Evening star., 1934-08-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES L. TRACEWELL.

not do the damage they seem to be
doing. II the gardener is able, in
this, as in similar matters, to see
the interesting side of such work,
as well as the possibilities of damage,
he will find that gardening becomes
an open invitation to nature study
in a small way. Let us emphasize
that this way, though small, is quite
enough, since the average gardener
has his walk in life. The observa-
ton of natural things is an enter
tanning side line" If he chooses to
make 1t SO.
He will come In time to see that
the damage which so many Of the
creatures do, in gardens, is more
apparent than real. The ugly mounds
Of red clay thrown up by the ants
will disappear at the first rain. The
circular spots of bare earth they
cause will be grown over by grass
in a month or so, If the gardener
is able to forget them for the time
being.
The damage which dogs and cats
and other creatures do in the culti-
waited garden Is more apparent than
real.
How can I keep dogs of my ever
greens?" and How can I keep cats
out of my yard?" are questions often
seen in query departments in maga-
zines given over to the consideration
of house and garden.
These are mostly expressions of
human sdispleasure, as such. rather
than expressions of fact, for the dam
age caused is mostly to the mind.
always so ready to jump to conclu-
sions, always SO ready to become
''peeved" at something or other.
Well, that is humanity, is it not?
1t is the human equivalent of sheer
animal anger, but the amazing thing
is that animals tend to become angry
over something which they think
threatens their existence, whereas
human beings can become "peeved"
over anything at all, just something
or other which they do not like.
And their likes and dislikes are based
upon such flimsy structures. Many
gardener who fuses and fumes
because Of cats digging in flower
beds would leave this perennial worry
behind If he would quietly check up,
over an entire season, on the actual
damage done by these furry culprits.
He would see, much to his amazement,
that the damage was more apparent
than real, that very little true harm
resulted to anything, that certainly
no damage was caused to compensate
the gardener for the perpetual unrest
he aynarion0aI fhro,rohn,.f tha eaos0v,
over the matter.
Many q suburban property holder
worries nightly over the possible
harm to his succulent plants from the
rabbits, wild specimens of which may
be seen all Spring and Summer long.
Yet these interesting creatures, rightly
viewed, are one of the charms of
the country and near-country. What
Is the loss Of one or two Of the
smaller plants compared with the
pleasure of watching these bright
eyed creatures, with their amazing
ability to hold still for so long, and
their kangaroo-like leaps when they
start running?
Squirrels, too, outrage many resi-
dents, but in an entire season these
rodents will do little if any real dam
age. Unless, Of course, they happen
to do it! Squirrels which manage to
get into attics, or the like, unques-
tionably can do harm. In the garden,
however, they are mainly source of
amusement to watchers, especially If
there are cats about. Cats seldom
catch squirrels, but the interchange
between the two is interesting at all
times. Dogs, CATS squirrels, rabbits,
bees, wasps, butterflies, all the score
and one small living things are guests
In our garden as well as any, and
just as welcome.