Evening star., 1934-01-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES &. TRACEWELL.

! particular liking. for some reason or
other.
Garden records are Of all sorts, but
deal, II one Is sensible enough to con-
suit them at least once q year.
There is no good In keeping such q
record II 1t is to be permitted to lie un-
regarded like many snapshots in their
envelopes as they came from the de-
velopers.
If q garden diary" of this type is
kept at all, the real gain from it comes
annually, preferably at this season, be-
fore the outdoor work has begun.
y X
Here in the catalogue is q gorgeously
colored photograph of novelty" in
Towering vines, at least which was q
novelty last year, or maybe the year be-
fore.
Here is the same picture which in
trigued one into purchasing some Of the
seed last Spring
But what says the record?
There, in black and white, is a tale
Of disappointment, with the succinct
note: mo one else consulted about this
flower reported success with it,"
So why order it again? And one does
not. unless gifted with a stubborn streak
which compels one, be he gardener or
other, to keep on trying.
X
If you don't succeed at first, try, try
again" hasn't so much relevancy In the
garden.
Consider Mecanopsis baileyi, for in
stance, seeds of which were listed a
year ago by many seedsmen.
This years catalogues show it Con
Spicuous by its absence" Even some
OF its relatives are listed as plants for
the expert"
No, there is not much use in the
average home gardener fooling around
with such difficult things. There are
other flowers just as beautiful, and far,
far easier to grow
Ease OF growth Is not the whole story,
but it is surely part of it in every man S
garden. which ought to be a place for
peaceful triumph, not brooding failure
There is enough failure in the world,
without deliberately planting it in ones
garden plot.
Restriction is the very keynote of gar
den selection, if the home gardener
wishes to conduct his activities as hap
PLY as possible.
Not that certain good small daring
is not in order, but it should be kept
we'll in hand. One may hope that time
will never bring the garden that sees
no new thing in 1t. II there is a chance
for failure. there is an opportunity for
success, too. Some few things, to take
chance on, but not many, and of such
nature that possible lack of success
With them will not do the garden any
real harm.
Here are pictures and descriptions of
all the old favorites, beloved of home
loving people for decades. It is not for
nothing that these plants, these shrubs,
these evergreenS. these vegetables have
triumphed the world around. wherever
human beings have the ability and dis
elimination to love gardens and the
things of the gardens
These are the growing creatures of
earth which do well for us. and as such
they deserve our fullest support. Most
ly they get it. The list of successful
creations is so great that no gardener
no matter how much money or time or
leisure he has. can ever come to the
end Of them. The world of the garden
is like the world of books. without be-
ginning or end. The successful things
in it deserve the admiration they re-
celve. Maybe, plants uDtried will be as
fine, that remains to be seen In the
meantime We have cur flowers and
vegetables and shrubs all so beauti-
fully pictured and described here in the
catalogues which come to us at this
time Of the year. in all their plentitude
Of color and temptation. to lure us on
! to the great open season of few
months hence.