
to produce seed will then contribute toward
making new flowers. The embryo see d-vesssls
should be pinched off, and the plant will make
another effort to bud out in all such places.
10 secure flowers all attempts OF the plants to
produce seeds should be stopped
Bedding plants should be cut back frequently,
as TINS induces new growths. and the new
growths usually produce new flowers The
towering season can also be prolonged very
greatly by taking care to stir the top soil occa-
sionally with a small trowel. This allows the
air to circulate around the roots of the plants
and makes small passageways for the water to
trickle through. 1t plenty of water is then
supplied the plants there is no reason why fow-
ers should not be blooming in the garden until
late autumn. l have had ANIMALS towering
until the first frost of the year nipped them
Some plants, such as dahlies, tuberoses and
the tall varieties of the gladiolus, are easily
Diohen, anu they neeu some support other
than their frail stems. Stakes should be placed
alongside of them. and the stalks securely
fastened in an upright position. III the stakes
are cut from the woods when green they can
hardly be distinguished from the plants. The
plants should be tied to them with wide strips
of cloth. and not with string, as the latter is
liable to cut the plants. II dry season makes
the plants wilt IN spite of frequent watering. it
is well to make mulch around the plants.
This can be done by cutting green grass from
the lawn and spreading it close up around the
base of the plants. When it rots it can be dug
INTO the SOIL where it will act as a good ferti-
llzer. HELEN WHARDURDoN.