Evening star., 1934-06-17
>HE perennial forms of larkspurs
are at once the most desirable
and the most difficult species

are at once the most desirable
and the most difficult species
Il to maintain in the garden.
Their magnificent spikes OF
blue receive universal admiration and
create a beautiful background for
lower growing plants. Yet it is very
common experience among gardeners
to have fiourishing plants die down
after blooming and fail to reappear.
The roots are very susceptible to GER
tain soil inhabiting organisms, partic-
ularly If planted under unfavorable
conditions. They simply cannot en-
dure wet, soggy soil
That it is possible to grow perennial
larkspur successfully has been demon
strated by certain local gardeners.
some of whom have paintings several
, years of age. Perhaps the secret lies
in deep, loose soil, kept so by incor-
porating thoroughly rotted stable ma
nure. Lime Is also very helpful, prob
! ably both from nutritional and soil
disinfection standpoints The combin-
| alton for success seems to be a richly
| nourished soil, of sufficient porosity to
admit air to the roots and drain away
freely excess moisture. There simply
is no purpose in trying to grow peren-
nial larkspurs in low areas where wa
ter stands after rains. Larkspur grow
ing will always be rather exacting, but
the rewards for successful efforts are
large.
Annual 1arkSpurs, on the other
hand, are of easiest culture, resolving
themselves in great profusion if the
beds are not Spaded during the Winter
season. The colors are more diverse
in the annual group, with more pinks
and whites. The ANIMALS make ex-
cellent material for cutting, perhaps
more SO than the tall perennials, which
are too large for ordinary home dec
grafton.
For complete and authentic dis
cussion on the growing of delphiniums
one may consult 'Delphiniums." by
G. A. Phillips, published in London in
1888.
Narcissus Care.
Nov that the leaves are maturing
on the narcissus, it is well that
whatever digging of bulbs is sched-
uled should be shortly done. NarcisSus
does not require annual digging, but,
after three or four years in situ, one
will find the number and size of
blooms decreasing. Competition be-
tween the several bulbs prevents their
full development and shortly they be-
come too weak to flower. When dig
ging an old clump of narcissus, it is
not unusual to find two or three dozen
bulbs in place Of the original one.
Obviously, such q cluster cannot
thrive.
The bulbs should be permitted to
dry in the shade and then should be
placed in baskets or paper sacks and
stored in dry situation until late
August or early September. When re-
planting, the largest bulbs should be
selected and the surplus planted in
nursery rows or discarded.
The narcissus is an ideal home gar
den plant. vigorous, permanent and
requiring little care, yet the operation
Of separation and replanting cannot
be neglected.
Iris Root Rot.
p H1ZOME rot of the garden iris
~ appears rather prevalent this year
due to the fact the conditions which
favor plant development also favor
disease progress. Infection of the
iris takes place through wounds of
various sorts, the most important
agent being the irish borer Often
the first external manifestation will
be dying of tissues near the tip. AS
the disease advances in the root other
leaves begin to succumb. An examina-
tion of the rhizone will show the
presence of a foul-smelling soft yel-
low rot. Control rests in surgical
measures, If they may be so called.
That is, the infected plants should be
lifted and all diseased parts of the root
cut away, and the remaining portion
dipped in a solution of mercury BIZ
chloride or of any of the several pro-
prietary organic mercury compounds
sold in garden supply stores. After the
treatment the plant may be reset In
freshly spaded soil. Contributing fac
tors are shade in crowded clumps and
also heavy wet soil. No one could
mistake the rot because OF its evil
odor. Fortunately it is not usually
serious until the plants have reached
the stage where they need dlVldlng
and resetting. Late June and July
an ideal season for setting out German
iris.
Bean Beetle.
GROWERS in the surrounding coun-
~ try report that the Mexican bean
beetle is very numerous this season
and is destroying beans despite Stren-
NOUS efforts to control the pest. Farm
ers' Bulletin. No. 14o7, THE Mexican
Bean Beetle in the East" by Neale r.
Howard. treats rather fully OF this
insect and its control. The adult is
described as a copper-colored beetle,
bearing eight black spots on each
wing cover. Its length is about one
fourth inch. The immature form or
larva is orange-colored. The beetles
feed on many different plants, lncluo-
ing table beans, cowpeas, soy oeans'
and beggar weeds.
Lead arsenate, used for many lea1-
es ting insects, cannot be used TO con-
troll bean beetles because 1t burns the
foliage. Fortunately, magnesium arse
nate is effective and not injurious 10
the plants. This poison may be USED
either as a dust or as a spray, but,
since the beetles feed on the under
side of the leaves, the liquid must be
applied with upturned nozzles.
The quantity of materials in the
Dust are one part of magnesium arse
nate and three parts hydrated lime
for severe infestations. The spray Is
made of one ounce of the magnesium
arsenate to three gallons of water.
The hazard of poison residues must