Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-09
THIS AND THAT


Jim Jones was benefited by an ice
cold bath. Sam Smith must be similar
ly treated Too often the cold bath
has exactly the opposite effect on Sam
that IL did on Jim. yet the practition-
er shrinks from admitting 1t, since 1t
breaks up the beautiful chain OF de-
auctions which he has drawn from his
experience with Jones.
Let us hasten tn say that our Jump
ing at the conclusion that the flowers
did not need so much watering was en-
tirely erroneous The flowers didn't
agree with us.
Allowing for the fact that proper fer
tilizer was lacking, the entire yard has
look which seems to bespeak nothing
but lack of water.
We forget, as VIC believe most anna
teur gardeners forget that plant life
is mainly water.
The sturdy green stalks, the fiat
leaves, the flowers themselves. all seem
so solid and meaty that 1t Is difficult
TO remember that about nine-tenths
of them is water.
A human being is largely water, but
plant in the home garden is almost
entirely SO If Nature endows COM
munty with an average rainfall, there
might be little need for artificial water
ing, except for one factor, that OF
drainage.
The general fear. in garden litera-
ture, is that there will not be adequate
drainage, but In and around the Dis
trict of Columbia experience points to
just the opposite condition.
The great danger in this vicinity Is
hnt na I'd lie
The result is that even the most in
tense rainstorm flows away In about
"a hours, leaving borders and beds
almost as dry as ever.
Perhaps you have been surprised, a
day or so after a heavy rain, In mulch
ing a rose bed, To discover that the
ground Is only slightly damp as far
down as you can reach conveniently
This is because it has drained away;
the drainage is too good. II anything!
For this reason. we have concluded,
our beds and borders need constant
and heavy watering all Summer long
Had we done this, everything In the
yard would have been much farther
along and undoubtedly. better In re-
spect 10 both foliage and flower
Watering the garden becomes some
thing of nuisance. ii must be admit
ttht VNAi "a oti| 81 @cbNhiNtA "a a'Ns
necessity as we are now convinced
tuntil we change our mind again, per-
haps). Good hose. free from leaks.
is necessity. An outside connection
helps smooth the path tremendously.
Our present belief points to A three
or four hour watering every other even
ing during such hot weather as has
prevailed here during July and the
first part of August.
This much, mind you. for small
garden A large plot OF ground would
take longer going on the theory that
the average home owner Is not equip
ped with an elaborate and expensive
underground system.
With such constant watering, we arc
now convinced such a back yard might
become an oasis Of floral beauty in
ar otherwise arid region.
a garden can do amazingly well
without much water. let 1t be admitted
Nature has put large tolerance in her
creations. Plants that need water pos
sess the ability TO make the most OF
what thew get
Everything else being equal, however
the more water the bigger and better
the plants and flowers. Last, but not
least, try watering the rose beds. Car
den writer's say 1t Is not necessary. and
maybe 1t isn't, but we are beginning to
believe that roses like plenty of water
as we'll as other flowers