Evening star., 1932-02-15

| lack Of understanding of the immensity,
comparatively speaking, Of the root sys-
tenn Of a tree. II much Of the top Of .
tree is to be cut out, . corresponding
amount Of roots should be pruned. The
relation of the root growth 10 the leaf
growth is not understood at all by many
tree butchers" as tree lovers insist on
calling all those who ignorantly apply
the saw and ak.
The difficulties of understanding pre-
cisely this relationship Of root system to
leaf system Is evident; it is the reason
why such work should be left to ex-
pertS. Topping tree, II 1t Is to be
done scientifically, means q great deal
more than cutting OF limbs. 1t means
knowing what limbs to cut of, and how
much, especially.
Nature will top" many q tree, II left
alone, by the agency of her winds. Dur
ing the heaviest windstorm Of last
Summer we saw this natural surgery
applied to Normandy poplar. These
straight trees do tremendous amount
Of bending in lively wind.
This particular specimen evidently
was weak at the top. On one Of its
grand bows to Mother Earth the whole
top, about Is feet Of tree, came out, and
plunged downward. 1t was as neat a
job OF topping as one would want to see.
\
The time Is exactly right for begin
ming on the lawn, doing the preliminary
work to bring recalcitrant grass back
into condition. Despite the hue and
cry which was raised against the ap-
plication OF agricultural lime several
years ago, there remains great deal to
be said for the process.
ho
the prevention of moss and other indi-
Gators Of sO-called sour soil. II one has
yard where the grass has not done as
well as it might, and wants to do some
thing about 1t, now Is the time to
spread lime. This must be lime eSpe-
cially prepared for the purpose. It
should show an analysis of around SIS
per cent Of oxide Of calcium and 10 per
cent oxide of magnesium.
A rain or two will take 1t completely
into the ground. Nothing further
should be done for two or three weeks.
Then liberal application Of some good
fertilizer should be made. Directions
should be, followed carefully as to guam
titles per square foot. Most people
apply too little rather than too much.
Fertilizer costs money, of course.
Fresh grass seed should not be put
in until another week or SO goes by. II
two weeks Is granted, this brings the
sowing Of new grass seed around March
Is, which is early enough.
Seed may be sown at any time Of
course, but If the weather does not stay
warm it will not gerninate. but simply
will lie in the soil until Spring actually
is at hand. The longer grass seed lies
ungerminated. the more opportunity
the birds have of getting it.
Perhaps one-fifth Of al grass seed
sown is gobbled up by the birds, any
way If it is sown at this time and lies
a month before sprouting. the birds
may get away with as much as SO per
cent. OF course, If one wants to feed
the little fellows expensive grass seed,
that is all right. They surely enjoy it!
Freedom from bird depredations is
one of the best reasons for Fall plant
ing of grass seed Every time We pass
bv the Bureau CT Standards and see
that wonderful stand OF grass they got
last Autumn. we resolve to plant gras.
seed only in the Fall. But when Spring
arrives. we get out the old seed bag just
the same. The Bureau cut its Fall
sown grass the other day. ana that is
probably the first grass cutting job OF
1882 in these parts.