Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-28
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

, the descendants of bulbs which orig
mated in Africa.
There is no telling where a flower
came from by looking at it. Yonder
innocent rock garden plant. which
might have inspired Bryant or Long
fellow, came from Siam.
Comparatively few of our favorite
garden plants are natives in the best
sense of that word.
We have ravished the world for
beauty and some Of the beauties re-
sent their transfer.
y n #
On the wild rock of st. Helena there
are said to be growing hundreds of
speciments Of plants brought there over
the years from all parts of the world.
A curiosity of that island is that It
has neither thunder nor lightning, al
though it is drenched with tropical
showers.
If all plants had to face such condi-
tons. alternate rains and heat, in rapid
succession. there might be some excuse,
from the gardeners standpoint, for
them doing as poorly as they so
often do.
The main causes for comparative
failure with garden plants are too much
shade. lack of sufficient sunshine and
lack of plant food.
Another cause and perhaps as respon-
sible as an yof the three others is acid
soil 1t is amazing how few gardeners
will go to the trouble to make an effort
to determine whether the earth in
which they are attempting to grow
plants is basically alkaline or acid.
X #
No doubt many of the spindly plants
one sees, and about which their own
I ,lof,a J.Na - ns.f1 "A. \
for rhododendronS and the like, but
not so good for zinnias, petunias, mari
Colds and the other common but much
loved ANIMALS
A recourse to litmus paper might
show the erring gardener a great deal,
and If he was not able to manage this
simple chemistry for himself. he would
find 1t profitable to consult an agri-
cultural expert.
If he will not do these things, let him
protest no more his amazement at the
might use lime in the face of the al
most unanimous verdict of the garden
writers that lining the garden is old
fashioned and out of date.
Too much shade is responsible for
many failures with standard garden
plants, both ANIMALS and perennials.
If they were weeds they would not
mind the lack of sun, but they are
cultivated plants at this stage in their
history and they need sunshine and
plenty of it.
Those whose gardens thrive In full
sunlight need not pride themselves I'M
duly upon their amazing success. Old
DR.. Sun is at it again. as he has been
since the beginning. Il plants are left
to him for eight hours or so day he
will I'LL their stalks and leaves with
plenty Of good green and see that they
bear properly colored flowers, each after
its kind.
Let no aspiring amateur think that
he can have beautiful trees and annual
flowers together He cannot. At least
his ANIMALS will not be the fine things
which they might be with more SUM-
shine.
Whether trees should be- sacrificed TO
flowers is an old question. Much de-
ponds upon the trees. If they are good
specimens and help frame the house
they should receive the preference.
On the other hand, householders who
love bright flowers should consider
carefully before purchasing a place
with many trees II they are so situ-
ated that the flower beds will not re-
ceive the proper amount of sunshine.
BY proper amount, OF course, one means
all the sun possible.