Evening star., 1935-08-17
N OPPORTUNITY was offered
Y at the gladiolus show of the
] Takoma Horticultural Club,

- 1dhOnlu 11UI U1Iulbul al StNSp
4 n held August Z and 8, for home
gardeners to see some of the impor-
tant garden varieties of gladiolus and
to gain assurance that high-grade
gladiolus can still be grown despite
the thrips. The spike of Golden
Dream, which was awarded the dis
tinction of being the finest in the
show. was grown by H. E. Middleton
of Falls Church. Mr.. Middleton had
several other fine blooms in the show,
including Minute, lavender, and Mar
mora, smoky. The varieties, DR.. F. E.
Bennett, crimson; Betty Nuthall,
orange; Mildred Louise, salmon pink.
and Debonair, pink, from the garden
of Mr.. and Mrs. John T. Gable Of Ia
koma Park, were very beautiful.
Among other flowers the pompom zin-
MAS were exceptionally fine and a
single stalk Of Lilium tigrinum, al
most 8 feet tall and carrying some l8
flowers, caught the interest of every
one. This was grown by c. F. Roth
cry of Clarendon. L. M. Clarke, we'll
known amateur gladioluS grower from
the Woodbridge Garden Club, was
judge and Winn T. Simmons headed
the Exhibition Committee.
The Zinnia.
THIS mainstay of the local gardens
in Midsummer is a native of
Southwestern United States and Mex
leo, which possibly accounts in part
for its contentment with Washington
Summers, which usually include pc
riods of partial drought and consider
able heat. Through the genius of the
plant breeder, the zinnia is available
in diversity of forms from giant va
rieties with blooms or inches in
diameter to the pompoms. OF late
there have been created varieties with
curled and f1uted petals. ColorS vary
greatly with yellows. pinks and reds
dominating.
Culture is of the simplest nature
The seedlings grow rapidly and very
good results may be secured by seed
ing directly in the open garden in
May. Full sunlight suits them best
partial shade. Once in bloom, the
plants will keep up brilliant dis
play until frost, particularly if the
old heads are cut as they fade. The
pompom varieties offer excellent plant
material for edging beds of taller
growing species.
Delphinium Rors.
CROWN or root rot of larkspurs or
delphiniums is usually caused by
a fungus disease known technically
as Sclerotium delphinI. At first the
lower leaves are discolored, followed
shortly by death of the entire plant
The stems turn brownish-black and
the roots decay. Such a fine au-
thority as DR.. L. M. Massey Of Cornell
University states that the disease Is
difficult to control and suggests that
the primary remedy is to set healthy
plants in clean soil but that watering
the soil around the plants with cor
rosive sublimate solution made by dis
solving 1-grain tablet in quart of
water will help, particularly in the
early stages. The trouble Is more
frequent in poorly drained soils. The
treatment with the corrosive subn-
mate or mercury bichloride should be
repeated three times at weekly in
tervals.
Delphiniums enjoy neutral soils and
this condition can be brought about
by heavy lining. Good drainage con-
ditions can be secured in low gar
dens by growing the delphiniums in
beds raised a few inches above the
general soil level.
The Bag Worm.
CONSIDERABLE damage has been
reported to evergreens, particu-
larly arborvitaes, by this pest which
lives on q number Of shade trees, in
cluding hard maple, sycamore, horse
chestnut. black locust and arbor-
vitae. There is no mistaking of the
insect because Of the characteristic
bags with which the larvae protect
themselves. At this season the larva
is about full-grown and the bags
are found to be securely tied to the
tWigs Of the arborvitae or other host
plants with stout silken threads which
are so strong that, in pulling the bags,
the twigs will often be broken. In
case Of severe infestation, the larvae
will completely strip the foliage which,
in the case Of conifers, may mean the
death Of the plant.