Evening star., 1936-04-04

and the garden trowel-
and it's none too soon to get busy if one
wants an early garden! Our local
florists are ready to meet our demand,
be it potted tulips, Easter lilies or
narcissus to send the family on Easter
morn, or pansies to set out along the
garden walk! 1t is high time, they
say, to plant all the perennial and
rock garden plants and their trucks
filled with tons of plants are winding
their way from the nurseries to stores
and markets. Old-fashioned pinks,
Oriental poppies, lupine. foxglove.
Canterbury bells-in fact, almost any
thing your garden heart" desires may
be had.
And right here let us suggest that
you lengthen the life of your Easter
gift plants by tranSplanting them to
the garden plot after week or so in
the house. If they are coaxed along
they will undoubtedly bloom again
during the Summer. BY doing this
you not only lengthen the life of the
plant but fill in the flower beds that
have been left a little desolate and
bare by the severe Winter weather.
RUT don't let the newcomers make
you neglect your faithful Winter
houseplants. 1t is the opportune time,
you know, to give them break. Even
the most carefully tended houseplant
is by Springtime little detected. The
long Winter months of unnatural liv-
ing conditions in the house have taken
their toll. New soil and repotting or
long refreshing Summer in the out
of of-doors, however, will bring about a
complete rejuvenation.
Just as soca as the weather is set
tied, assemble the plants in some
shady spot out-of doors where exposed
roots will not dry out during the in
ventory.' (Of course, not all your
plants will need to be shifted-those
in good-sized tubs or pots, or those
that are slow growing by nature, such
as the ardisia indica, need not be
transplated but once in two years or
so) If you find that the plants need
drainage material and new rich soil,
or fertilizer, take the plant out Of the
pot completely and repot in a larger
container.
Don't be rough in making the
change-remember, it is a shock to
the roots to be shifted. The florists
advise the following procedure: Loosen
the earth with knife, or other fiat
gadget, from the sides of the pot, then
place two fingers around the stem of
the plant and hold soil with the
other fingers-tip pot and with one
hand supporting soil, rap pot sharply
on the corner of the table or other
object. You will find the plant will
come out clean. Do not remove the
old soil from the roots, but leave
intact-place in larger container and
fill out with new rich earth.
If you plan to place the plants in
the garden for the Summer, submerge
the pot and all into the earth. Give
them a dose of fertilizer and water
them faithfully.
DLANTS that stay indoors during
the Summer should have bath
once a week, say florists. Place the
pot in a pail so that the water will
cover the entire pot. Let it soak for
10 or Is minutes then remove and
let the water drain off the pot thor
oughly. (This method is particularly
effective in revivirg plants which seem
to be wilting) While the plant is
soaking give the leaves thorough
Swinging. This is equal to the clean
ing which nature gives to the outdoor
plants in the form of rain. This little
improvised shower will benefit your
plants in three wayS-it keeps the
foliage clean; keeps the stomato or
breathing pores open and keeps the
insect pest in check. Dust clogs the
breathing pores of the leaves and often
hinders the normal growth of both
foliage and leaves.
THE following tips on care of popu-
lar house plants might prove
interesting at this point:
The primrose. being hardy. will
always thrive in a cool place even If