Evening star., 1925-12-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

There is flame In the garden
Three feet high. and almost as broad.
these interesting plants are now In
their maturity. having outlasted the
cosmos and the chrysanthemums.
They are OF a dark, dull red, beau
tiful to look at. and Of such a shade.
as to blend we'll with brick. being
especially effective against small ever
green shrubs, whose green acts as
foil 10 them.
The kochia. known also az annual
evergreen and Mexican FIRE bush. de-
pends entirely upon its symmetry and
changing color for It's prestige, its
small red flowers being lost in the
general effect Of the plant.
Now it stands glowing. rivaling the
red oak. n tender thing. yet with
sturdy main stalks. its delicate foliage
bowed down by every rain, yet quite
able to last into the new year and be-
yond. If in any sort OF sheltered
nook.
This combination OF frasility with
strength makes 1t one of the most in
teresting OF the garden plants. one
that deserves to be known and plant
ed a great deal more than II is. al
though much missionary work has
been done in its behalf.
Perhaps this is as good a season as
any for the home gardener to make
up his mind to plant kochia next
Spring, so that he may have Its green
beauty all Summer and it's red glory
next Autumn and Winter.
X
From the time the tender seeding
cracks the soil to its final whitening
in Winter. the kOchia is a plant Of
surpa ssing interest, both 10 the plant.
er and the mere observer. Spec
tators who do not know the name OF
one flower from another are almost
sure 10 ask. What Is that"
Here Is a good floral joke. n true
one. that was pulled" in my back
ward last Summer. A friend looked
at the symmetrical green bush and
asked the usual question, What is
that?" | replied. Why. that's The
kochia." He replied. solemnly, "Oh.
Jewish plant
did not disabuse his mind. as that
great race has many things to be
proud OF. and the kochia might Just
as we'll be one OF them. Az 4 matter
OF fact. this annual evergreen came
from far south. but has undergone
much refinement at the hands OF
American horticulturists
In It's beginning one would never
think II would finally come out as fine
as It does given half chance and the
sun which il needs. The kochia is
not thing TO plant in the shade or
semi-shade. 1t must have sun on all
sides Of il to grow 10 the round, per.
feet shape which is half its charm.
Here is a bush that never needs
trimming by the hand Of man, this
work being done by the Creator. who
evidently has combined in the curious
looking seed the symmetry that pleases
our eye with the power of growth
characteristic of the plant world.
Perfectly grown. the kochia is more
shapely than any little evergreen you
ever saw. slightly taller than it Is
broad. the feathery sprays massing in
intricate fashion 10 form an almost
perfect globe.
The bush takes several months to
Get under way. IT is going to last
long time. for an annual. therefore.
can afford 10 spend a longer space
than usual in growing. Its develop
takes Is or 81 years or so to grow
into full stature.
There is a point. in the growth Of
the kochia. when the plant appears
hopeless. 1t is somewhat spindly. and
its color is miserable pale. pea green.
At this stage the unwise gardener will