Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-14

The gentleman was carrying a copy Of
seed catalogue which no doubt he
had received in the morning mail. He
could not part with it, evidently, but
had to take it with him to Office.
We could Sympathize with him, fol
we had spent the evening before with
copy of the same catalogue. What
! matters 1t If snow and sleet are or
the ground, and rain Is coming down?
The best time of the year to read the
announcements of new and old things
for the garden is right now. That is
why the arrival of the annual books
from the seedsmen is almost exciting.
Here one has a chance to read the
same things over and over again with
out becoming bored. 1t is amazing how
this can be done with seed catalogue
Here we read accounts of old plants
facts which we have known since we
got interested in gardening.
Throughout the land, in every city,
suburb, town. hamlet, and on farms,
men and women are getting real de-
light these long nights in turning over
the pages of their favorite seed cata-
logueS.
One may wonder If there are any
other such lists in the world which
have such an enthusiastic audience.
There is scarcely a word of this news
which is new, but that makes no diff
ference.
Even the novelties" are not so novel,
but neither does that make any diff
ference. What all of us are concerned
about are things which we know to
some degree. Indeed, it is the renewal
of acquaintance which is fascinating.
Turnips, beets, radishes, melons
these things are elementals of living.
Whether one grows them or not, he
knows them, and appreciates them,
and perhaps loves them. There is a
certain satisfaction in reading this
news" that never grows old because
it lis as old as the hills. Here one may
succumb To the lure OF a colored page,
depicting cornf1owers, of all things,
Centaurea Cyanus. Are they, indeed,
this pretty? Some call them Ragged
Sailor; others, Bluet. Here they are
in pink, blue, and maroon, almost as
large as aSterS. Surely we shall have
to try some this Spring.
Surely? Our surely" in regard to
the enticing things of the seed cata-
logues, is, as every one else's, scarcely
more than a wish. What would we not
plant, we tell ourself, If we had the
money, and the time, and the space?
our failure with them several years ago.
This is the old-fashioned Mourning
Bride, or Pin-Cushion plant; why called
the sad title we do not know Wall
Flowers and Wind Flowers would be on
our list. We would try some Esch-
scholtzia, or California Poppy, "beauti-
full and brilliant ANIMALS which have
been greatly improved in recent years."
We have been going to order them for
at least six years. Why does one not?
The call of the old things, the sturdy,
known zinnias, petunias, etc, is too
great, no doubt. One cannot forget
them.
This year we make the old resolve.
We will not forget them. But we will
get some of the other ones, too. It is
a vow made million times by a mil
lion people, and no doubt it is broken
many, many times; just how many it
would be impossible to say. Here is one
whose name pleases: Heuchera, Coral
Bells, or Alum Root. And another,
Liatris, Blazing Star, or Gay Feather.
1t is poor plant, indeed, which does
not have two or three names Lavatera
or annual mallow mot to be confused
with the marshmallows, the hibiscus
its cousin). One might wish to try Lii
maria, variety Cymbalaria, otherwise
known by the intriguing names of
Kenilworth Ivy, or Mother of Thou
sands.
We see named here rose whose
originator has applied for a patent. in
order 10 control its propagation for a
certain number of years. Well, why
not? II there are patents ON other