Evening star., 1934-03-25

L local gardens in the form OF
dead or badly injured rose
bushes, crepe myrtles and the like.
Favored by long period of rela-
lively mild Winters, local gardeners
have gotten away from hardy plants.
Manv of the new roses owe their
beauty to introduction of tender va
rieties into their parentage. In
drastic test. many of these have failed.
There will obviously be a strong
tendency to return to species and
varieties which are of known hardi-
ness. 1t is to be hoped, however. that
this will not be carried to extremes
because in the intervening space pe-
tween hardness and tenderness are
included some of our most beautiful
shrubs and trees. The chances OF
another Winter such as passed seem
remote and the gardener should go
ahead and replant, perhaps with some
moderation, varieties which failed to
withstand the past Winter. Obviously,
If two plants are equally beautiful but
differ in hardness, the choice should
60 to the harder kind.
Roses that were mounded with SOIL
will. in most cases. put forth new
shoots in due season. For the tlme
being it is we'll to cut back the DEAD
wood to near the ground and await
DEVELOPMENTS. AS gardeners Know
the hybrid tea roses, such as Radiance,
bloom on new growth and hence
few live buds at the base of the plant
mean a possibility of flowers this year.
With climbers it is different. New
canes may put forth but Will not
bloom until 1885. 1T
In a measure, roses compare WIN
peaches. The peach grower IN TINS
general area knows he faces prospects
of destructive years. Yet his crop is
sufficiently frequent and sufnclently
worthwhile to warrant the chances.
Certainly much the same attitude can
be adopted for the choice roses and
other plants that have suHereo 'ii's
Winter.
Pruning
"A LTHOUGH a little late for some
~ species, such as the grape, the
season of pruning is still at hand
for MANY plants, such as the apple,
peach rose, hardy hydrangea ana
Grape myrtle. Pruning in the hanos
of the thoughtful gardener is not
simply the exercising OF the shears,
saw or knife, as it may be. Certain
detectives should be in mind, such. Tor
example as the clearing out OF deao
or unfruitful wood, the opening OF the
plant to permit the entrance OF hght
and air to the inner branches, or the
stimulation, such as is the case OF
buddleia and hardy hydrangea. OF
new, strong growth for new flowers.
The skilled gardener considers flrst
what type of wood bears the flowers.
He realizes that, in pruning at TINS
time or earlier weigeha, forsythla,
oeutzia. lilac, snowballs and certain
other Spring Towering species, ne
would be simply cutting off that much
of his prospective floral display. On
the other hand, he knows that, in
buddleia, hardy hydrangea, Grape
myrtle and a few other species that
flower in Midsummer or later on new
wood, now is the time to do the neces-
sary trimming to keep the plants In
good form and condition. OF course,
dead wood and conflicting branches
NAV be removed at any season.
The grape is probably the most
important fruit plant in the urban
garden, possibly because it serves
both as a grower of food and an
ornamental. Grape vines are often
used to cover arborS and pergolas.
Irrespective of how the vine is trained,
the fundamental principle Is the
same. namely, that fruit Is produceo
on new growth developing from the
preceding years buds. II all the 1883
growth is cut away no crop is pos
sible. Grape vines, If allowed 10
grow at random, gradually become
q thick network of canes which ac-
tually smother one another. AS
result, punches become small ana
fail to ripen evenly and insects ana
disease have easy access. A strong,
thrifty vine can carry so or more OF
last years buds after pruning. On
an arbor these buds will obviously
be on short spurs OF two or three
buds, In the vineyard proper, they
are usually left on four strong canes
carefully tied to supporting horizon
tai wires.
Spring Work.
-OR many home gardeners the first
n task of early Spring consists in
the cleaning up of the entire
grounds. Leaves have way OF mat
ting closely along fence rows ana
hedges and will smother the new
growth of perennials if permitted
to lie too long. Most gardeners pro-
ceed to burn these leaves. A few rec
ognize their manurial value and pile
them in an unused corner. II a lew
mounds of nitrogen fertilizer are
scattered in the pile of leaves, 1t Will
hasten decomposition and increase
the value of the residue. Old STALKS
of herbaceous perennials should pe
gathered and destroyed or composteo.
Following the cleanup. about the
next step is the spading OF the vege-
table garden area. The soil SPACES
easily in early Spring and when
turned over dries rapidly to cond1-
tion for planting. There is little OBJ
tect in leveling the soil until the
day of planting.
The lawn demands attention at this
season. 1t should be raked free OF
twigs, old crab grass and the like ana
reseeded wherever the sod appears
thin. The annual Spring broadcast
of fertilizer should be applied before
the grass renews rapid growth. Ken
lucky bluegrass, the most desirable
of all lawn species makes rapid growth
IN April and should be encouraged
by liberal March fertilizing.
Farmers Bulletin 1877, Planting
and Care of Lawns, by H. L. West
over and C. r. Enlow, suggests the
use of IS pounds of 6-8-4 mixed
fertilizer per each 1000 square feet
of lawn. Many of the garden supply
houses carry such material in
stock. This mixture is relatively high
in nitrogen, the element that stimu-
lates rich, luxuriant growth. An
other combination suggested is cot
ton seed meal, three parts, and sui
phate of ammonia. one part. Nine
pounds of the cotton seed and three
of the sulphate of ammonia per l'ooo
square feet of lawn surface Is sui