Evening star., 1932-09-29

Rainy days have arrived at new dis
tinction during the past three years
that of being looked forward to and
welcomed by all interested in any degree
in the growing things of the garden.
They are rare. in other words, and
take on all the charm Of the good rar-
ity, the phenomenon always desired but
not so invariably secured.
1t was not always so with rains.
Once they were taken for granted
as part of the meteorological dispen-
sation.
There were dry spells" Of course
whether there would be enough rain for
the best maintenance of lawns and
flowers, and the adequate growth OF the
main vegetable and grain crops.
Seasonable rains were so steady al
certain periods. such as Spring and Fall
that they became something of nui-
sance to the average city dweller. who
at times was forgetful of the needs OF
growing things.
April showers bring May flowers,
went the old proverb, based on centuries
of normal weather expectation.
The last three years, however, have
changed all this.
One is likely to find the amateur
home gardener quite nervous over the
likelihood of rain in his vicinity.
He watches the weather news with
avidity, keeps track Of rainfall in nearby
States, and even goes to the extent oi
telephoning friends in other sections OF
the city to inquire II 1t Is raining lr
their neighborhood.
II he hears that at" Is, and yet there
is no rain in his own community, he i.
very much upset at the information.
Will it never rain in Pleasant Valley!
He scans the sky anXiously.
He rejoiceS at every cloud, out ol
which he hopes there will be some pre-
cipitation.
When none arrives ne is frankly dis
appointed; he makes up his mind to USE
the garden hose If it does not rain by
this time tomorrow"
Such is the nervous state to Whlcf
he has been reduced by three years Of
comparative dryness.
4 n 4
The rairs which do good" in the
gardening sense are those which art
heavy enough and of enough duration
to insure sufficient penetration of the
soil to wet the roots Of plants thor
oughly.
Even what looks to be a nice shower
often fails to achieve this result. 1t l;
amazing how much water the leaves ol
trees, of shrubs, and even OF SINAI
plants can keep off the soil beneath
them.
Every plant is its own umbrella. in &
sense.
Nature has provided them with this
leaf system, not as protection from rain
however. but as essential chemical lab
oratories. or light laboratories, rather
in which sunlight is elaborated into
something else.
The shielding tendencies Of leaves Is
an aside of Nature. scarcely meant BY
her, and one normally not conducive tc
the best interests of the growing things
Every gardener realizes this as he ex-
amines his stock after rain. Otter
he finds that what seemed to be ve1y
good rain has not wet down as much
as two inches deep, and that in some
places, under large shrubs, no Watc!
has penetrated at all.
Every one knows how large trees
such as oaks and the like, resist the
penetration of rainfall for long time
There will be dry spots under sucr
trees for many minutes after rali
begins, in some instances. especially II
the precipitation is what is known as
"driZzle" never wet over.
To do any good, then. in a hcrticul-
tural sense. a rain must be hard enough
and of suficient duration to wet the
earth thoroughly, not only over as wide
an area as possible, but also as deeI
as feasible.
These nagging little rains. such as
some of the suburbs have been having
this Autumn so far. are little better
than so much sprinkling with a hose
And we do not mean real watering with
hose running full blast for three or
four hours, but the sprinkling which
lasts about Is minutes, mostly put OIL
with the fine spray.
A great many people who ought te