Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-21

I itself to planting in various parts of the
! garden It associates remarkably well
! in many garden schemes, and the home
| gardener need not fear to plant 1t In
association with different kinds of
plants. It may be safely said that
! gladioli will grow and flower in almost
any kind of soil, provided it is not too
poor or lirny. but on the whole they do
/ best in medium soil in which sand is
present. 1t is better to give them a
good soaking now and then rather than
small doses at frequent intervals. After
a good watering, place on light sur
| face mulch of some loose branches to
conserve the moisture. Many tall-grow-
| ing plants. such as gladioi, hollyhocks
and delphiniums must be staked, while
other hardy flowers should have their
stems thinned early to avoid over
crowding.
To whatever other purposes gladioli
may be put, they are well suited for
providing interior decoration. Their
| habit of growth, manner of Towering,
| and natural grace render them par
ticularly suitable for arrangement in
vases or bowls
All plants required for early deco
| ration of beds and borders, such as
pansieS, violaS. piI1ks and lobeliaS, may
be planted out from now up TO the lst
of May but the earlier they are planted,
of course, the sooner they will flower.
Special beds for roses are far more
satisfactory and more attractive than
any attempt to mix roses with other
plants.
Walls and Fences.
Two window boxes on a garden wall,
with flower pots and SaucerS evenly
spaced between them, give quaint in
formal touch, reminding one of pictures
seen of fiower-decked courtyards in
Italy and Spain. In early Spring they
are filled with bulbs, such as jonquils,
daffodilS and crocuses, and later are re-
planted with fuchSiaS and ferns.
Fuchsias do well in sun or shade in wall
boxes, borders or beds. Buy them in
pots when in full bud just bursting into
flowers. Tall-growing pink, purple and
white foxgloves, put out in April, or
little later. in deep or partial shade and
flanked by pink willow herb, make
glowing group against dull brick
garden wall
A few creepers against the walls of
house adequately relieve the nonotony
of fat surface and add a final touch
to charming picture. A point to be
kept in mind when decorating houses
with creepers and climbers is the
beautiful lines of the architecture.
When planting self-ciinging creepers,
especially in the evergreen class, they
can be so planted and trained as to
prevent marring the beauty Of the
architectural features.
If perfume as well as color is desired
when decorating walls and fences, or
wherever climbers are to be used, climb
ing honeysuckle may be used, including
the red coral honeysuckle For adj
- At l.
rambler rose, as well as the yellow and
white ramblers Other good roses
which are not climbers but which may
be trained against fence, are the
Persian yellow and the sweet brier. II
| flowers are not the first consideration,
the common woodbine, which turns
beautiful red in the Fall; the bitter
sweet which turns yellow and has at
| tractive berries, and the cinnamon vine
are all good. The cinnamon vine dies
down in Winter.
One of the problems that confront the
home gardener Is how best TO screen on
a vegetable patch from the lawn and
| flower garden, so as to give pleasant
view from the house windows. The
best plan is to plant an ornamental
| hedge. An ordinary low hedge will
serve the purpose, but II that does not
suit, then trellis work may be erected
| and covered with cllmDlng plants. "A
few evergreen towering shrubs would
do admirably, and these do not require
| a rustic support. Usually trellis work
is preferred with roses, clematis, honey
suckles or climbing knotwood or jas
mine trained on it. Only strong grow
| ing rose varieties should be planted for
a screen, such as the crimson rambler
or Dorothy Perkins. When hedges are
showing strong growths, they can be
cut back with general trim in showery
weather. All evergreen hedges can be
sc treated.
Rock Gardens.
A rock garden rarely. If ever, belongs
| on level lot. A gentle slope is best.
] Good drainage is necessary, but poor
1 soil can be used. Part of a rockery
should be in full sun and part of it in
the shade, but large trees rob the plants
| of moisture Most rock plants do best
in a northwest exposure. Use no ma
nure. Some of the plants will like lime,
but an unlimed section is also necessary
Pack the soil into all crevices when
building a rockery. The water must
drain toward the roots. Consult your
florist and catalogues for plants and
bulbs best suited to various conditions
| in a rock garden. Plan to have some