Evening star., 1935-03-18
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

slugs ruthlessly. A good sprinkling
of salt will wither them.
| 4 y y
Lawns appear in exceptionally good
condition. From now on they should
get better and better day by day in
every way.
Still there is no need for any one
to rush the season" by raking them
too early.
This Is the standard garden task
beloved by a million gardeners.
Many, indeed, find 1t the only such
task they really enjoy.
Somehow it fits in with the fine
spirit of the season. 1t appeals to the
mind as well as the muscles. Almost
any pleasant day now which hap
pens to call one outdoors may be
used for the purpose.
AS for the sowing Of grass seed,
this may be done at any time from
now on, the sooner the better. It will
not make much difference whether
the new blades sprout at once. II
suddenly harsh weather holds them
back, they will come up in time, I'M
less the birds get them. For this
reason 1t always Is best to put in a
great deal more seed than one i'm
agines necessary.
Even the newcomer realizes that
no grass seed should be soWn until
the yard has been raked.
As general thing it is a good plan
to count on putting in about four
times as much seed as one thinks
necessary. As stated, a certain per-
centage Of 1t will go to the birds, espe-
c1ally in the neighborhoods where
starllngS descend Just before dusk.
| These birds are great eaters, and al
tnougn II Is by no means their favo-
rite food, still grass seed will be taken
IN large quantities.
1t might even be good practice for
the sower Of lawn grass seed to keep
a watch-out for birds, especially if
the seed is put out in truly warm
weather, and frighten them away as
much as he can, or has time for, until
the seeds have terminated.
One OF the best and easiest ways to
improve the quality of lawn which is
not as good as one might desire is to
SOW Kentucky blue grass every Spring
and in early September. In a few
years this will make the lawn appre-
ciably better. The turf will be thicker
and will be greener in late Autumn
and in Winter than before such SOW
ing. 1t Will be thicker, especially in
early Spring, when every one wants to
see green grass and plenty of 1t.
| = \ n
II one contemplateS pool this year.
there is no reason for hurrying its
construction. All chances for freezing
should be passed. so that some time
in the latter half of April or early
May will be soon enough. 1t will be
about right for putting in goldfshes
then, but it must always be kept In
mind that a concrete pool must be
soaked for several weeks, with repeat
ed changes Of water, before animals
are placed in it. If wooden tub is
used. this. too. must be soaked, for new
wood is inimical to fish life. A gal
vaniZed tub, in our experience, is not
hurtful to fishes. Some recommend
the coating of the inside with as
phaltum.
Possibilities for rock garden must
be considered. There is usually some
place in the average yard where the
inclusion of few stones and typical
rock-garden plants would be better
ment. Let us not overlook such oppor-
tunities. The thing to do, in the
average small garden, Is not to work
toward somebody else's ideal. though
set down in ever so fair words, but
rather to make the most Of what one
has and work out the garden on its
natural basis. The gardener who does
this will get more fun in the doing
and achieve better garden picture
in the long run.