The Bismarck tribune., 1933-05-05
Going to Plant A Garden This Season?
.---HERE ARE SOME HlNTS.---
Expert Discusses Varieties, Methods
BY G. b. WALDRON

Whatever the reasons may have
been many Of the lawns that we have
observed are in rather poor condition
this spring and will need some nurs-
ing to get them into good condition
for the season. Dandelions are pref
ty sure to take possession of a lawn
having q thin growth of grass and ii
for no other reason than this 1t is i'm
portant to maintain heavy turf.
Bare patches of course will need to
be forked up to a depth Of 2 or 3
inches and reseeded, but scant
growth can be improved by fertilizlng
with sulfate of ammonia, using 2
pounds to the square rod.
A light coat of very finely rotted
manure raked into the grass is an
added benefit as it protects the grass
roots and helps to hold moisture.
Where the grass is very thin grass
seed may be raked In before this is
applied. In this case frequent water
ing is necessary to insure termination
and of course no commercial fertilH-
er has any effect unless it is washed
down to the grass roots.
Those having to start new lawn
should now seed as soon as possible,
first making the soil fine and firm by
what might seem to be an unreason-
able amount of raking. After the
seed has been soWn and raked in, the
ground should be made firm with
hand roller or by tamping it down
with an implement made by spiking
piece of plank l foot square to the
end of a Aka that has handle put
through the other end at a conven-
lent height. A final thin coating Of
very fine manure will help germina-
tion.
With clean seed of high germina-
ton one pound to the square rod is
generous seeding Whatever kind
you SOW you will have only blue grass
at the end Of two or three years so it
is just as we'll to begin with that FIRE.
quent watering is necessary until the
grass gets a good start. For estab-
walls of from one to two weeks Is bet
ter.
At this time OF the year it is inter-
esting to proWl around hardware
or implement store, to see the various
contrivances that ingenious manu-
facturers have devised to make gard
ening easier, not to say fascinating.
A true gardener takes as much pride
and interest in the tools of his craft
as the golfer does in his favorite
sticks or the fisherman his pet rod
and reel.
To see an up-to-the minute wheel
hoe with all Of it's clever attachments
Is a real temptation to learn how it
works; while the various intriguing
hand tools that have supplanted the
clumsy hoe we recall with a certain
tired feeling, have an almost artistic
appeal. They do the work too, be-
Neve me, with hardly backache or
blister.
We still may have an attractive
flower border though we did not get
our plants started in boxes and do not
feel able to buy them by the dozen.
Sweet peas grown on poultry netting
make an ideal background and
great variety Of ANIMALS that bloom
when seeded out in the open can be
seeded now as many of them will en-
dure frost. Nastursiums, bachelor
buttons. candytuft, portulaca, lark
spur. four-o'clocks, mignonette and
several others may be seeded outside
with good results. The soil should
be fine and firm and the seed should
be covered to depth of Y inch and
sprinkled frequently. Thinning and
transplanting after the plants are
well started will be necessary to get
good results.