Evening star., 1933-09-16

cultural point, it is apparent that fer
tiliZer treatments that are intended to
increase the amount Of any seasons
bloom must be applied in late Spring
or early Summer, rather than in early
Spring before blooming. Early Spring
fertilization will. however. increase the
size and quality of the flowers.
Just what determines whether leaf
bud shall remain a leaf bud or differ
entiate into flower parts is subject
which has received much study in re-
cent years. Starch accumulates in the
buds in Midsummer but whether this
Is the cause of flower buds or is re-
suit of the same primary causes that
underlies flower bud formation is not
known. Fortunately, most of our shrubs,
if given reasonable care, flower freely
every year. Many fruits. such as pear
and apple, have. however, distinct
tendency to fruit only once in two
years.
Garden Notes.
CLADIOLUS thrips, according to
" entomologists, injure plant tissues
by scraping the surface with the
object Of securing supply of sap.
From this peculiar feeding habit arises
the whitish effect commonly known as
silverng. This characteristic Sunken
or bleached injury is followed by grad
ual browning and dying OF the whole
stalk. Unless one observes carefully,
he may not see the small insects and
| believe that the trouble is of fungus
nature. Local growers have had bad
! season with this pest but those grow
ers who treated their corms before
planting and sprayed their plants with
sweetened poison solution have raised
! <xlo ~, Ii
ened spray consists Of two tablespoon
fulS of paris green, two pounds Of
brown sugar and three gallons of water.
Some growers have had success with
certain proprietary spraying materials.
Sweet alyssum is a very satisfactory
| loW-growing plant for the rockery or
| for edging borders. In this region it
| self sows very readily, some Of the
young plants appearing in Autumn and
others in the Spring. The lilac-Nnted
variety is an attractive variation from
the standard white, but both are eX-
| celient.
1t is a strange fact that, although
the breaking of tulip colors has been
observed for some 400 years, it Is only
within a decade that it has bsen es-
/ tablished that breaking is disease
that should be avoided wherever pos
sible. At one time broken tulips were
considered rare and novel and were
eagerly sought, but now gardeners are
just as anxious to escape from them.
Among dwarf evergreenS which may
be used in rock gardens are pigmy
Norway spruce, Tom Thumb arbor-
vitae. tamarix juniper. japanese iuni-
per and Pinus mugho compacta. None
of these evergreens grow more than
two feet in height.
Garden Clubs.
TINE National Capital Dahlia and
Iris Society will stage its annual
dahlia show on September % and
90 at the Carlton Hotel. This is an
important exhibition, featuring the fin
est blooms grown in the Washington
area. In addition to the fine old stand
ard varieties there will be shown many
novelties and seedlings. The last group
Is always interesting, as there are sew
eral dahlia breeders in the region who
have been highly successful in develop
ing some beautiful varieties. All local
dahlia growers are invited to enter
flowers. The president of the society
is DR.. E. w. Sheets, 1881 Lamont street
Edwin c. Powell of Silver Spring
former president of the Takoma Horti-
| CulIUId dl SluU, WAS SutSl SptdheI dG Illt
meeting of the Brookmont Garden Club
held September 7. Supported by a fine
set Of colored slides prepared by Roy
G. Pierce, Mr.. Powell's talk on the
propagation and culture of lilies Gre
ated keen interest.
On September 25 the Takoma Horti-
cultural Club will reopen its lecture
season with talk by w. H. Bozart of
Mount Rainier on The Propagation and
Culture of Delphiniums" There are
many steps and missteps in dolphin
ium growing and those interested are
invited to attend the meeting. which
will be held in the Takoma Park
Branch of the Public Library at Fifth
and Cedar streets at pm. w. H
Youngman is president and Mrs John
H. GULL is secretary.
The Fall flower. fruit and vegetable
show of the Takoma Horticultural Club
was held Wednesday and Thursday at
the Takoma Branch of the Public Lii
brary The dahlia show will be held
at the new fire house on Carroll ave-
nue. on October and A. 1t is expect
ed that several classes for roses will be
provided at both shows to add color to
the displays and give this all-season
flower a chance to display its real
worth.