Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEEELL.

Augusta Victoria. These bushes were
planted in December on the day pre-
ceding the first freeze of the season.
All Winter they looked like nothing
more than sticks in the ground. With
the first touch of warmth. however.
they sprang to life and have done
splendidly, everything taken into con-
sideration. Perhaps these words may
enhearten some timid one to plant rose
bushes this Fall. Surely there is no
flower more desirable, despite the trou-
, bles one may have with the bushes.
Heavy rains of August brought about
conditions which favored the ubiquitous
black-Spot, in many ways the worst
and hardest to combat of all the rose
diseases and plaques. Granted a nor
mally warm Autumn, however. there
will be plenty of time for stricken
bushes to put forth new leaves to save
the roots.
This Summer we made our first per-
sonal bow to ageratum, that favorite
of Mrs. Frances King and other
famous gardeners. Of this flower Prof
Bailey says in his The Gardener:
Composite family. Half-hardy an
nuals, used as border plants, for ribbon
| bedding, for mass effect, or in mixed
beds of geraniums. coleuseS and other
plants, native of tropical America.
Plants are erect and branching, 2 to 3
feet, but are often sheared back there
are dwarf compact varieties: flowers
blue or white. freely produced.
Seeds terminate readily, but as the
plant is commonly wanted in flower
when planted out, it is usual to sow the
seed in boxes placed in hotbeds or VIM
doWS in March, TRANSFORMING the seed
lingS to small .oxes or pots and grow
ing the young plants on until the first
Of May, when they may be planted out.
Pieces of young wood root very easily,
and the gardener usually increases his
stock by cuttings. Plants may be taken
up in the Fall and set in the house for
Winter bloom: cut them back severely
The curious blue burr-like flowers
appeal through their very lack OF the
spectacular. The foliage is thick and
very green and blends well with almost
any other flower. Those who wish to
experiment with this flower next Spring
should remember that it makes dense.
heavy bush, not at all after the manner
Of the rose moss or even petunia. 1t
must be given plenty OF room.
X X X x
n pdShCt VI HliAIA PCtuAAe'o IulAIIo
out to be mostly white, pleasing
eventuality, since they proved to be
very beautiful the plants possessing
an upright habit of growth quite diff
ferent from the favorite Rosy Morn.
These white blossoms in the border
are held up, the flowers in no case
dropping, so that the total effect is
most pleasing. White flowers serve the
purpose of softening the effect made
by bright colors, and of tying the vari-
Gus shades together. These white
petunias are almost climbers, attempt
ing to crawl up altheas and lilacs.
Petunias respond well to the stimua-
lation of fertilizers, especially at this
time of the year. If Withered growth
is cut off and plenty of fertilizer given
although never too much-they will
respond with blossoms from now on
until frost. Any one of the popular
tablet form of fertilizer will answer
very nicely, if good watering is given
after application.
Surely there is no more satisfactory
flower for the average garden than this.
The petunia and the zinnia are old
stand-byS, loved the more the longer
one grows them. The rose and gladioluS
are glorious, like exotic new friends,
enhancing with changing moods, but
the petunia and zinnia are the time
tried and tested friends one thoroughly
knows and understands.