davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-07-20
&,15O for One Tree?
Amount Was Paid
For Historic Oak

Yes, believe it or not, it's true.
Just recently that amount was paid
by the State of Maryland for a his
toric 400-year -old white oak at Wye
Mills, Talbot County, Md. 1t seems
like high price to pay for a tree,
but after all, it could not be dupli-
Gated in less than four centuries.
This tree was growing and existing
in the Province of Pennsylvania
when William Penn arrived in this
country in 1852.
Only q very few trees, of course,
can approximate even a small part
Of that value, but trees are valuable
very valuable-to every home
owner and every citizen Of q city.
Imagine a treeless landscape
imagine your own home without the
trees that frame and enhance it.
Then go out and take a good look
at your own trees and make an
estimate of the number Of years it
has taken to bring them along to
their present size. And ask yourself
If they aren't worthy of good care
the best you can give them.
That includes feeding. A tree
that is well-fed is much more re-
sistant to disease and insect attacks
than is a half-starved specimen.
Trees need a complete plant food,
too the roots as well as the tops
must be strong and well-developed,
If the tree is to live and thrive.
Now is good time to feed your
trees. Each package Of complete
balanced plant food contains simple
directions for computing the amount
of plant food needed and the best
method of application.
Evening star., 1940-07-20
There IsNo All.Insee
Repellent Known

The idea that certain plants tn th
garden viii drive away mosquitoe
and other insect pests is attractive
but unfortunately, says F. G. Bish
opp Of the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture, 1t does ne
seem to work out in practice. N
such plant Is known. If any plar
were a good repellent, It would prob
ably be because it contained som
chemical substance offensive to a
insects. Scientists have sought sue
. chemical but never have foun
one.
There are chemicals effectiv
against insects. but differences i
sense Of smell among insects appes
to be as great as among the hiRhe
animals, says Bishopp, who studie
insects that affect man and animal,
Don't put too much faith in chem
cal repellents or any other singl
type Of protection against insec
pests. he advises.
Evening star., 1940-07-20
Zinc Labels Are
Finding Favor

Labels good enough to stand
several years garden usage can be
fashioned by any amateur. Ordi-
nary painted garden labels, sold in
any seed store, may be written on
with indelible black ink, then dip
ped in warm wax, shellac or var
nish. After draining and drying,
they are ready to be set In the gar
den.
Just when we are sure the labels
will last another season something
happens to them-they are rotted
over winter or are trodden down
by a child-and plants remain un-
identified until they bloom again.
Permanent markers of q flexible
nature overcome these difficulties.
Copper labels with the letters
stamped in may be good for trees
and shrubs to which they are tied
but are not suited to use in the soil.
In the last few years zinc labels
have become popular. They are
inconspicuous, lasting, and easily
made at home. Scrap zinc Of light
weight is cut into strips about six
inches long by one inch wide. One
end Is pointed so as to push into
the soil easily. Marking is done
with special writing fluid made by
dissolving Y ounce verdigris, Y
ounce sal-ammoniac and y ounce
dry lampblack In one teacupful Of
distilled water. This should be
shaken before use.
Evening star., 1940-07-20
Garden Club Note

The Neighborhood Garden Club
of Gaithersburg, Md, met Wednes-
day afternoon at the home of Mrs.
w. D. Barnett. with Mrs. William
McBain and Mrs. Lawson King as
sisting the hostess. Following the
luncheon and business session, at
which the clubs vice president, Mrs.
Edwin w. Fry, presided, Miss Dora
Hendricks of washington Grove
gave a most interesting talk on
Handspring"
Miss Hendricks, who was intro
duced by Mrs. w. D. Robertson,
pointed out that landscaping is, in
reality, the painting Of beautiful
pictures, using plants, trees and
shrubbery as the medium.
The club voted to donate ~ to the
Welfare Board as q prize for the
encouragement Of better gardens.
Several interesting exhibits were
displayed. among them q beautiful
magnolia blossom, belonging to Mrs.
r. w. Troxell, which received spe-
cial recognition. High score points
also were awarded to Mrs. Merle
Jacobs, Mrs. Clay Plummer and Mrs.
Ernest Gartner by Mrs. Sprigg
Ward, Mrs. G. Z. Crawford and
Mrs. Bates Etchison. acting judges.
Evening star., 1940-07-20
House Plants Should
Be Repotted Now

