Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-11

The amateur gardener need not get
nervous because downpours threaten to
wash his plants out Of their moorings.
Rain will not hurt them, but will do
them good. It must never be forgot
ten that plants take all their r1ourish-
ment In liquid form. They cannot
utilize the chemicals from which they
evolve their real food unless they are
in solution.
In Nature it Is scarcely possible for
plants to get too much rain. Occa-
SionalIy water will settle In natural de-
pressions around the roots of trees, as
It did two Summers ago around the
Japanese cherry trees, killing several
of them.
These happenings are few and far
between, however, and only 60 to prove
the exception to the rule. Mostly plant
life benefits from plenty Of water.
Their roots have been moist from time
immemorial. They may be regarded
almost as vegetable flsh In their natural
element.
In cities the rain does extra good
by washing the leaves and stalks free
from the dust and dirt which accumu-
late upon them. In addition, 1t tends
to clear the atmosphere of smoke and
gases which eternally unger, owing to
coal fires and automobile exhausts.
Growing things may be looked upon
as runners now beginning a long dis
lance race. A good start in Spring,
which before anything else means
plenty of water, will enable them to
keep going strong during the hot
Home gardeners, as a class, worry too
much about watering" their plants
Instead Of letting George do it, they
should trust more to Nature, who knows
great deal more about it than the
average home owner.
Nature works In secret and the dark
storing up water underground, where
1t will be available in times Of need
The best the average home gardener
can do is Judge from the appearance of
his plants above ground. Often this
is complicated by other factors. such as
the red spider and other insects, which
may give plants the appearance OF
being in need Of water when they are
not.
Spring Is the happy-go-lucky season
In the garden.
Now the gardener may sit back and
let his plants take care of themselves
with the fullest assurance that they
will do a very good Job Of it.
Plenty of water and gradually In
creasingly warmer days spell health and
plenty for all the blooming things
whether of tree, bush or plant.
There Is a fine balance Of cause and
effect In Nature which takes care OF
these, her silent children. She bal
anced an unusually dry Spring by q
veritable downpour last Sunday, fol-
lowed by more rain, sunshine and
shadow.
The dry ground eagerly sopped nr
the moisture. until 1t seemed to the
discerning eye as II grass was momen.
tarily growing greener as one looked.
The next morning there could be 1.c
doubt of 1.-THE lawn was undoubtedly
greener, even the tulips appeared of
darker hue.
The real pageant Of Spring is about
to begin! That is the news the robir
sings, the burly fat robin that drag:
out q worm for his breakfast.
IT hear the song that the bluebird i
singing,
| Out in the apple tree where he i:
swinging"
In our back yard 1t Is cardinal whC
sings merrily every morning his "cheel
-cheer-cheer" to the listening world
Little he cares whether 1t rains, anC
! the rest of US could emulate his STATE
of mind with profit.