Evening star., 1934-07-15
N NrTR EcTTNG


according 70 the author, a professor
Of plant pathology in one Of the large
Midwestern land-grant universities,
three potentially serious troubles that
may beset the deIphinium at this sea-
son. The first. known as bacterial
leaf spot. Is distinguished by shiny
black spots and streaks in the leaves
that sometimes kill most Of the
leaves About the only measure at
this time is to cut away the injured
stalks and burn them. Drenching the
soil about the base OF the plants with
bordeaux mixture is recommended.
In the early Spring, spraying the young
plants with bordeaux mixture is help
ful.
The second trouble discussed is that
known as root rot or crown rot, some
times also known as mustard seed
fungas because of the small irregularly
spherical bodies formed around the
infected plant parts. These bodies.
technically known as sclerotia, are the
means by which the disease is spread
from plant to plant and by which 1t
survives the Winter. As a remedy 1t
of land plaster or gypsum be placed
about the base of the diseased plant
and worked well into the soil about the
crown. Badly diseased plants should
be destroyed.
The third disease is known as
delphinium blacks and may be
recognized readily by thee black dis
torted flower heads The diseased
blooms should be cut off and burned
and the uninjured spikes treated with
a nicotine spray. made up Of one
teaspoon Of nicotine Sulphate in
gallon of water in which has been
dissolved a piece of soap about the
size of a walnut. Spraying once a
week is advised
DelphiniumS are desired by every
home gardener. ANY measures that
promise help in growing this gorgeous
species are at least worth giving a
genuine trial.
July Flowers.
4 TRIP about the suburbs at this
"A time will show that phlox both
the perennial and annual varieties,
petunias and zinnia are the main
stays in supplying color to the home
gardens. OF the three. the perennial
phlox is the only one to offer any
difficulty in growing Too often the
lower leaves of this fine garden plant
drop away prematurely. leaving bare
stems with only few top leaves to
support the flowers. DR.. r. P White,
in New Jersey Agricultural Expert
ment Stations Circular 226, 1881,
describes three different leaf troubles
of the phlox, namely, mildew, leaf
spot and leaf blight.
Sanitary measures are important in
the control of all three, that is, in
late Autumn the plants should be
cut to the ground and the refuse
burned, together with the fallen
leaves Mlldew can be checked by
spraying the plants with colloidal
sulphur or with potassium iodide So
luton. DuSting with sulphur of very
fine particles is also effective. Plant
ing phlox in dense masses favorS
disease and should be avoided.
1t is difficult to picture more
beautiful flower than nicely grown
hardy phlox, and it is certainly worth
little extra care to bring it through
to perfection.
Rest Periods.
ONE of the curious phenomena in
plant life is the habit that many
species have of taking a complete rest
some time during the year. Some
times it is the seed that will not ger
inmate when first matured. Some
times it is a tulber such as that of
the Irish potato. And again it may
be tree that takes its rest in Mid
summer or in Winter or in both sea-
sons
The matter is brought to atten-
ton at this time because some home
gardeners may try to plant new crop
Irish potatoes in their gardens. This
would lead to disappointment be-
cause the tubers will not start readily
or evenly. Much work has been done
on the why's and wherefores of this
rest period, but the real nature is still
largely unknown. A period of ex-
posure to low temperature will bring
about the breaking of the rest in
many plants and exposure to certain
gases is also effective. Many of the
potatoes shipped to the Bermuda
Island for Fall planting are now
treated with an ethylene gas, thus
making possible an early crop.
The AbeIia.
JUST now coming into bloom, the
= abelia takes its place as one of our
most desirable Summer Towering
shrubs. not because of a great show
of bloom as one might expect from
the grandiose name, Abelia chinensis
, grandiflora, but because of its dainty
charm. The small bell-shaped white
flowers, tinged with pink. are pro-
| duced in great profusion over a period
Of several weeks. 1t is, however, the
combination of reddish tinged foliage,
| dainty growing habit and flowers that
make for the abelia's popularity with
those who have come to know it. That
the plant has great landscape value is
attested by the wide use throughout
the District of Columbia park system
and in many private gardens.
Berry Producing Shrubs.
! Nj EA4N L llOllC SdIOtHeIS are INTEREST
ed in the berry bearing shrubs.
not only because Of their beauty when
in fruit, but also because certain of
them supply a welcome food to song
birds. One Of our leading ornamental
nurseries suggests the following list of
berry bearers as especially desirable !:
japanese barberry ed-leaved bar
berry, beauty berry (Callicarpa)
rockspray (Cotoneaster), dogwood.
| corkbark CEuonymus alata), burning
bush (EuonymuS europaeus), Morrow
honeysuckle, Carmine crab (Malus as
trosanguinea), purple crab (Malus
purpurea), Chinese bamboo CNandina
domestica). firethorn Pyracantha
/ LalandD. white kerria. snowberries,
high-bush cranberry Viburnum opu-
lus) and Viburnum rhytidophyllum.
/ OF the group. the rockspray, dog
| wood. honeysuckle, snowberry and
| high-bush cranberry are considered
particularly valuable for birds. being
eaten readily by certain species.
When it is considered how short the
blooming period of most of the shrubs
really is as compared with that in
1 Nwt aI