Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-18
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

panse of lawn to be cut, stretches out
In his imagination even farther than it
does in reality. Its contemplation tires
him more than the actual work would
do. Just how one arrives at the per-
feet state of knowledge Of how much
grass one Is willing to cut per cutting
season cannot be stated. A great deal
are. ones real interest in working
| around the home. Above all. no one
else can speak for one, although many
will attempt to do so.
| y
The dry season will demand great
deal more than the usual care not only
in watering but in the cultivation OF the
ground.
1t is perhaps true that hand culti-
walton of small areas does not have the
! same sanction nowadays that 1t once
had. Mulching, as the process Is called,
is done with almost religious ferVor by
many gardeners.
The theory of the dust mulch is that
It forms an impervious covering around
the plant through which the water
beneath has difficulty in evaporating.
Surely such a covering, tight or other
wise, is more than necessary during
such a season as the present, when
water seldom falls. and, when 1t does,
scarcely moistens the crust which has
| formed during the past weeks.
The advantage of a small place is
that 1t may be. handled, In respect to
the major operations of watering,
mulching and fertilizing. precisely the
same in drought as at any other time.
| We say 1t may be, not that it is,
! Somehow the specter of dry weather
tends to frighten away many enthusi-
\, ~ HIzo
1 inertia induced by heat and let their
| gardens go to pot.
| One of the pleasures of gardening
| during a drought it to watch the re-
Spouse of the grass to the application
OF water During an ordinary season,
with a normal rainfall, one takes the
grass for granted. There is nothing
spectacular about the way it comes
along. The proverbial April showers,
followed by seasonable storms, keep the
lawns green without human thought.
| During a real dry spell, however, even
the best grass plots will burn up unless
they get their daily stint of water from
the old hose. Those who. returning
from vacation, find their yards in poor
shape need not be discouraged. A lib
eral application of water will soon put
bAls glass UdCA III lOo OlO Clho po
not quite. But wonders can be accom-
plished.
In performing this major operation
upon a baked and parched lawn it is
perhaps best to take the nozzle off the
hose and permit the water to run as it
will. BY this method the dying grass
can be sopped. One may have read
that 1t is not well to sprinkle grass
while the sun in shining. That is the
theory, and, as theory. it is well
enough. But when lawn needs water,
it needs water. It's application during
the sunny hours is better than waiting.
1t should be kept in mind. however,
that what such grass needs is plenty of
water, SO that three or more hours of
continuous watering Is necessary.
This process kept up over stretch
of several days will work veritable
miracles with the worst-appearing lawn.
1t is perhaps too hot to plant grass
seed in case bare spots tend to appear.
This may be left until the last of the
Summer-the last two weeks of August
and the first two in September. What
is more necessary now is water. 1t is
particularly required for sod. Placing
sod and forgetting 1t is not fair to the
sod, which must amalgamate with the
old earth. Newiy-sodded areas should
be kept continuously moist for several
weeks after placing and should receive
extra attention during the hot weather,
especially during such dry spell as the
present.