Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

one has seen, Is entirely unnecessary
and harmful, especially when done with
steel-toothed rake. While there is
still plenty Of use for this sort OF
rake, 1t happily has given place, in
many gardens, to those Of the broom
type, made Of bamboo.
The teeth Of this instrument, even
when applied with force, do not do
half the injury the sharper points are
capable of inflicting. Even when grass
appears entirely defunct 1t still has
some life In 1t, In its peculiar way.
Every once realizes this who has seen
how sod may be handled, cut into
strips, rolled up like carpet, and stacked
outdoors in raw weather, yet without
suffering any harm, If the subsequent
adequate at the time 1t Is needed most
Not all gardeners realize that newly
laid sod demands great deal Of water
during the first two to three weeks
after it is put in place; great amount
of money is wasted every year by fail
ure to water copiously after sodding.
Sufficient moisture this time not only
waters the grass plants, In their thou
sands. but integrates the soil of the
sod strips with the earth on which
they have been placed This action is
necessary, because Of the shrinkage
likely to occur, especially II no rain
should be copious in order to reach
the lowest point Of the sod strip, and
even farther down, so that earth will
integrate with earth and become as
one.
The main point in proper raking Of
the lawn in the Spring seems to lie
in suf1icient removal Of debris, but not
The old golden mean applies here
as elsewhere.
1t is SUFFICIENT If the dead vegetable
matter Is removed and II the earth be-
meath is stirred up bit.
Positively to fay the ground alive Is
not necessary, in fact, is harmful
What time should this interesting OPP
Grafton begin?
Well, that depends mostly on the
weather. and somewhat on the hardi
ness of the individual.
This is the month.
So much can be said, and not much
more Almost any day now that has
a tinge of genuine warmth to it, even
II chilly, will see men out raking the
lawns.
Some will wear old sweaters, some
plain coats and others will appear just
in their shirt sleeves
II there is any need to lime the
soil, this may be done Immediately
after raking. There is still much to
be said for lime. 1t is in no sense
fertilizer. but simply an aid in
loosening up the soil particles, making
what fertilizer is already there more
available to the plants. A great deal
Of plain and fancy hocum has been
written about acid and alkline soils, es-
pecially in relation to grass. There are
some soils which need lime, for every
thing which can be grown in them
excepting. of course, such acid-lovers
as rhododendrons, etc.. A little lime
now and then, does few soils harm, only
good.
The early use Of the rake should be
confined to the grass.
Uncovering plant borders and beds
during this month in Washington and
vicinity Is extremely unwise
Do not permit the mania for
cleanup" to extending farther than
the lawn.
Late March weather Is notoriously
uncertain in these parts: indeed. April
is an uncertain month. but one is rea-
Sonably safe in removing old leaves or
other coverings which have collected in
beds and border, next month, but not
this.
Do not rush the season. Play safe.
Wait for the Billiards to come and 60
Any really nice day, however, this
month, rake the old lawn, If you want
to and feel like it.