Evening star., 1934-10-13

initial cost Of trees. However, none
Of these disadvantages would matter
Of much significance II popular de-
mand were great enough to create a
worthwhile industry. It becomes q
question Of producing small crop
Of large, excellent fruits on small trees
as contrasted with a large crop Of
mediocre quality on large trees.
What is a dwarf tree? 1t is the
result of budding or grating variety
on @ small growing rootstock that is
unable to supply all the nutrients that
the top could utilize, thus checking
its growth. Pears are dwarfted by
grating them on ounce roots, apples
by grating on small crabs and so on.
BY careful thinning of the fruits on
the dwarf trees, one secures fine, large
specimens. There are few nurseries
that supply these dwarfs and 1t Is
altogether possible that some day there
will be a great development in dwarf
fruit growing in this country. So far,
fruit has been so generally abundant
and reasonably priced that home gar
deners have given more consideration
to flowers.
Garden Notes.
For many years fruit growers have
accepted the statement that peach
fruit buds could not Withstand more
than 10 degrees below zero. How
ever, the past Winter proved that this
was not necessarily true, for in sew
eral authentic cases fair crops were
obtained from trees subjected to 20
degrees below zero. The probability
Is that plant breeders have made
progress in developing harder varie-
ties.
Strong pansy plants set out Of
doors at this season will Winter and
give the home gardener a wealth Of
early Spring bloom through Decora-
ton day. But it Is not SUFFICIENT that
the plants be simply set in the soil
with no preparation. Stiff, sticky
clay should be Softened with peat
moss or rotted leaf mold and, If pos
sible, some well-rotted stable manure
added to supply plant food. Instead
of simply thruSting the roots into a
hole, some care should be taken to
spread the roots and to firm the soil
about the newly set plants. Along
about the middle of November, be-
fore the coming Of real Winter, the
soil between the plants should be
mulched with peat moss. This final
treatment will keep the plants from
being forced out with freezes and
thawS. A few pine boughs scattered
over the beds will make certain Of
safe outcome.
Lilies have pronounced soil prefer
ences. Only few, including the
Madonna lily, tolerate lining and
attempts to grow lilies In garden
soil that has been heavily lined
usually lead to disappointment. Most
species thrive In partial shade, so
long as they are amply supplied with
plant foods. Fresh manure placed
in contact with the bulbs is generally
disastrous and many growers sur
round the new bulbs with sand, not
only to provide drainage, but to iso-
late the bulb from organic materials
that might start rotting. Mulching
the soil after planting with peat moss
and well-rotted manure provides pro-
lection and nutrients for next sea-
sons growth.
Lilies are wonderfully worthwhile
in the garden, but their culture leads
to many disappointments, even for
the skilled grower, especially when
one attempts to grow the difficult
species.
The Garden Clubs.
THE Potomac Rose Society deserves
the approval of all citizens as well
as home gardeners for the wonderful
display in the new National Museum
on October and 6. It is rather sim
gular that the honor of exhibiting the
finest rose of all, Betty Uprichard.
should have been won by an outside
entry, yet it Is significant Of the wide.
spread interest in this show. Last
year 1t was yellow rose, Mrs. Pierre
5. Dupont. and this year q pink va
riety, neither brand-new varieties but
both highly desirable for the home
gardener who will spray or dust his
plants. Let us hope that interest in
this enterprising local rose organiza-
ton continues to grow and to ripen
into many more such fine exhibitions,
The Community Garden Club of
Rockville staged a beautiful horticul-
tural show on the evening of October
. IN the hall Of the local Fire De-
partment building. Brilliant Autumn
colors OF the dahlia and other Fall
flowers made the occasion gay and
brilliant, but the more humble fruits
and vegetables came in for their share
Of interest. The Rockville Club, in
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