Evening star., 1933-09-30
The Home Gardener
Practical and Seasonal Hi1sis for the Amateur for
Beautifying Surroundings of the Home.
BY ]. w. WELLINGTON.

during midsummer Is helpful at thi,
stage.
Closing his talk with a few dents
Mr.. Bozarth urged against planting
delphiniums in low lying, heavy. sticky
soil, affording poor drainage. He also
urged that they not be planted too neal
trees or be fertilized with heavy manures
and that there be no delay in the
Spring in stalking the rapidly growing
flower spikes.
Lawn Feeding.
4 T this time the lawn should re.
"A ceive attention in the form Of an
application Of IL to is pounds ol
good grade fertilizer to each 1000 feet
Of grass. BY good fertilizer Is meant
material having a percentage com.
position Of at least 4-8-4 of nitrogen
phosphoric acid and potash, respectively
This formula is printed on the original
pounds there are 4, 8 and 4 pounds each
Of the three ingredients mentioned. The
balance is made up of inert materials
Fortunately much of the fertilizer now
offered for sale by the leading garden
supply stores measures up to the stand
ards cited.
Where crab grass is rampant, it will
be we'll to seed the area with q mixture
consisting principally of blue grass
raking it in slightly before applying the
fertilizer. To facilitate the even dis
tribution Of both fertilizer and seed
they can be mixed with a small guam
tity Of peat moss or soil before distribu-
tion.
Crab grass is serious enemy with
which to contend. Most of the local
soils seem thoroughly supplied with
seed Of this species and it is very difi-
cult to keep the plants from going to
seed as they repeatedly send up flower
ing stalks. The logical procedure seems
to lie in encouraging the blue grass by
fertilizing literally in early March and
late September. when 1t is growing
Crab grass is sun loving and observa-
tion will show little if any of this
species beneath the shade of large
trees. But since large trees are a
handicap to the flower and vegetable
garden. their planting as a control OF
crab grass Is not at all logical.
Coarse weeds, such as plantain and
of the root deep in the soil with a
knife. Crab grass may be pulled when
young but the control by this method
is too difficult to be recommended.
Garden Notes.
THE problem Of having cut flowers
for the table at all times during
the growing season concerns most
flower growers perhaps more than does
the growing of few species to perfec-
ton. There Is no real reason why out
door blooms should not be available
from the coming of the narcissus to
the departure of the chrysanthemum
Just now, when the ANIMALS are be-
ginning to weaken somewhat. hardy
asters deserve consideration. Some of
the newer varieties are wonderfully at
tractive in their clear blue, purple and
pink shades. These asters are perennial.
and when once established, will persist
for many years.
w. r. Ballard. extension horticulturist
of the University Of Maryland, de-
scribes in his ornamental Gardening
Notes" two new evergreen barberries
introduced some years ago from China
that are proving valuable as founda-
ton planting stock for hedges. etc.
Both have green foliage and black, or
nearly black fruits. One is known as
Sargent's barberry, and the other un-
der its botanical name, Berberis verru-
culosa
A week ago some mention was made
of the desirability of native holly as an
ornamental plant. Dogwood, too, de-
serves attention. not only for its won
derful Spring showing, but its Autumn
crop Of highly colored foliage and red
fruits. Species adapted by centuries of
survival In this environment are bound
to give satisfaction.
The Garden Clubs.
On Monday evening the Woodbridge
Garden Club will open its seventh an
nual Fall show in the Sherwood Pres
byterian Sunday School Building. Twen-
ty-second street and Rhode Island ave-
nue. northeast. Special emphasis will
be placed on arrangement Of flowers
and on novelty exhibits, such as mtnia-
ture gardens, miniature pools and
aquaria. The hall win be open to the
public from to 10 O'Clock.
The committee In charge consists
of DR.. Freeman Weiss, assisted by Mrs.
DR.. r. ]. Haskell and Mrs. A. H. Sut-
ton. Mrs. Milton B. Payne Of Bar
croft, Va, will act as Judge.
The Potomac Rose Society will stage
an Autumn rose show in the New Ma
tional Museum on Constitution avenue
on October 13. There are, however,
some splendid roses in local gardens in
the Autumn, and one authority has
stated that at no time In the year do
varieties show their true colors so cor