Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-08

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dream in and to remember.
Beautiful Climbers.
| Early Spring Is the best planting
| time for clematis. other hardy climb
| ing plants also may be put in at this
! season. An important point to con-
slider is the nutriment which such
permanent plant will obtain. The soil
very often is poor just below wall
or fence. To discover it's condition
deep digging is necessary, at which
time stones, pieces of wood or other
rubbish should be removed. Some
good soil should be added If necessary,
and in any case plenty of old manure
should be mixed through the whole
depth Every climber should be given
at least one cubic yard OF space for
its roots. There is a wealth of good
things suitable for such planting.
Even the ivies are remarkable for
their variety and beauty, as visit TO
any well stocked nursery will prove.
Purple. gold silver bronze, as we'll as
green, are natural ivy colors. Vir-
ginia creepers, rambler roses white
and yellow jasmines, honeysuckle and
wistaria are good for the purpose.
These climbers are useful for cover
ing blank spaces on walls and trellises
for season. Giant nasturtiums and
the scarlet runner bean can be used
for this purpose. Nasturtiums are
very decorative when planted against
bank or low wall over which they
droop.
A point to be kept in mind is the
special need of plants growing against
walls and fences. These never get the
same quantity of natural moisture as
those which grow in open situations,
and they should be watched and at
tended to in this respect with particu.
lar care in dry weather. A mulch of
leaf litter, grass cuttings or other
suitable material such as one puts
along rows of sweet peas and around
the roses when the days turn hot, in
order to help the soil to retain its
moisture should be laid over the roots
Of these wall and fence plants after
they have been given good deep
drink.
When Soil Is Poor.
IL the soil you have is not of the
best, your choice of flowers will be
limited. but there are a number OF
beautiful garden flowers that grow
well in thin and sandy soil. The
portulaca is one of them. This bright.
colored, lowgrowing annual will
thrive in the hottest and driest corner
of the garden and in rather poor soil.
1t can be transplanted when in full
bloom and when once started it sows
itself New plants. come up every
year.
Do not plant nasturtiums where
the ground is too rich or they will
get a dense growth of foliage but few
flowers. Give them direct sunlight
and press the soil down firmly. II
the soil is very sandy. mix in little
well-rotted manure at the start to
prevent the new plants from flower
ing before they have made sufficient
leaf growth.
1t is the same with godetias as
with nasturtiums. In rich soil they
make a rank growth, but produce
few blossoms. In poor soil they pro-
duce o profusion of flowers for
weeks. Godetias win grow anywhere,
but they like a little shade at noon.
Marigolds thrive in soil that is
comparatively poor, although they
are more particular than the portu-
lacas. They are especially desirable
in the garden because they continue
to display their cheerful orange and
yellow flowers when almost every
thing else has been cut down by
frost. Iney also are mowers tfat SOW
themselves when once established.
Sandy soil suits annual peoples
very well if the drainage is good and
there is no lack of sunlight. If you
plant California peoples thickly and
allow them to climb through and
over a little pile of brush, they will
make "a glorious display and the sill
yer foliage will soon hide the sup
port. Zinnias flourish in poor soil
and are satisfied with either sun or
shade, and get along with very little
water.
Valuable for Cutting.
Certain flowers ought to be grown
for their value as cut blossoms. such
as sweet peas, peoples. godetias,
double peonies, gladioli. marguerites.
single chrysanthemums snapdrag-
ons, columbines, nasturtiums, pinks,
marigolds and many others. Too
little attention is. given to the house,
hold needs, with the result that
vases of flowers very unsuitable for
cutting for the table are frequently
seen. 1t should be possible, in even
a small garden, to raise a variety of
flowers of decorative value in cut
state to last throughout the season.