Evening star., 1932-07-22

What do you call your clams?"
friend asked Templeton Jones as they
stood in front CT the water lily poo
looking down at the sharp edges OF the
two fresh-water mussels.
II Just call em CLANS" replied Jones
Il mean, what have you named
them?"
Jones smiled.
II haven't named EN-" he said.
Templeton Jones would have named
them If any cne would. no doubt Of that
But somehow a clam rates no name
not even with an imaginative and senti-
mental person such as Jones.
He no more thought of giving them
separate names than he did his trio
of goldfish.
He had, it is true, made a beginning
at naming those entertaining rascais
but shortly had given up the attempt.
They are known simply as the Big
One, the Middle Sized One and the
Little One.
Perhaps those are names, after all
but Jones did not regard them in that
light.
They were simply designations.
The Big One Is red. almost crimson
with white on either side of his mouth
The Middle Sized One more nearly
lives up to his official name, goldfish.
He is the bright. shining color which
made these fish famous the world over
The Little One is gold also. but is
about half the size Of the Middle Sized
One.
These fish seemingly have enjoyed
themselves in their new home. which
they share with the clans, water
poppy, a cat-tail, snail and minia-
ture water lily.
The cat-tail, reaching stature OF
nearly feet, had kittens recently,
sending up two shoots at one side OF
the pool. These reached the height of
feet in a few days and were remark
ably thick.
Templeton Jones is willing to admit
to all interested that the cat-call, while
a most thriving and interesting plant,
was a mistake for a small pool.
1t would do better for the center of
large round pond. where it could grow
to its hearts content.
In the Jonesian pool 1t simply steals
the nourishment away from the water
lily
Unless the latter picks up consider
ably in its growth, Jones says. it will
be a failure. Its leaves were pretty
they seemed to develop sort of rust
on the upper surfaces.
If it does not bloom. that in itself
will prove nothing much. for many OF
the water lilies do not bloom until their
second year after planting in a home
pool.
Whether they are shy, or were sent
out in an undeveloped stage, makes no
difference after all
The first and only flower to show
its head in the Jones pool was a bios
som Of the water poppy, which ap-
peared for few hours one Sunday
recently, then closed up forever.
1t was most interesting flower, be-
cause it had but three petals, a some
what unusual arrangement 1t was
held rather high of the water and was
of very pale yellow. greatly resem-
bling in this respect the blossoms OF
the evening primrose, whose flowers
have four petals.
Unlike water lily blossoms, which
close in the evening 10 unfurl again in
the morning, the lone water poppy
flower was but for day, refusing to
uncurl the next.
Templeton Jones looked at his cat
tail and family and placed the blame
upon them. Surely they were reaching
their long roots into the recesses OF
the earth and sand. abstracting there
from large quantities Of bone meal
which had been intended for the water
lily.
Az Jones looked he made up his mind
to one thing. Next year he would re-
wise the inhabitants of the pool. not
select such large growers, 60 In for
things on a smaller scale.
Too often the beginner. unable to
find precise directions chooses plants TO
suit his own fancy, and thereby makes
one or more mistakes.