Geraniums and other house plants
should now be repotted in prepara-
ton for their indoor use this winter
It is good practice to knock the
plant from the pot and scrub the
old pots thoroughly before filling
with fresh soil. This prevents car
rying over mold and other plant
diseases.
Since the plants will be required
to stay In one container for long
time, 1t Is worthwhile to prepare
good soil for tl,s plants. Standard
soil mixture for such use consists Of
one part well decayed manure and
two parts fresh garden loam. Humus
can be substituted for the manure,
in which case 1t will be necessary to
use one-half pound Of . good CON-
mercial fertilizer to every bushel OF
prepared soiI.
When repotting, avoid the COM
mon mistake Of overpotting. This
mistake comes about In moving a
small plant from, say, q 2-inch pot
into q 5-inch pot. So large a
quantity Of soil for q small plant
causes the soil to become sour from
excess unused soil and moisture.
Confine the repotting to the use OF
the next larger size pot. A plant
from q 2-inch pot then should be
repotted into 3-inch pot while .
plant now growing in q 4-inch pot
win be perfectly happy If replanted
into 5-inch pot.
After repotting, water well and
plunge outdoors for . month or so
when 1t Will Be time to bring the
plants indoors,
Evening star., 1940-07-20

cactus garden by mixing sand, COM
post and bone meal into it. A top
dressing of stone chips is the final
touch before setting out the plants.
The succulents not only enjoy such
a situation but produce many in
teresting flowers in surprising ar
ray of colors. The cactus blooms
are especially interesting in that
they are waxy and have depth to
their colors such as few other
flowers have.
Because our thinking is largely
dominated by the English horti-
cultural literature we are apt to
think that every garden should have
lupines. Our climate, however, is
far from being comparable to that
of England. Lupines can be grown
here with careful soil preparation
in lightly shaded situation. Lupines
do not require sweet soil but thrive
in a mildly acid one if it contains
SUFFICIENT humus for the nitrifying
bacteria to live in. Aphids, rots and
other troubles beset lupines, but
their flowers seem to warrant the
extra effort necessary to raise them.
Ants are becoming entirely too
active in many gardens-and in
households, too. A few drops of
carbon bisulphide in their holes will
soon clean them out. The gas from
this liquid is heavier than air and
will seep down into the tunnels,
killing the entire colony. A little
dirt or wet newspaper over the hole
will seal the gas in. This chemical
is deadly poison, so keep it beyond
the reach of children.
Evening star., 1940-07-20
Wild Flowers Will
Flourish When
Cultivated

The last decade has seen q tre-
mendous increase in the number Of
wild flowers established in a nat
uralistic setting at home or used in
the borders. During the same
period we have been taught, and
many Of us have believed. that the
wildlings which live about us cannot
be moved except in early spring or
at least at some other stated period
usually one similar to that when
a successful transplanting was re-
ported.
With picnics and other outdoor
activities carrying us into the woods
where we are more than likely to
encounter the material suited to
our requirements, there seems no
logical reason why we cannot be
qualified by IF we can provide the
needs of the collected material and
lift 1t with least harm from shock"
A wild plant cannot be yanked out
Of the ground with resultant root
breakage and then expected to sue
ceed when replanted.
Another qualification, OF course,
i-n we can acquire the wildlings
without infringing upon the rights
Of others. This means that q pic
nicker must not invade the property
Of another without permission, and
must not be careless or destructive.
Wild plants are the real go-getters
In the plant family. They have no
one to feed them with manure wa
ter, they never receive the benefits
Of cultivation and summer mulch
ing, and stand heat and drought
alike without benefit of q daily
shower. AS q result, they develop
tremendous root systems which
reach out In all directions for water
and food. Before digging, some at
tempt should be made at learning
In what direction and how far the
roots reach. With this information
at hand lift the plant with most
Of the roots attached, wrap the roots
and attached soil to prevent root
drying, and replAnt without delay
In = garden spot nearly identical
to that which the plant grew.
Evening star., 1940-07-20

