Evening star., 1938-07-23
The Garden Notebook
Aster Beetles Now Beginning
To Make Their Appearance.
the nezv grOsVfh ENCOURAGED.

remove the arSenatF II 1t is used in
dust form.
The aster beetles are beginning to
make their appearance in the flower
garden. They are voracious eaters and
will destroy the flowers of many plants
almost before their presence is noticed.
The flowers of asters, dahlias, coreopsis
and many others are destroyed each
year BY this pest. 1t is easily con-
trolled, however, If steps are taken in
time. Spray or dust with any of the
so-called stomach poisons- lead arse
nate, rotenone, etc. The arsenates are
poisonous to warm -blooded animals,
but rotenone Is not.
Crabgrass is an annual-keep it from
going to seed and you can control it.
In the never-ending battle to control
crabgrass in the lawn we sometimes
lose sight of the importance of keep
ing the lawn mown. Particularly in
July and August when the lawns are
dry and the grass is short there ap-
pears to be little or no need for ex-
ercising the lawnmower. Actually the
crabgrass-infested lawn needs fire.
quent and thorough moving. Cut the
grass, rake, and cut again if you
would really get the crabgrass. The
branches of the crabgrass sprawl close
to the surface and by raking carefully
many of the branches will be lifted to
a point where the lawnmower can
reach and cut them.
This summer has very clearly DEM
onstrated the value of properly pre-
pairing the soil before seeding the
lawn or laying sod. The lawns that
had ample humus incorporated in
them before the grass was started sur
vived the drought much better than
those where the soil received little or
no treatment. Likewise, perennial
beds that contained peatmoss or other
forms of humus suffered much less
than those lacking adequate prepara-
ton.
Humus can be added to flower bor-
ders quite easily, whereas it is prac-
tically impossible to add appreciable
quantities of humus to lawn with
out digging it up. Initial thorough
preparation is of the utmost impor-
tance in lawn making.
Speaking of droughts, the Washing
ton area, up to the first of July, lacked
approximately eight inches of having
had avera 90 rainfall
Now that the season for moving
Oriental poppies Is at hand, August
and September, consider the methods
OF propagation. (D Have you tried
digging and moving them? Every piece
Of root left behind will grow and de-
velop into strong young plant in
one year. (2) Or, cut off some of the
old roots and cut them into pieces
about two inches long. Plant in a
shallow trench and in a years time
you will find q number Of fine, husky
plants that are we'll worth having
CD Division of the crown is another
method Of propagating, although most
Of us hesitate to tear a good, vigorous
plant apart.
Do not water the Oriental poppies
after they become dormant; they seem
to enjoy q baking in the hot sun. It
Is advisable to prevent water from
soaking down onto the crown by
mounding up with soil.
There was lengthy discussion re-
Gently as to the advisability Of leaving
water In the garden hose or of DRAIN
ing it. Regardless of the pros and
cons Of the discussion, a garden hose
will last much longer If rolled up
and put away each time after using.
The hot sun Injuries the rubber
whether it has water in it or not. A
hose reel, If used, will drain most of
the water from the hose as it Is
rolled up. Store in a basement or
garage where it is protected from the
sun.
I read about 600-brick fireplace
in a back yard and how useful it
was. Well, I counted the bricks in
mine and there was just about one
tenth of that number. Not that
big one isn't useful, but it costs TOO
much money and work to build. Mine
is laid together with no mortar, but
I am willing to bet that it will cook
just as much hamburger as the big
one will. But, big or little, have an.
outdoor fireplace.
Mulches are good for the garden
during July aud August. In eeptem-
hes and later, however, thsZ ~ apt