Evening star., 1932-06-25

Many things grow in the garden
that we're never planted there"
So goes the old proverbs applicable
today as ever.
Some weeds, and a few unknown
flowers, on the physical side; freedom
from worry, and true relaxation. on the
mental, and, on the spiritual. peace.
These things are not planted there,
but they should grow in all well tended
gardens, whether large or small and he
who does not find them Is unfortunate,
or maybe does not know where to look
for them
After all is said and done. great
deal depends upon knowing how to see
things.
Every one has had the experience of
picking up the paper, looking for some
particular piece Of news, and failing
to find it, only to have it pointed out
as being the most conspicuous story
on the first page.
The story of the garden requires such
close looking II one is to see all the
things which grow there, especially
those things which were never delib-
erately planted in 1t.
The first move in this purely per-
sonal campaign is to learn to regard
weeds and all "unwsnted" plants as
interesting NISlJOIb 10 lIle Sdi ueHs Ills
is the necessary initial step.
Here many gardener. even an old
timer (perhaps especially HIM. will
have to re-learn. or rather unlearn. his
attitude in regard to-what may be
called-the untoward incidents of the
gardening life.
Such as the weed. the unknown
flower, the dog or cat incursion, the
inroads of caterpilars and insects of
all kinds, the depredationS Of black
spot on roses, of mildew and kindred
ailments, Of slugs and cutworms. and
the like.
These, too, are part Of the garden.
They come to the cultivated close
because they have as much right there
as any. no matter what one happens
to think about them.
The dog and cat are investigating
the neighborhood; II one does not want
them in his garden he should run them
out, but do it decently, as BELTS good
dog and a good cat-and a good gar
dener
AS for the weed. 1t Is on ones land
by right Of eminent domain. No living
thing has a greater right than 1t to
grow where 1t pleases.
The typical weed is the finest example
Of sheer growth we have. Making the
best of all conditions, no matter what
they are, it thrives in hot, dry weather,
or clammy. wet weather.
The weed asks no favor. and gives
none. 1t is the great warrior of the
vegetable world, and yet brings such
an air Of cheerfulness with 1t, espe-
cially when 1t straggles into our gardens
that one must accept 1t cheerfully.
Must accept 1t so, that Is, If one
has cultivated that good attitude which
reaps where it has sown the seed of
garden happiness.
There are all too many amateur culti-
vators OF the soil who have what might
be called the weed complex.
They are so eternally on the outlook
for the ''pernicious weed" that they
fail to see their flowers and vegetables,
except as side issues.
Gardening, with them, Is mostly weed
hunting.
Now they are mistaken. and the
inner, the secret, benefits Of hours
spent in the cultivation of crops will
not be theirs unless they mend their
attitude.
How does one mend an attitude, an
outlook, point of view?
One may suspect that many never do.
Weed complex" sneers one. What
does he know about it?"
So saying, he begins TO look furiously
In all directions for weeds of all sorts,
as il their very presence proves the
utter lack Of knowledge of this rash
moralizer of the garden.
But the happiness which is planted
in gardens will not flower properly
unless one accepts weeds as part of the
picture, too
The enthusiasm for them, as the en-
thusiasm for many other things, needs