Evening star., 1928-05-18
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES &. TRACEW ELL.

Typical of the garden questions asked
this column, the following letter is pre-
Sentcd:
Dear Sir: Am inclosing rough
sketch of my back yard, VIII appre-
clate 1t very much If you will advise
me what to do with my two Silver-leai
maple trees. They were planted about
2is years ago, when we first moved
here. long before / had any thought oil
flowers or perennial borders. Note,
am typical amateur.
Nov l find each tree directly In
front of my flower borders, where the
roots and shade will interfere with the
blooming of flowers love both trees
and flowers. so don't know which to
sacrifice. I could move the trees, but
see no room elsewhere in the yard. A
city lot, fear, Is too small for my am
billions.
Would you do away with the trees
altogether. or save the trees and forget
the flowers? Awaiting your opinion on
my problem, and thanking you, am
yours truly, r. NJ. p"
The rough sketch (Which was, indeed
rather Smooth) showed back yard
over northeast, with one tree In the
left hand corner of the lot fartheSt
from the house, and another on a line
with 1t next the porch.
Both trees shaded and flanked flower
borders. What should be done?
The solution of all such problems is
an individual matter. but 1t must be
admitted that the opinion of some out
slider often helps considerably
This is true in most matters, but In
than N things hnrtir l.
tural.
question of planting arises. The
gardener and his family tor her family
discuss the matter pro and con.
The more they talk it over, the more
perplexed they become. In the case
given. the gardener. no doubt. disliked
TO sacrifice the trees, and at the same
time did not want to give up the
flowers
Trees or flowers--which should 1t be-?
Those who have a particular fancy
for trees, which have been described
as Gods noblemen among the plants, "
unhesitatingly would speak for their
favorites.
To destroy a tree, they would say
and they speak correctly~~is to do away
with something that takes years to
replace.
Such person would rather lose a
million Towering plants than one small
tree.
He who prefers flowers, on the other
hand, unhesitatingly would speak up
for the removal of the trees.
Hear him carry on: Il would take
those trees out, by all means. 1t is
true that trees are wonderful, and all
that. but there Is a large question
whether they have any place in small
back yard
Flowers offer daily amusement and
recreation to the gardener. whereas a
tree is just something that sits In the
ground and minds its own business.
You can't do much for it, and in most
cases II doesn't require any care at all.
Personally, / would rather have my
two borders full of flowers. and no
trees, than two trees and no flowers"
Now that both sides OF the case have
been presented no doubt the questioner
Is In as much doubt as ever.
Here Is exactly where the person
with no axes to grind I'VE carefully
refrain from using the word ''expert")
comes in for the solution of such vex-
ing garden problems. He Is able TO
see the yard without any sentiment.
The trees, as trees, mean nothing to
him; the perennial borders. as borders.
equally fail to touch his sentiment.
He merely views the matter as a