Evening star., 1935-08-31

an euV1IOulueilt bAIiiiAnS W Ato noeasS
home.
Are Of Shrubbery.
THERE comes . time In the life OF
= many species Of shrubs and even
evergreens used as foundation when
It would be better TO replace them
with young, vigorous stock. Even with
severe pruning. most plants tend to
get straggly and lose their lower
branches. c.ose planting II also q
factor in bringing about this un-
slightly condition. Late Autumn is q
fine time for planting shrubbery, and
nome owners with unsatisfactory
foundation paintings would do well to
consider their renovation this year.
In many cases the soil has become
exhausted Of fertility and should be
reworked and improved
with peat moss and bone meal or
other good fertilizer. In some cases
1t would pay to remove o foot or two
of the old soil, and replace 1t with
fresh top soil. Shrubs properly planted
in late Autumn will make some root
growth during the late Winter sea-
son and will be In fine condition Tor
growth next Spring and Summer.
Narcissus Seedlings.
THE breeding Of flowers Is q fasci-
= mating hobby for many local
home gardeners and some very f1ne
narcissus, iris and gladiolus have been
originated by these enthusiastic work
ers. More gardeners would engage In
this type Of work II they understood
the elementary principles. Patience
Is possibly the most definite need, for
with the narcissus as an example, i've
or more seasons are required to bring
the new bulbs into blooming condi-
ton. Tie principal thought In Gre
ating seedlings Is to start with the
very best parents, there being little
use or wisdom in working with older
varieties unless one sees In them some
fine qualities that he would like to
see in his seedlings. The crossing Is,
Of course, done In early Spring, when
blooms are available. The seed will be
matured in late June or July and
s,.ould be sowp shortly after gather
ing, preferably in cold frame where
it can be kept under observation and
protection. Where one Is anxious to
keep each cross separate. it is well to
SOW in flower pots and plunge these
into the soil. The next Spring the
young plants will emerge with leaves
almost as small as coarse grass. It
will be at the end Of the second grow
ing seasca before the bulbs are large
enough to handle nicely and can be
set out In rows in the garden. Then
come two or three years more Of wait
ing for bloom. But once the cycle is
established and there are successive
crops coming on, the process is no
longer SO tedious. The greater part
Of the narcissus breeding is still car
ried on in England and Holland, and
there Is O real place for American
gardeners In improving this choice
Spring flower.
Fruit Insects.
AS A RULE the home gardener
- does not care to keep up q
steady fight with insects such as must
be maintained by the commercial
orchardists. There are a few pests,
however. that must be combatted to
some extent If the fruits are to be
worth while at all.
Codling moth, the worm that occurs
In apples and pears, Is about the most
obnoxious Of all. For the most part,
the insects enter the young fruits Just
after petal fall, and two timely sprays
Of arsenate Of lead. pounds in so
gallons Of water, will do much to give
the tree owner clean fruit. The first
spray should be at petal fall and the
second two weeks later.
The peach borer is bad pest, as 1t
kills the trees by girdling the trunk
underneath the outer bark. Paradi-
chlorobenzene, the material that is
used to fight clothes moths, Is the most
effective control material. About this
season o ring of the material should
be laid around the base Of the trunk,