Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-17
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

it. This is no unusual happening, and
the abrasion is very difficult to heal.
X Il \
Some sort of grubber to stir up the
earth, is a necessity for the flower
garden. A hoe is easier on the back,
but If the garden is small a hand
claw of some description will do even
better. Here again the kitchen fork
may do in the hands of the expert.
A rake is garden tool without
which no home is complete, no matter
how little 1t is used There is a mis-
taken belief on the part of some grass
enthusiasts that the very life must be
raked out of yard every Spring and
Autumn. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Much harm is done by
the indiscriminate clawing which some
people give their lawns. Tender new
grass is uprooted and about the only
things that benefit from the process
are the muscles of the gardener. And
yet we would say, Keep a rake"
When one needs it, nothing else will
take its place.
AS for the lawn mower, it is, indeed.
the king of home garden tools. It
must be included in the list because
the lawn is an integral part of the
garden--the background, or frame, of it,
Nothing but good quality machines
should be purchased These, with a
little annual care in the way Of clean
ing and oiling, will last for many many
years. We personally know two lawn
mowers in their thirtieth year which
are still going strong The latest types
are being made of pressed steel and,
therefore, are not as heavy as those of
past years. AS an ordinary thing, one
should not attempt to handle q wider
mower than is necessary. They are
| too heavy, and the few additional
inches are little, II any. gain, since the
careful homeowner makes his paths
lap over one another.
~ x
We have put the hose among the
last to be considered because we be-
! lieve that, while essential, it is the most
overused garden tool. The fun of
"sprinkling" ruins more good lawns
than any other one procedure. The
amateur who will learn to let his grasA
take care of itself. except in emergencies,
has learned one of the greatest garden
lessons, and one which experience alone
ordinarily teaches him. We do not ex-
pect any one to pay any attention to
| this warning here, but we hope they
will, and we know that II they do they
will have q better, greener lawn than
| If they insist on watering" 1t three or
four times week.
The hose is invaluable, of course, dur
| ing those long dry spells when the grass
begins to turn brown in spots. Then a
plentiful watering, not less than two
hours at a stretch. will save the grass
| from harm. At all other times it is
better to let the lawn take care Of itself.
| Ordinarily, especially in the Spring,
rain will take care of it. If artiflcially
| applied water is withheld, the grass
roots will be forced to extend themselves
and thus go down to underlying water.
| During warm weather persistent use
should be made of the hose for flower
beds, shrubs and evergreens, but it Is
best to keep the water off the grass.
Among our essential garden tools are
| the inSecticide sprayer and the grass
clippers. Edging the lawn is a nuisance,
but 1t has to be done some way, and
| the simple clippers are by far the
cheapest, and as satisfactory as any,
although a bit tough on the back. AS
| for the sprayer, II is as essential as any
of the foregoing. One cannot have a
good garden In these days Of ever-in-
creasing insect hordes without spraying.
This procedure, too, is something OF a
nuisance, and often the results are not
what one hoped they would be. but
| spraying must be done, just the same, If
one is to have good flowers. With it
| there is much hope of success, but with
out 1t very little.
| We have given the foregoing list OF
| garden tools because we feel that too
many amateur gardeners, especially the
beginners. are inclined to think that
| they must have a regular tool house
| in order to garden at all. The pruning
shears, No. 10 in our list, will be neces-
| Sary If one grows roses. Pruning Is
! more essential in rose growing than
many amateurs realize.