Evening star., 1939-08-19
Leaves From
Notebook
Time to Plant
Daffodils Is
September

September is the time recon-
mended for the planting of daffodil
bulbs, so 1t is we'll to be thinking
about placing your order. While
they may again be imported from
Holland, there are ample stocks OF
American-grown bulbs which are
reasonably priced and of excellent
quality.
Maryland requires all bulbs brought
into the State to be inspected fol
nematodes and bulb flies. infested
bulbs should be given the hot-water
treatment. Unless carefully done
this may injure the dormant flower
buds, but it is far better to lose q
few blooms the first year than tc
run the risk of infesting your gar
den with the nematode or the mar
cissus bulb fly.
Mr.. Robert Moncure alexandria
Va, writing in the January issue
of the National Horticultural maga-
zine calls attention to several rock
garden plants and in particular to
the Campanula porsharskyana. Mr.
Moncure describes it as a huskier
grower and with a longer Towering
season than Campanula garganica
The name is terrible but the cam
panulas are splendid rock garden
subjects.
Now is the time to dig organic
matter deeply into the flower beds
IN preparation for the new plants
we are going to set out this fall
Added humus means a greater food
supply and greater water holding
capacity. 1t is best to add the
humus before planting rather than
afterward.
For the home gardener who would
like to try something new this fall
it is suggested he start freezia corms
now for winter bloom. The corms
may be started this month in 6-inch
bulb pans. Use a soil mixture con-
sisting OF parts garden loan, l of
leafmold and of sand. Add a
spoonful of bonemeal and 2 of dried
COW manure to each quart of soil
A 6-inch bulb pan will hold 10 or
IL corms, which should be planted
about l inch deep. Water mod
erately and keep in a cool shady
location to start. Bring indoors
before frost and keep growing in
a cool place.
Snapdragon seed may be sown
now for winter bloom. Start the
seed in a well-drained, shaded
frame. Pot up the plants before
frost and pinch back to keep them
bushy. They will bloom for a long
time If kept moist and in a fairly
cool but sunny place.
The reasons for chrysanthemums
losing their lower leaves is fire.
quently asked. Three causes are
known; l. Lack of food or improper
food balance; 2. Lack of moisture
and 3. the Chrysanthemum nema.
tode. In most cases the nematode
(eel-worm) is probably responsible
This tiny pest, which is widel,
spread throughout the country
penetrates the tissue and kills the
leaves. No control is absolute but b,
allowing ample space between the
plants, spraying with nicotine-sul.
phate and burning all dead and in.
tested leaves, partial control may be
obtained. Avoid wetting the leave.
when watering as the nematode
travels in the moisture film on thu
surface of the leaf.
At this season of the year garder
pools often look like green pea sour
due to minute plants called algae
These may be destroyed and thu
water clarified by using copper-sul.
phate. The merest trace is all tha,
is necessary, for an overdose will xii
the fish. Since this chemical i.
heavy the crystals should be placed
in cloth bag which may be dragged
over the surface of the pool. A tea.
spoonful of the copper-sulphate /.
ample for pool ten feet In dia.
meter. Rather than give an overdos,
it is best to treat the water at inter.
walls of day or two until the waite,
clears, but remember, only q trac,
Of the chemical Is necessary.