Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-07
OPERATIONS
IN THE GARDEN

The gardener cannot accomplish much
in the actual growing OF plants during
this month. In fact. out-of-door work is
almost at q standstill. though q great
deal Of progress can be made early in
the month with pruning that was not
done in the fall. Grapes, currants.
gooseberries and shrubs should receive
attention. But remember not to prune
during hard frosts.
Most work can be done in the window
garden during March. The Christmas
aEalea and poinsettia will respond to
careful treatment and reward you with
plants to become dried out even after the
blossoms have faded. In the spring they
can be repotted in rich soil and carefully
watered during the summer.
The Christmas bulbs, too will repay
any attention given them at this season.
Keep the plants in light, cool place. not
only till the spent flower stems wither.
but so long as they have leaves. Given
light and water. the leaves will rebuild
the bulbs. By the first Of April they
can be removed from the pots and with
out breaking the earth ball be placed in
the garden. In June take them up and
with the earth cleaned from them they
may be stored up till October or Novem-
garden to make a fine outdoor showing
for the following spring.
Old fuchsias may be brought out OF the
cellar where they were stored last fall
on new growth they can be repotted.
The home gardener can now make cut
tings for the outdoor flower garden ge-
raniuns and heliotrope as well as fuchsias
will bloom early in the summer IL started
right. In geraniums select the half-ripe
wood for slips; this Is neither too tough
for the tiny rootlets nor IL It 80 full Of
sap that It will rot when put into the
ground. Fuchaas send forth many new
shoots when brought again into the light,
and these make the most satisfactory
cuttings.
They will thrive best If planted in q
six-inch pot which has been specially
prepared for them. Fill 1t half full Of
moss. and over this put the sand mixed
with charcoal dust Plant the cuttings
close together and keep them moist and
warm, make the earth firm around them
and never allow the plants to dry out
This is the secret Of successfully grow
ing plants from slips:
The seedsmen's catalogues are ready
this month and 1t Is well to send for as
to study them carefully, making selec-
tions for spring sowing. and can become
acquainted with the seasons novelties.
1t Is well to try few of these. both in
flowers and vegetables, but do not trust
your entire garden to them.
Place your reliance upon the old-time
favorites or such recent species as have
proven themselves worthy under your
special conditions. Every gardener.
though, should try some novelties each
year, and once In a while a variety that
surpasses everything grown before will
be found. All the standard varieties Of
today were once novelties. themselves.
Now is the time to make the plan of
your garden. A plot which is planned
before planting Is more nearly complete
than one which has been planted hit or
miss. Planning enables one to arrange
for much better succession now than
there will be later on. and the ultimate
result of work done now Is economy of
time, money and effort. Draw the plan
on a rather large scale, so that each row
in the vegetable garden can be marked
and a full space left for writing the
names Of the various flowers. in planning
for vegetables 1t is best to have the space
to be cultivated longer than 1t is wide.
This saves time in turning at the ends OF
rows.
In arranging the flower garden remem-
Der that the trees about the house have
no leaves now and the foliage may not
be thick when the seeds are put in. but
before the flowers have grown and BIOS
somed the trees will be in full leaf. pre-
venting the flowers from reaching ma
turity.
Almost all flowers require full sunlight
at least part OF the day, the morning sun
being more advantageous than the after
noon. If the garden Is in damp spot,
plan to grow ferns and the shade-loving
flowers.