SCAAA8VA od6 1lio u dAlok okAdAlCCO SCN
eral varieties after separating the
rhizomes and had very good bloom
the following spring. The main
virtue of early planting lies in get
ting the plants acclimated before
the winter season sets in. The many
freezes followed by thaws which we
have in this location upheaves the
rhizomes, and unless they are re-
planted right away they will die.
Therefore, early planting allows the
roots to start new growth and
penetrate deep enough into the
ground to resist such upheavals.
The bearded irises do not require
an overly rich soil. They respond
very readily to our average garden
soil, especially if it is lightened
somewhat. Frequent cultivation is
perhaps more of a tonic than appli-
cations of fertilizer. Having q sweet
tooth, an occasional dressing of
lime is recommended to soil which
shows an acid trend. Speaking OF
fertilizers. it is suggested that bone
meal, applied to the new location
when transplanting. constitutes suf-
ficient nourishment to keep the
plants In q happy condition.
Be sure to examine your plants
for the iris borer. This pest, bred
in the leaves, is the worst enemy
with which the iris grower has tc
contend. A dark brownish discolor-
alton of the foliage, accompanied by
q watery condition is evidence that
the borer Is at work. He starts out
on his destructive way at about the
midsection of the leaf. At this time
he is extremely small. AS he eats
his way down toward the rhizome
he naturally increases in size. En-
tering the rhizome he viii devour
the inside, leaving the outside look
ing perfectly normal. At this time
he has gained In weight and size
until he is about an inch or more
In length. The rhizome eventually
rots, Of course, and you lose your
Evening star., 1940-07-20

plant. Remove all dead leaves from
the plant and burn, as they form
breeding places for the borer. Cut
away infected foliage and even parts
of the rhizomes, if the pest has trav-
eled that far. This treatment will
save your plants.
The question Of iris varieties for
your garden is purely a personal
one. You can, of course, in quite
a small space accommodate a large
number of varieties; much more sc
than several other garden orna-
mentais. But as I have previously
pointed out in articles on iris, try
to see the variety before you buy
it. This may be done by visiting
shows or the gardens of some o1
the local larger iris growers.
Seedlings are being introduced
each year by the thousands and
many have real merit, but for the
average flower lover they are toe
expensive. The outstanding intro
ductions are usually put on the
market at an average price Of $2(
q rhizome. These prices are paid k
large extent only by nurseries ant
those iris fans who can afford tt
cater to their hobby. The rate o.
reproduction in iris is 50 rapid thai
in about three or four years thu
stock Of the $40 iris has increased
to such an extent that the average
price will be from 81 to $3.50, ant
becomes lower as the years 60 on.
To my mind, the bloom Of any
variety Of iris has an appeal. Tit
present-day iris gives you q colol
range which cannot be surpassed
One variety may give you q deepel
color than another; the texture o.
this one is superior to that; the SIX
OF this particular variety may b.
twofold that Of one Of similar colol
design. After al, the aim Of thu
breeders Is to improve on what ha!
gone before and they are hitting
the mark with fairly good accuracy
Evening star., 1940-07-20

