Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06

| tention Is paid to the condition OF the
subsOil at time of planting 1t will result
in dead plants In time. Very few ever
green's like wet feet They must have
good drainage to insure success.
~. Plants may become infested by
disease or damaged by insects. They
should be given an inspection several
times a year, and II found to be in
fected attempt to learn the nature of
the trouble and q remedy as soon as
possible.
g. Location Not Suitable. If planted
In location not suitable for the type
or variety of plant In question: sooner
or later the effect on the plants will
become quite apparent"
In other words, IL your evcrgrccns
go wrong. it is not due to some mystic
rious something. but Is entirely the re-
suit of cause and effect.
Spring is not SO far away.
Thousands Of persons will buy ever
green's this year. the best times for
, planting most Of them being very early
Spring or early Autumn.
Hundreds. OF ambitious holscholders
Will pay out their good money-then
forget to water the plants during the
hot months.
Red spider will attack some--and the
| careless owner will wonder. but not I'd
to the trouble to investigate.
Hence there Is a real benefit to be
gained by Ony one, here and now, in
studying the list OF causes given above
MIR. johnson rightly places dogs as
No. !. His expcdient of placing a
screen around evergreenS is a make
shift, at best, as 1t spoils the appearance
of the plant. Old-fashioned house
keepers declare that pepper, sprinked
OH the ground. Is effective
Some persons have an idea that an
evergreen does not demand much water.
just the opposite would seem to be the
truth, The present writer has rescued
several small conifers from an untimeiy
demise by the simple eXpcdent of wa
tering them excessively with the gar
den hose, using what Is called a rose
spray instead Of the regular nozzle.
The plan of sinking series of deep
holes, either with a croWbar or broom
stick, about foot and a half from
the trunk Of the confer. and filling
them with water until they will hold
no more. is advocated widely by nur-
series, and is worth trying by every one
who feels that his plants are not doing
as well as they might.
Mr.. johnson emphasizes that the
earth which usually comes around the
roots should be left intact. 1t generally
Is tied up in burlap bag. which should
not be removed. but should be planted
las is" in the earth. The. bag will rot
away soon enough, and furnish some
fertilizer
Mr.. johnson makes it clear that even
with perfect care one cannot expect
100 per cent success. Two out OF 80
plants Is a reasonable percentage OF loss
to expect, he states.
Though newly planted evergreens
must have plenty OF water. contrary to
popular opinion. they must not stand
in water. This Is difficult point but
II must be solved for evcrgreens as well
as for most plants.
Our author points to the need for in
veStigation. reading. real effort. both
mental and physical. II our paintings
OF evergreens are TO be satisfactory.
Diseases and insects are subjects moot
and difficult. but they are well worth
the study. Location is another matter
that commonly receives too little atten-
ton from the amateur. 1t is foolish.
every one will agree. to plant a shrub
that needs sun In the shade. or vice
versa. but this is done time and time
again. The title OF the late Henry
r. Fincks gardening book perhaps Is
sermon all by itself. Gardening
With Brains" he called It,