Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-19
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

but If che is particularly interested they
may be saved for planting next Spring,
Peony foliage should not be cut off
at the earth until 1t dies natural
death. To destroy it now is to ruin
the chance of the plant to bloom in the
Spring. After all. there is no more
beautiful flower than the peony.. Even
the old Official sort grown In grand
mothers garden is still a gorgeous
thing. This Is the season of the dahlia !,
it is glorious flower. 1t Is question:
able, however. whether the dahlia be-
gins to compare with the peony for
sheer beauty. There is something about
the dahlia that reminds one of the
zinnia, while great peony recalls a
rose. and between the zinnia and the
rose there Is no comparison. 1t Is inter-
esting to note that the zinnia was
named after DR.. linn. German sci
enlist. and the dahlia after DR.. Dahl, a
Norwegian.
Aceratum plants. even petunia>. may
be dug up at the first touch of really
cold weather and taken into the house,
in pots which crowd the roots rather
than give them too much space. Grow
ing plants indoors in modern homes is
not as easy as It was in the old days,
when even the homes of the well-to-do
had cold rooms. Modern heating dries
the air and perhaps 1t is more ques-
ton Of moist air than the room tenn
perature. Devices to keep the air moist
ought to help in flower growing during
Winter in the average home which
boasts no conservatory other than pot
or flower box in window.
When vines of all sorts, including
the omniprescnt morning-glory, begin
to wither they might as we'll be re-
moved. We have heard that some
communities are making the removal
of climbing roses compulsory, since they
are said to harbor various spores which
infest commercial crops. Perhaps this
ban might be- extended with benefit to
all communities. especially in regard to
the common honeysuckles and other
climbing vines which are rampant
growers, and especially such restric-
ton might 60 we'll in cities where small
grounds throw vines OF all types close
to dwellings Luxuriant vine growths.
while pleasing in some ways, are in
sanitary. Most owners seem to work
up positive affection for them and
find them as difficult to trim as juniors
first curls.
Hibiscus and all other shrubby plants
may be allowed to take care of them
selves This applies especially to the
altheas and the better known shrubs.
such as the spireas and all the types of
evergreens found in foundation plant
ings around the average home. The
hibiscus canes may be left all Winter
and cut off next March. Other shrubs
ere not to be pruned until after bloom
ing
Reseeding of bare spots in the grass
may be done advantageously at this
time. September Is held by some eX-
perts to be the ideal time of the year
to SOW grass seed. Usually in this CHI
mate it is November or even December
before A serious frost threatens the
nev grass An even easier and better
way to fill in bare spots. II they are
n too large, is to get some good sod
and lamp 1t in.
The general cleanup of the home
grounds is in order from now on, es-
pecially when falling leaves from the
trees tend to clutter up place. While
drifts of leaves may be picturesque.
they are untidy, and we believe that
the salvation of the average small city
or suburban place is neatneSs. Just as
the rooms of small house always look
more disordered. In disorder. than those
of a mansion when In a similar state
so the untidiness Of small yard. all
of which greets the eye of the heholder
at once, is far greater than that of an
estate, where there is so much to see
that even untidiness Is lost in the gen.
eral effect Above all, plan for next
year at this time. Many garden mis-
takes may be noted at this time which
will be overlooked next Spring.