Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES f. TRACEWELL.

will look better II painted or stained
green. Unless these plants (the large
ruffied) are staked, they will lop over,
as the expression has 1t, process gem
orally liked, since many persons plant
vines in window boxes for this express
purpose Perhaps the best box Is one
In which some Of the plants are al
lowed to lop, and others are staked up.
Commonly the plants In the middle OF
the box are staked. and those at each
end allowed to trail. Certainly nothing
is prettier than a flourishing window
box crammed with such plants.
It must be remembered that such a
condition demands a lot OF plant food,
and plenty Of water to make that nour-
ishment available. II these conditions
are met, a good window box will result.
The petunia is little susceptible. In our
experience to diseases or insects. We
cannot recall having to spray them,
although our window box is on the
north, where 1t receives at the most
not more than two hours of sunshine
a day, If that much. 1t is found that
most flowers In such situations suffer
more from bugs" than the same plants
in SUMMER situations. Most forms OF
insect life are lovers Of shade. For this
reason more insect-eaten leaves will be
found in shady places: but the petunia
seems to be very much OF an excep-
ton to the rule. 1t grows and blooms
better In the shade than in the sun. If
anything; 1t is the flower for every one,
everywhere. II we had to pick the most
"sure-fire" plant of all for the average
home garden, we believe that we would
give the petunia the preference 1t has
some faults. no doubt about that, chief
among which Is the way 1t lies down
during and after a rain. In few hours
it rights itself, however, SO that this Is
not very much of flaw, after all.
Perhaps there is no such thing as a
perfect plant, any more than there Is
a perfect neighbor. Perfection is, after
all. dubious quality. The faults and
failures of flowers are what endear
them, since human beings themselves
are filled with the same unacceptable
qualities. Flowers that never faded.
never slept. never wilted are only paint
ed blossoms. One may purchase very
neat Sprig-made of cloth--of japanese
cherry blossoms to place in vase. The
ladies put all sorts of imitation flowers
on their coats and dresses. These are.
at their best, merely pretty-they fool
no one and take the place of nothing
The real thing. being genuine, must
partake of the infallibility which besets
this moving world. There is stern
necessity about it which should move
every thinking person to forgive. II
there Is no rose without It's thorn, lis
s'black SPOT and insect enemies, how
can there be A human being without
various and sundry faults. some serious,
some petty? Yet commonly we go
through life as If expecting that those
we know ought to be perfect We were
told to be perfect, even as our Father
In Heaven is perfect. but 1t is most
difficult command.
Since perfection Is hardly possible in
flowers We must be content with the
ones we have. and OF these the petunia
deserves the popularity 1t enjoys. Pro-
crossing from the old-time magenta
blooms. the petunia of today has wide
color range and fills in at any place in
the home grounds where unfailling color
is wanted. We would like To see the
experiment tried of growing the giants
of which we have spoken against a
fence, so that they might be tied up
to 1t. In such an event they would form
a perfect screen. literally such, mucn
better than the four-o clock. or mar
vels of Peru. which are supposed to do
well In such planting. Such a method
of growing them would hold them up
right and would not permit hem to
sink to the ground during a rainstorn.
After ALL what the home owner wants
is surety of bloom and plenty OF bios
sons He can forego novelty and rarity
for those better qualities--better. that Is.
for the home grounds, The rare plant
has Its place, but that place is scarcely
the average dooryard, whether front or
back He who sticks to the plain,
everyday flowers that generations have
loved will receive his reward In beauty
and hardness and will come to realize
that these qualities, although common,
are very fine