Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-05

There Is no garden book on the
market called How to Water the Gar
den," but some one ought to write it.
Maybe we will do it ourself when We
are hundred years old.
To be envied is the reckless soul who
"sprinkles" the yard at any time of
day or night without giving the matter
a thought.
Maybe he is right, after all. Since no
man has been bold enough to put
sprinkling maxims into print. perhaps
1t is just as we'll If every home owner
do as he please.
It is nobody's business. of course, If
a back yard gardener allows his grass
to burn up in dry spell or if he floats
the roots of his flowers in water, caus-
ing their ultimate wilt and decline.
When it comes to watering the
yard every home owner has right to
be his own boss, and usually Is, even
If he ruins his garden in the process.
Y X X *
The great uncertainty in the minds
of most gardeners, however, as to the
precise amount of watering which
should be done in any given situation
is what makes such book as we have
outlined necessary.
Every one who has experimental
even slightly with flowers knows that
watering is a moot question indeed
Yet all the garden books and maya
zines deity sidestep it, as If the ques-
ton were either too trivial for consid-
Grafton or every gardener were imbued
with divine intelligence.
Watering the garden is far from a
trivial matter-so far, indeed, that I'll
less the amateur learn a little about 1t
from experience he will have very
poor garden.
There are few garden considerations
about which the average home owner
has less precise knowledge. He finds
out the proper depth at which to plant
tulips and learns how to keep his soil
mulched.
Insect pests so force themselves upon
his notice that he is compelled to in
vestigate the proper insecticides for
their control and to learn from the ap-
pearance of his plants when to spray
and what to spray.
He soon learns to distinguish per-
ennialS from ANIMALS, to know the diff
ference between plants that love the
sun and those which need shade part
of the day. to discriminate between the
old standard flowers which are always
good and some of the lesser offerings
which are not very pleasing, to know
how evergreens should look in health
and when they are dying.
Even experience will teach him but
slowly how to water for best results
If he is a natural-born gardener this
knowledge will come to him almost
by instinct. Most of us in the cities,
however. are not natural-born gar
deners.
We take It up because we get home,
or because neighbor is an ardent dew
otee of trowel and spade. or simply
because we think it is the thing to do.
Whatever the reason. the gardener gets
plenty of sunshine. bit of exercise and
much pleasure
He creates beauty which is a great
deal, and he amuses himself. which is
something.
X X X X
Three chief instruments OF watering
the garden are. in the order Of their
importance:
/. Rain.
2. The hose.
3. The watering pot
Rain is the best medium. because It
puts enough water on. and has the
happy property of being outside the con-
troll of the gardener
Thus no home owner need worry
abou. watering when Nature takes care
Of it for him. Given adequate rains at