Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The other varieties make fine beds
as an inspection Of the gardens will
show, but to our way of thinking they
do not equal Red Radiance.
The other flowers in Potomac Park
are becoming more interesting every
day. The peonieS are now In full
| bloom, fine pink, white and red speci'
mems which line the driveway around
! the Basin.
These grow with many varieties OF
| flowers unknown to the average passer-
] by. In particular there are several
freak plants, one arising on tall stalk
the flower head curving at the top like
serpent. This plant. silhouetted
against the water, is almost repulsive
| in appearance, but it constitutes an
oddly worth journeying to see.
The ever-ready hibiscus is growing
up now. This is the rank, almost weed
which is to be found growing along the
roads back of Chesapeake and North
Beaches, and in swampy places all
along the Atlantic Coast.
The characteristic of the hibiscus is
its dainty though huge flower. Usually
mere largenesS makes for coarseness
both in flowers and human beings, but
the bloom Of the hibiscus is both large
and beautiful. AS home garden speci-
mems they are interesting, but we have
come to believe that they should not be
SO used except in a place where many
OF them can be grown together, emulat-
ing their natural location. AS specimen
plants they need stalking against sud-
den Summer thunderstorms.
X Il
Japanese beetle traps throughout po-
tomac Park are a recent addition, in
line with the determination of the
agricultural authorities of the country
to nip this pest in the bud, If possible
These traps hang on tall stakes and
look for all the world like charming
green lanterns with glass bottoms, some
thing IN the colonial manner. We were
700 lazy to get out Of the car to attempt
10 tathom their conStruction-probabl
couldn't have done it If we liad-brt
imagine the unsuspecting beetle i.
lured with bait to the top container
whence he falls into the glass Jar be.
low, which may or may not be filled
with kerosene.
The invasion of the japanese beetle
calls renewed attention to the menace
to humanity from the insect world The
insects, although they have intelligence
have no love in their makeup. From
the human standpoint they are cruel
with the utter cruelness of heart,ess-
ness.
The bugs of the world know nothins
OF kindness, but are terrible hordes
driven on desperately by blind instincts
which never, by any chance, take On
aspects of humanity, but remain cold
unseeing, heartless, ready to devour q
world as remorselessly as a single plant
These beetle traps wave aloft gently
In the wind as so many symbols oi
mans love to man, through the use OF
his intelligence. We hear much of his
inhumanity to his fellow creatures, but
his love is something, too. and it is
symbolized there in Potomac Park in
waving green containers and crystal
clear jars.
Who knows but what the Japanese
beetles would build man-traps. If they
knew how, and catch all the motorists
who come to Potomac Park? Let us
thank Heaven that beetles, no more
than other bugs" go to college, or take
university courses, or have any inventors
in their ranks. If God ever endows the
insect world with an Edison. woe to
humanity!