Evening star., 1935-10-10
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

What will another sub-zero Winter do
to roses and privet hedges?
These are the plants which seem to
have suffered most from the exceptionally
cold weather in this vicinity during the
past two years.
Neither has been killed, but both look
very bad.
Privet hedges, long the favorite of
suburban gardeners, have done nothing
all Summer long.
They are still alive, but look for all the
world as If they were about to die.
That thick growth which once so de-
lighted the home loving mind is no more,
but In its stead we have sparse, seraggly
branches, If there is any growth at all.
n
AS for roses, one has but to look in the
public parks to see what they have suf-
fered.
Even the pink and red forms of Ra-
dance, hardest of all bush roses, under
went an eclipse as result of the hard
Winters of 1933-34 and 1934-35.
Whlle their roots are very much alive,
and they gave many good roses this sea-
son, their appearance is far from thrifty,
as any one knows who remembers them
in their prime
This is not in just one garden. mind
you, but all over the city.
Bushes which formerly were adorned
with scores upon scores of fine blooms
we had almost said hundreds of roses
this season did well to produce flowers
by the half Dozen
Whether the vitality of these roses and
heogeS is hurt permanently remains to
pe seen, nut we rather suspect they might
as well be pulled up now for all the good
they are going to do in the future. Espe-
cially, that is, if another really severe
Winter overtakes them.
They are still alive, but not doing well.
nature S reserves are vast, but there is a
question whether they are quite big
enough to bring these hurt plants out of
their doldrums
The sick plant is something which has
been given little study. We do not mean
illness caused by insect, parasites, fungi
and the like. These have been the study
OF hundreds of scientists the world over.
Efhcient remedies and controls have been
devised. The Government has one bureau
gwen over to the study of fungicides and
insecticides, and many men in other
places working on these problems. Every
State has its experts at work.
Little has been done on the problem
OF the sickly plant, as distinguished from
the attacked one There are in all gardens
certain plants which never do we'll They
are akin. perhaps, to the child born with
out vitality. Often such grows up and
lives for many years beyond the average
span, without once being fit, in the usual
sense, or even in tolerable health. Such
persons seldom receive the attention or
consideration they should. No doubt in
rougher societies they would die off
quickly, but in civilized communities their
chances for survival and good to them
selves and others are large Their prob
lens, however. are not considered as they
should be. Companions call them lazy"
and speak of their Indifference when
really at bottom they are ILL., It is these
people, rather than criminals. who should
receive study, and be treated as medical
cases.
Garden flowers and shrubs which do
not do well, but which do not die. either.
are known to every one interested in
gardening. There is no garden so small
it does not have several specimens. One
may never bloom. Another never grows.
We speak not of plants improperly
planted as to light requirements. These