Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09
GARDEN NOTES

Perhaps of all the Summer flowers,
n1ne surpasses the gladlolus for beauty
and for usefulness BY virtue Of the
method of propagation, that of corms,
often called bulbs, the gladiolus Is sub
ject to the gardeners fancy as to posi-
ton in the garden and, unlike the
shrubs. for example, does not require
careful planning. In fact, many subur-
ban gardeners grow the gladioIus in
rows in the back garden with view to
the production Of cut flowers for the
house. BY making paintings at two
week intervals up to the 1st of August,
it is possible to provide for long sue
CeSSicn of bloom.
We think Of the apple, pear and
other cultivated fruits as highly vari-
able, but none of these compares with
the wild BURBERRY in this respect.
Burberry plants vary in size from or
4 inches to IL or more feet and in color
OF fruit from pale blue to jet black.
Flavor varies greatly, from mild to ex-
tremely tart There are certainly great
possibilities in improving the BURBERRY
If only by selection from the wild. A
good beginning has been made by the
Department of Agriculture in eo-opera-
The intense heat Of Midsummer is
almost fatal to the welfare Of the cool
season vegetable crops, such as peas,
cabbage and cauliflower, and one need
not be disappointed II these types of
vegetables fail to prosper. Paintings
made now will have a much better
chance, as their major growth will come
In cooler weather.
Chicory is both weed and a vege-
table, belonging thus in the same cate
CORY with the dandelion. Many people
know the chicory as a weed its bril-
liant blue flowers being often evident
along the roadsides at this season or a
little earlier Chicory is grown in the
garden much as parsnips or carrots and
the roots dug in late Fell for forcing
IN the cellar or under the greenhouse
bench. The product Is a blanched
head of leaves of delightful flavor In
the market chicory is known as French
endive and sells at quite fancy prices.
There Is no particular difficulty in pro-
ducing ehicory and 1t Is surprising how
slowly its culture has been undertaken
by home gardeners.
Midsummer Is rather a dull time In
the garden calendar. The heat is too
intense to suggest much activity and
often vacations interfere somewhat with
the gardening program. This is the
season. according TO DR. L. H. Flint Of
the Department of Agriculture, when
paper mulch would be of greatest serv-
ice to the home gardener by suppress
ing weed growth and holding soil mois-
tare without any effort on the garden
er's part. Midsummer is the season Of
ANIMALS, calendulas. zinnias, mari
Colds. petunias and their like. bringing
with them riot of color and plenty Of
blooms for cutting.
Aphids. however, do not cease their
activities, but may be found on the ten
der growth of nasturtiums, chrysantIe-
NUNS and other plants. Nicotine ex-
these insidiotls sap thieves Aphids
can practically ruin the nasturtium
bed If left uncontrolled,
Strange as it may seem. plants are
more durable in some cases than the
ga Fleners that planted them OF
cearSe. this is true with trees. but 1t Is
often true with smaller plants. About
the cellar holes of former homes. one
viii md lilacs, gooseberries, tiger lilies,
hemerocallis lilies and other cultivated
plants which have survived not only
the owner that planted them. but also
the home that sheltered the owner
himself. No one need think of garden
ing As q ynomentary fancy with the
proper c.noice Of species: one may be
easily planting for another generation.
The home gardener must watch his
asparagus with care lest the slugs Of the
common beetle destroy the foliage They
seem to work with great rapidity,
quickly eating the green outer surface
layers and killing the entire plant.