H.. and it is noon before the bril-
liant white and purple blossoms OF
the passion flower appear. This
flower is said to represent in its for
nation all the elements of the
Christian Passion-the crown OF
thorns, the three nails, the five
wounds-and blood red is the color
of its fruit.
One o'clock seems to be a sort
Of zero hour, no blossoms having
chosen to open just then, but at
2 the sfeverfew displays its large
flowers with their white rays and
yellow disks. This fashioned
aromatic, cousin to the wild chamo-
mile, was one of the favorites of
grandmothers age.
-Four o'clocks appear, logically
enough, at o'clock, with the CATCH
fly opening at 5, and the evening
primrose at 6. When the misty
moon flower opens its lovely petals
at 8 o'clock the dandelion, which
has been up since am, is going
to bed, and the orange day lily
is closing its bright eyes for the
night. too.
But time is not all that flowers
will tell. They will answer other
important queries They have long
been in league with children who
want to stay out little longer and
play. How many hours till mother
wants me-? can be OWNED from the
seedblow Of dandelon. The vital
secret whether "he loves me or love.
me not" is in the keeping Of the
daisy's petals-and daisies don't
tell! They are even willing to &C
into considerable detail:
"One, he loves; two, he loves:
Three, he loves. they say;
-Four. he loves with all his heart;
Five. he casts away.
Six, he loves; seven, she loves;
Eight they both love.
Nine, he comes; ten, he tarries;
Eleven, he courts; twelve, he mar.
ries."
Instead of being warned not to
touch this or that in the garden
children can be taught to discover
its limitless possibilities for games
and play. If keeping shop can be
fascinating at the seashore. with
sand and shells for stock in trade
it is infinitely more so in the gar
Evening star., 1940-07-20
Dahlias Are
Au>ArOund
FaVOriteS
Magnificent Blooms
And Glorious Hues
Always Welcomed
BY AGNES TRIMBLE.

The dahlia. queen of late sum
mer flowers, is an all-around ia.
vorite, and due to its great popu.
larity national societies in England
and the United States are devoted
to its interest. Each year about tn,
middle of September dahlia show.
are held, too. which give the grow.
ers an opportunity to show theil
prizes wares" and the public gets
treat in viewing the gorgeou.
display.
In the home the dahlia is a vel.
come guest, in both garden anc
vase, with its snowy and elegant
blossoms-single and double-vyine
with each other in form and color
A garden of these colorful flow.
ers will almost make one believe
that spring has returned instead
OF somber autumn creeping in
Only blue is missing in this gor.
geous array of color; however, there
is a variety known as Blue River-s
sort of blush mauve.
Dahlias will grow in any we'll.
drained good garden soil. In mid.
| August it is advisable to mulch
the plants with strawy manure
which cools the soil and provide.
extra food. Add fertilizer rich ir
potash If there is a slowing-up ir
growth, but do not overstimu.
late, as this will result in fine TO.
liage and few blooms. This plant
is easily started from seed, by graft.
Ing, from cuttings or by dividing
the roots.
The amateur has fun raising them
from seed because they respond
quickly to cultivation and furnish
him with loads of surprises-perfect
beauties and utter failures! Seeds
are sown, too, by those who de-
sire a mass of color rather than
fine blossoms. Sow seed indoors
early in the fall. When plants reach
transplanting stage put them ir
individual pots, where they remain
until all danger of frost is over
then to the garden, their permanent
home. These seedlings, If cared fol
properly, will bloom as soon as those
grown from expensive bulbs.
Grating is interesting and is the
best method of perpetuating rare
plants. First, cut a tuber on ar
upward slant, then cut slip from
q favorite plant on a downward
slant, fit them together and tie sc.
curely with soft string and plant
IN pot with the lower part of the
graft covered with soil.
Propagation by cuttings Is the
commercial growers way, but any
one can use this method, too. This
is done by taking slips from healthy
plants-remove lower leaves, plant
IN shallow containers or sand and
keep in a temperature Of so to &C
degrees. When the little fellows
have taken root put them In indi-
vidual pots and transplant to larger
pots as needed until time to plant
them outdoors.
In starting new plants by division
OF old roots, be sure that each sec.
ton has an eye, as the roots viii
not sprout without budding eve
In the late fall when this plants
Towering duty Is finished and its
foliage has been nipped by frost. II
Is time to store its roots for next
spring. Dig up roots, cut tops of1
10 inches above crown, dry in all
a few hours and then store then
in cool frost-proof basement or put
them In a barrel filled with dry
sand or sawdust. Handle roots
carefully.
Evening star., 1940-07-20
Oriental Poppies Are
Best Increased by
Root Divisions

