Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-08
Grubs in the Lawn.


Tn connection with their intensive
studies on ways and means OF coilloat.
ing the Japanese beetle. the United
States Department of Agriculture ento-
biologists working at RivertOn, n. j.,
have developed an effective treatmel.
for Kidding the lawn of grubS ana
worms. Although the japanese beetle
has not vet become a local problem, the
Cr,lbs of the we'll known May or June
beetle often iniure local lawns by eat
ing the grass roots and earthworms are
in some cases a nuisance. Inc new
treatment is exceedingly simple ana con-
sists in applying arSenate oil lead pow,
der to the lawn at the rate OF one poulo
per 200 square feet of surface AISeIldDe
of lead is well known to most gardeners
as the insecticide used in combating m
sect enemies on fruit and Vegetaole
nlants. In order to evenly spread the
noison, the Government entomologlSIS
suggest that the powder be mixed WIN
SLIGHTLY moist soil or sand at the rate OF
Eve hounds to two bushels of soil. Inc
combined material is then spread oy
hand much in the same manner tildo
one would scatter fertilizer. There IS no
danger in handling the arsenate OF iesu
except that il must be Kept away lIolll
children who might mistake IL lol ooiiio
harmless substance.
Tsrlv 1une is recommended as an
ideal time at which to apply the arse
nate of lead. as this season anticipates
fine Matching and early feeding OF tie
vo,lnr prllbs. It is pointed out, however,
fhat the material may be applied at any
time except when the ground Is frozen.
One application is sufficient for at least
a whole year and at the most neeoS oilIy
be supplemented the second year by less
than half the regular appoint. Earth-
worms gradually disappear following the
ereerate of lead treatment and. what IS
even more interesting, it is claimed that
crab grass and chickweed do not ENJOY
fhe lead treatment and give away 10
tle better grasses. Certain precautions
must accompany the use of the arSenate
of lead. Commercial fertilizers and lime
should not be used, as they render lnert
the active principles of the lead. Wen
rotted animal manures, cottonseed meal
and ammonium sulphate are recon-
rended as safe materials. FOR SoIIe
time the Department of Agriculture mas
been recommending the use OF coGton-
seed meal as a safe and eHectlVe lawn
fertilizer and has been advocating CIle
Slic,Ise of lime. hence the advice IN COIL
naction withe the arsenate of lead treat
naent evidently conforms With gooo
practice. The very simplicity OF the
Program is in itself a strong recommen-
dation. since the busy home owner usu-
allv has little time for complicated 1or-
mulas and practices.
Bulb Planting.
It is now time to consider the I'M
nortant subject Of bulb planting Eariy
planting is advocated by DR.. DaVlo
Grifiths, bulb specialist OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture, for the narclsSus,
fvacinth. crocus and tulip. Septempel
is conceded the best month OF all, since
Septenber- planted bulbs have tifne "
become well rooted before cola WealLIet'
AS regards source of material. the mag
az;nes already contain advertisements
from, MANY different seed houses. Inc
1Takon,a Horticultural Club has Tor
several wears past served its members
hy nIacinr a wholesale order direct WIN
some leading Holland grower. AS d
,1,le however, most of the SEED houses
offer very good quality bulbs Tor SAFE
at reasonable prices. -, 20
P,1Ins NAV be expected to bloom II
Wanted in almost any soil upon WHICH
rrater does not stand for any length
of time However, the best MOWERS are
NOT IN he secured without care: one
of the best narcissus growers IN Inns "
rir7ity takes the tr0uDle Oh IeliIof1AS w.
lower soil. filling in with well roIteo l ia.
n,,re which is then covered with lew
inches of soil. upon which the BULBS lbs are are
set year after year this grower mas the
very finest of blooms to display IN the
spring shows. ideally the manure OF
fertilizer should not come in direc &C con,
fact with the bulb, as it is !laole 10
couse rotting. In any event, the roots
will reach out considerable distances III
Se1 De er of planting is an important
consideration which is best covered by
DR. Grifiths' recommendation IN oe.
nartment bulletin No. 1877, namely, tnaI
in IN general bulbs be set .2l2 times tnelr
own r1 diameter. For small bulbs, such
as crocus and sn9wdpop pS;rs this sn @ea for
,,opciss,,s hvacinths and tulips, 3 to
5 inches of, cover. The distance be-
tween bulbs will vary with their use:
planted in beds, crocus and snc=asppS
NAV be placed 3 or inches apart, mar
cissus. tulips and hyacinths, 8 TO
inches apart. Many people plane