Evening star., 1936-07-08
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

First zinnia blossoms of the season
show the beauty OF common plants.
Few flowers are more widely grown
than this one, few give more universal
satisfaction to so many persons Of such
widely varying tastes.
This Is because the zinnia, despite its
commonness, is really very beautiful
thing, In its modern versions, the results
OF years OF labor on the part of devoted
hybridizers the world around.
Named after a German botanlst by
the name OF Zinn, this flower may be
purchased in more than so varieties,
ranging from large blooms which almost
rival dahlias, to tiny fellows Of the POM
pom type.
Even the most stand -oflsh persons
have come to see that this is q pretty
flower, not only for the garden, but also
for cut flowers in vases in the home.
For the latter use there are several
small types which fulfill every demand
OF the artistic. Some of these smaller
Zinnias come in very subdued, pastel
shades, which lend themselves admirably
to vase or bowl treatment. They are
especially effective against modern WALL
marily as good background.
ANIMALS Of all types are doing better,
now that rain has made conditions more
suited to them.
One Of the finest achievements of rain
IN the garden, next to the good it does
the growing things of the earth, is the
sense of well-being 1t brings to the gar
dener.
Only those interested in some way in
plants know the sense of immense sat
iSfaction which comes with a fine rain.
Every drop then is a godsend, instead
Of being the nuisance so many people
regard it.
A rainy day becomes a treasure.
That this Is really worthwhile mental
attitude may be seen easily in talking
to the great majority of the people one
meets on q rainy day.
"Oh, isn't this weather awful" they
declare
What one would like to say is, "Oh, do
you feel that way? Why. I think it is
simply an immense day, gorgeous day,
a day beloved of all my trees, grass,
shrubs, evergreens, perennials. ANIMALS,
ferns"
One doesn't make such a speech, Of
course. for obvious reasons, but surely
the home gardener mostly feels that way.
In the first place, the gardener knows
better than most just how dry the sea-
son may be. A succession of dry. sun
shine days. while great for outdoor
sports, really constitute a drought.
Recall how the great so-called aver
age person was surprised recently at the
announcement Of drought in the West,
and official statements that there really
had been less precipitation this Spring
and Summer so far than during the
great drought of several years ago.
All this was no surprise to home gar
deners hereabouts. Whether they grew
ornamental plants or vegetables or bet
ter, both, in their gardens. they knew
that all growing things of the earth
were suffering from q real lack of water.
What may be done with the garden
hose is very little, in comparison with
what Nature does with real rain.
In such capriciouS seasons as the
present, even small rains are welcome,
and do a great deal of good. But the
hose must not be overlooked. When
there simply is no rain, 1t is much
better than nothing.
The lawn, in particular. will need
water when it needs it. This statement
may need explanation. There has grown
up in recent years feeling on the part