Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-30

This Is the sort of weather which
makes one appreciate those cafnels OF
the plant world, the roses, which are
able to stand almost any amount OF
| drought.
While other towering things wilt and
die, the roses stand UP very well under
the continued heat and lack Of water
Blossoms may withcr. on certain vari-
cites, but as general thing the roses
look better than any other flowers al
| this time.
Particular attention should be called
to the foliage of the climbing roses
Not even the hardy privet looks as
green. It takes a prolonged dry spell
to bring out the worth of some plants
just as 1t requires a period of depreS-
sion to show up the innate optimism OF
some human beings.
Often the amateur gardener Is In
clined to feel that climbers are q
nuisance, especially in the small garden
where space is at premium.
Climbing roses are rampant growers
sure enough: they will take an entire
fence in season or two, and bush out
widely as they go along, forcing less
hardy things to fade.
Often in ordinary seasons the
amateur willingly would tear out his
climbers for the sake Of these other
flowers, or supply some want in the
garden way.
When genuine dry spell comes
along, however. the climbing roses
assert themselves. The gardener is
forced to admit that his place needs
them. If he lives in those sections
where sprinkling has been forbidden
he will thank his climbers for keeping
his place looking somewhat presentable,
after all.
The various bush roses do not quite
equal the climbers, when 1t comes to
drought resistance, but still they may
be called plant camelS, owing to their
ability to go for many days without
water. Certain tender varieties will not
be able to stand continued dryness, but
the majority of the better known roses
will do very well without rain.
The ordinary dust mulch, made by
stirring up the soil around a plant, will
help considerably in conserving the vel
small portion of moisture which vet
remains in the ground. In an ordinary
season one of the chronic complaints
against this procedure is that one only
gets 1t done in order that 1t may b
spoiled by the rain.
Such a protest surely cannot hold
good this Summer. A good mulch, once
mace, will last, alas, for weeks a a
time! Therefore even the LATEST
gardener has no excuse for not making
one: Any small sharp instrument, even
kitchen fork, will do.
Some precise gardeners are not con-
tent with breaking up the soil so, but
go over the bed afterward with their
hands, crumbling small particles and
Jumps to dust. This is too precious
iog most.
Fertilization might well be withheld
during such Summer as the present
The availability Of chemical elements
In such mixtures depends upon the
moisture which is present in the soil
either as the result of natural causes
or artificial application.
Fertilizers lie as inert Jumps where
no water Is present, and even may burn
roots and foliage. That is why all
commercial fertilizer manufacturers di-
rect that when their product is placed
on lawn the whole be gone over first
with rake, to shake the fertilizer OF
the blades.
Then the yard Is to be wet down
thoroughly. A heavy rain will do this
best, but one is never sure when q
rain is going TO be heavy, and during
such a season as the present the gar
dener Is pretty sure that he will have
no rain of any sort.
Therefore he depends upon the faith
ful garden hose, in those sections where
It's use Is still permitted. Unless he