Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEBELL.

The garden chronicle of the past
month comprises two words:
Arrested development.
Prevailing cool nights and mornings,
with a surplus of rain, have resulted
in a minimum of plant growth all
along the line.
Many a garden knows zinnia seed
lings which are not quarter OF an
inch higher today than they were when
the unseasonably warm weather of the
latter part of March and early April
made them spring into being.
Most things grown from seed in the
open have not done so we'll showing
again the futility Of planting the an
nualS until warm weather really ar
riveS and stays
II does no harm. of course, to rush
the season In this way If one doesn't
mind wasting a few cents worth OF
scotland maybe the appearance OF the
home flower garden.
Perhaps the case isn't as bad as 1t
sounds. We have no data on hand to
prove that seedlings which suffer from
cold and grow poorly for the first month
or so Of their life in the sun and air
do not do as we'll in the end as II they
had been planted at minimum tenn
perature of so degrees.
There is some evidence to show,
however that plants which grow With
out setback develop the best flowers
and the most luXuriant foliage.
One should avoid above all the temp
tation to fertilize heavily these back
ward seedlings. Lack of growth is not
the plants fault Weather conditions
are responsible. No seeding at this
time is in a condition to be benefited
by the application OF more than pinch
of fertilizer.
What little plants need more than
food at the present time Is plenty OF
sunshine and warm nights. In other
words the earth must oe' reheated TO
the point 1t was month ago, and must
be held at that point from now on.
Once we get real growing weather
again everything will go forward with
a. rush. and seedlings lust inching
along" at the present time will develop
into real plants.
Shrubs and herbaceous plants have
made satisfactory growth despite the
weather.
Peonies and iris have done well. The
latter is in full bloom at this writing,
so that every one may see how nicely
this splendid flower has done.
The taste for the iris grows on one.
It is not one of the flowers which most
people inStinctively like.
In regard to the iris the great mass
of the people, for some peculiar reason
or other. are in the same boat with
babies which attend the Zoo.
Small infants undoubtedly see the
animals, but they do not distinguish
them.
So with the average imam on the
street" an iris plant is just something
growing. 1t suffers the same fate as
the gladiolus.
One must undergo a new birth. in re-
gard to these two flowers, before he
is able to appreciate them, TO under
stand them, If you will.
Perhaps this awakening may come
at a flower show, or while standing In
front of a florists window.
Maybe a chance sight of an array OF
iris growing against white garage Will
turn the trick.
Whenever the conversion comes, the
floral convert will be amazed that he
had hitherto passed up so much OF
beauty without recognition.
Is not this the history OF all con-
versions?
X 4
The rose is flower that every one
seems to like inStinctively. This does
not mean that it is more beautiful,
or any more charming in the garden,
but simply that 1t Is instinctively liked.
This universal flower, queen Of them
all, has not done as well this Spring