Evening star., 1928-03-13
THIS AND THAT
by CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Looking over the garden records of
last year. one finds that he sowcd grass
seed in the back yard on March is.
So 1t Is not too carly, then. to be
thinking about the garden. after all!
The seasons have way OF catching
one by surprise. The first thing one
knows Spring Is here, close enough to
fiirt with anyway.
Many days of nasty weather may in
tervene. but so long as the authentic
touch OF the season is in the air grass
seed may be sown with benefit.
This is one garden operation that may
be done very early. there being every
reason to hope that the new grass may
thus get good start With anything
resembling normal weather the gar
dener thus gets month or two Jump
upon the season.
Suppose the seed does no good? It
will not be much OF loss, and there
will be plenty OF time to put In more
II one confines his March sowing to
bare spots
A general rcconditioning of the yard
is perhaps not to be desired so early:
but 1t is possible to touch up the bare
spots by putting some seed here and
there. This will do a great deal to-
ward giving one n good lawn, despite
the thoughtless tramping and scuffing
of children's feet
Wasl1outs by rain constitute the
greatest handicap. II one is lucky,
however, he plants his seed In dry
weather, so that the plants begin to
grow and thrive before a heavy rain
comes along. This is another chance
he must take.
The best way to plant grass seed this
month, according to the experience of
many. is simply to rough up the bare
spot and throw in the seed with a
generous hand, then tramplc 1t down
with the feet. pressing 1t In firmly.
Over this put a thin sprinkling of
bone meal. trampling this down. too
Then send up a prayer that children
dogs and rains will hold off for at least
week
This is the month for spraying and
pruning the rosebushes.
Both of these essential garden opera
ttons too often are put off until April,
by which time the plant lice. or aphis,
have been allowed to breed. to say
nothing OF other rose pests which may
similarly have become difficult to
control.
Some OF this increase of aphis has
been on canes which should have been
pruned away. therefore the first essen
tial Is to prune. After this is done.
the spraying may be attended to.
Pruning OF roses Is looked upon by
many amateurs as mysterious task,
but 1t is comparatively simple, IL one
VIII remember that only the so-called
hybrid tea roses are to be pruned at
this time OF year. These include most
OF the popular roses. with the eXcep-
ton OF the climbers and the June
roses" as some varieties are called
which bloom only once.
Remember that these latter bloom on
last years growth. so If any Is cut off
at this time. the possibilities of roses
are pruned just that much, too.
The hybrid teas. however. bloom on
new growth, so they may be cut back
more, although We do not advocate the
ruthless pruning which some persons
indulge In. General directions usually
given for this operation say to "cut of
above an outside bud"
An outside bud Is any old bud
growing on cane or branch toward
the cutter. not on the inside OF the
bush. This is just common sense; there
is nothing magical or mysterious about
It, No one Is expected TO emulate the