Evening star., 1928-04-24

universe and the highest development
of life FORMS"
This is good stuff, folks, one of the
clearest presentations of just what goes
on inside a plant we have ever read.
We let Prof. Schrepfer continue:
1T is a very common error to believe
that plants take their food from the
soil What the plants take from the
soil Is the raw material, the salts and
water. from which organic food COM
pounds are formed. Through the roots
the plant absorbs from the soil certain
clements, the most important being
potassium, sulphur, nitrogen, phospho-
rus, magnesium, iron and calcium.
These materials for the most part enter
the plant in water through the roots.
AS solutions they are carried through
the stem into the leaves or other green
tissues of the plant"
Now he gets down to the formation
of the plants food--and our food, when
we eat salads, etc:
From the atmosphere the plant de-
rives oxygen, hydrogen and carbon lin
the form of carbon dioxide), which en-
ter as gases or In water, and together
with the mineral salts, In the presence
of light, they are elaborated into organic
compounds, such as the carbohydrates,
proteins. starches, fats and oils.
ITO grow successfully plants must
have their roots in soil adequately
supplied with the necessary salts and
water, and of texture permitting the
roots to spread For ordinary plants
the soil must be open enough to permit
the free movement of oxygen. 1t is alb
solutely necessary that the plants be
exposed to light and air.
"
T1var c-nt..n~Fn~ "a
planting and care of evergreens, gives
most informative chapter on special
uses. including park effects. wind
breaks. hedges, specimens and founda-
ton planting.
This evergreen enthusiast warns the
home owner against the too free use
of evergreens in foundation paintings.
so profound is the conviction of the
average home owner" he declares,
that it is necessary to do some founda-
tion planting. that one feels one is
proposing radical proposition in in
timating that the thing is overdone.
Yet this is most certainly the case"
Pointing out that evergreens, through
their non-changing character and pre-
else, architectural appearance. have be-
come favorite material for planting
close to foundations. our author advises
tDaL Lflpy SI1OuIu DC uSeu WIFI ChutlOIl
1.-The home owner sees his home every
time he enters or leaves 1t. Day after
day, year after year. he sees the same
sight IL he has planted evergreens that
are suitable for this use. 1t Is usually
much more interesting to have the va
riety that comes with seasonal changes
to stimulate interest and stir the imag-
nation Except in rare cases, q solid
belt of evergreens surrounding the base
OF house, a repetition Of shapes and
colors. is not the very best type of
planting"
Hardy shrubs, as advised by Prof.
Waugh, in his volume considered here
previously, should constitute the bulk
OF foundation paintings. with proper
evergreens for accent. These latter are
considered in Prof. Schrepfer's check
list, which concludes Hardy Ever
green's" This list will prove q trifie
confusing to the average reader. not
because the writer has not made 1t
clear, but simply because the subject
OF evergreens, as every other depart
ment OF horticultural knowledge, Is a
large one. The best use Of good little
books such as these Is, in addition to
gaining some usable information from
them, the coming 10 realize. on the
part Of the average reader, that this
is but an introduction. a charming
gateway, as 1t were, TO wide field OF
work and pleasure.