Evening star., 1934-07-31
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEEELL.

The question has been asked us,
should one water only the brown
spots, or the entire lawn each ttme2
Our advice, based on personal ex-
per1ence. Is to water the Drowned
areas only.
This gives first aid where such aid
Is needed, and still permits the re-
mainder Of the lawn to exercise that
first great principle, self-help.
II the lawn can get along by itself,
50 much the better for the lawn.
II help is needed. as 1t so often is.
1t should go to the dryest points. That
is common sense as well as good horti-
culture. Brown spots in the grass, un-
less caused by some blight, fortunately
not very prevalent in and around
washington. are almost always the
result of lack of moisture.
Nothing is more sensible, therefore,
than to supply water Just at the
place where 1t is needed. The best
way to do this is to take the nozzle
of the hose and turn the water of
at the place of attachment to about
half force. This permits the water 10
soak into the ground, spreading out
In a little pool. This pool fulfills
two-fold purpose. it sends water di-
rectly down to the affected roots, and
also extends its source of influence to
the neighmoring grass plants which
would have suffered next. For it is
an easily observable fact that all such
brown spots, no matter where located,
tend to spread. It is reasonable to
think that when a brown area is
noticed 1t will be larger the next day.
and still larger the next. The likeli-
hood is that the underlying condi-
tions which make for the opening
wedge Of brown also are found close
by.
BY confining ones attentions solely
10 the brown areas, and leaving what
seems green alone, the gardener con-
centrates his attack. He can put more
water where 1t Is most needed by this
method in few minutes than he
could in an hour directed to the gen.
eral sprinkling of the entire lawn.
BY adopting this peacemeal system
he retains the best part of two ad-
vices, the one to never sprinkle. but
to let the lawn take care of itself.
and the second, to give watery aid
where it is needed, and when.
Thus he applies to the theory that
ounce of common sense which is the
salvation of most theories.
Often enough in practice one must
go contrary to a theory. Even then
it is good to keep the theoretical in
mind, and to let it operate, in so far
as it may.
If we apply this to lawn care, It
simply means that the ideal is to
have lawn which will take care of
itself-but how many of them are
there to be found?
Not many, and this being so. it will
be well If the average home owner
unreels the old hose and puts a little
water where 1t is needed as soon as it
is needed.
Not. -lg In all ordinary garden
practice is more satisfying than to
see 8 burned-out lawn come back"
after good watering.
In an ordinary season it may be all
right to wait for a rain, but this is
not an ordinary season, and will re-
qutre emergency measures.
There is a difference between the
old-faShioned daily light "sprinkling,"
which no doubt did more harm than
good, and a good soaking of bad
spots as and when needed. Grass is
hardy, given half chance, and one
may work wonders with little water,
If applied in the manner suggested.
Concentrate your water and it will
spread itself