Evening star., 1933-08-19

The Madonna lily. Lilium candidum,
one Of the more desirable hardy lilies,
is characterized by its pure white
flowers with yellow stamens appearing
in early June The bulbs should be
planted in August or early September
as the plant normally develops rosette
of leaves in Autumn which persists
through the Winter and forms the
nucleus of growth in the Spring. A
light covering of straw or pine boughs
is helpful, but not absolutely necessary
during Winter. Since the roots OF the
Madonna lily are formed only at the
base of the bulb. planting should be
shallow as compared with stem roofing
species In fact. a cover of 2 inches
Of soil above the bulb is adequate.
Failue of Madonna lilies is more often
due to poor drainage than any other
item. Some growers take the precau-
tion to Gig out the soil to depth Of
approximately l foot. filling In the
lower inches with enriched top soil.
-Four or five inches of sand may then
be placed over the bottom soil and the
bulb set so that its top is not over 2
inches below the ground level. Where
bulbs planted previously in heavy clay
are not doing well, it will pay to reset
them in sand
Soil Improvement.
Betterment of soil does not rest in
added fertility alone, but in improve
ment of the texture and incidentally
the ease of working. Among agents for
bringing about this Improvement in the
case of sticky clays are sand, hard coal
ashes, peat moss and turned under
green plants, such as clover, COW peas
or rye OF the first three materials
peat moss is preferable because it adds
organic matter to the soil. but is OBJ
viously more expensive than the ashes.
Sandy soils are naturally easy to culti-
vate, but do not hold moisture and
herein peat moss or decaying cover
crops are decidedly helpful. These soil
amendments are 30 effective that the
owner of the most retentive clay will
find they are much simpler than having
the clay hauled away and replaced with
top soil. Even lawns can be improved
by spreading a thin layer of sand or
peat moss over the surface In early
Spring. The grass will come up
through shallow layer and grow all
the better.
Gladiolus Thrips.
season is the gladiolus thrips At tht
recent Takoma Horticultural Gladiolu:
Show several leading gladiolus grow
ers of the vicinity expressed grave
concern as to the future of this flower
as home garden inhabitant Ont
grower, usually successful exhibitor
stated that he did not have a single
bloom worth entering into the show
despite the fact that he had dipped
his corms in mercury bichloride solu.
ton prior to planting, and still other,
asserted that both dipping and subse-
quent spraying with q molasses sweet.
ened poisonous solution had failed tt
give them anything like satisfactory
control of the thrips.
One thing is certain. that the aver
age home gardener will not continue
for long to attempt to grow a plant
supplementary care. especially If thi.
care when given may not bring re-
suits On the other hand, it is te
be expected that with the course ol
time there will be developed a prac-
tical method of control of the thrips
The thrips Is so minute that its pres.
ence is more often detected by the
white spotting of the leaves and dow-
ers than by noting the insects them
selves, which hide in the sheathes be-
tween the leaves and in the flowers
Their destructive handiwork is appar-
ent. however.
The Vegetable Garden.
Chicory, or French endive, is one Of
the less common vegetables that de.
serves q trial in the home garden
Perhaps the plant is better known a.
an escaped wayside flower, whose azure
blooms have earned it the designation
as bachelor button. Closely related tt
the common dandelion, chicory alst
son. followed by q flower spike tn.
next If dug in late Fall. after the
first hard freeze, the roots may b'
stored and forced into growth in sane
tn the cellar in Winter. The product