oriental poppies thrive so well Il
the gardens where they are plante|
that they have come to be demanded
as garden flowers. Differing from
the annual California poppies, whic1
can be grown easily from seeds, tn
Oriental poppies are strictly pererI
NAL and are grown from seeds onll
with extreme difficulty. If the seed
germinate and large quantities d
seedlings appear the amateur find
1t difficult to transplant them. Bes|
practice dictates that stocks OF orr
entail poppies are best increase|
through root divisions made anil
time after the poppies have be
come dormant. In the warmer sec|
tions Of the country the time ha|
now arrived for such division, Will
in the extreme North division AMI
root cuttings may not be possibl
until the end Of August.
The procedure is very simplI
First determine that the plant
dormant; the leaves must hav
died down while the plants appes
denuded. Dig to depth of 8 to !
inches or more. so as to lift the rod
and all its branches. Cut the root
into / to 2 inch pieces and plar}
them in light, sandy soil with til
end which was formerly up, still u
Cover the newly-set roots with pea
moss and keep them well watere
for several weeks, when new growth
will start from each piece Of c,
root.
If you are careful gardener, 20
may lift these rooted and CROWN
divisions almost any time after the
start growing. Most gardeners fin
it just as satisfactory to let ther
remain In the places where the
started until the following sprin
when they attempt their trans
planting.
Gardeners who admit their IN
ability to transplant successful
can start each cutting in a 2-incI
pot instead of in the open groun@
BY this means the risks of trans
planting are entirely eliminated.
Evening star., 1940-07-20

den. where there are so many varie-
ties of seeds to put up in bottles
and SO many leaves and blossoms to-
sell for produce.
Blossoms of the hollyhock and
poppy type make charming dolls and
they can come to a make believe q
tea party. Leaves arranged in a
square form the table cloth, while
acorns supply cups and saucers OF
fairy size and brew from any kind
Of petals can be served.
Little girls who haven't reached
the age for real jewelry can sup1
ply this lack with chains made from
flowers and stems. Daisies, cloved
heads and dandelion links are onlJ
some Of the materials for chain1
making, while beads" like bitter
sweet berries and rose hips do fol
necklaces, and wreaths, anklets and
even earrings can be fashioned with
artistic skill. Creative talent findd
full play in hats made of leaves and
trimmed with blossoms.
She who finds four-leaf clover in
the garden lawn can do more than
count on her good luck. She can
look into the future as well.
This popular talisman should b1
tucked inside the left shoe, and
careful note taken of the necktie oI
the first boy who appears. If iti
color matches the girls dress he Il
the man she will marry, of course.
Some OF the deeper lessons to b1
learned in the garden can be read
in a series of eight stories published
by Susan Buchan, wife of the lat
Governor General of Canada, wht
is an author of note in her owr
right. In THE Freedom of th)
Garden Susan Buchan deals will
an adorably adventurous little bo]
who makes friends with the animal
in his parents garden and learn
much from them. An Adventure
in Time" for instance, gives a pic
ture of the little lad anxious (nk|
many of his elders) to experience
some phase of time other than thai
in which he Is placed. But this 4
the warning that the sensible hedge|
hog gives him, sc. The past Is nd
behind us-it is all around us. And
it's not too easy or too safe to q
! into it."
Evening star., 1940-07-20
The Thynes
Are Easy
TOGrOw
Large Herb Family
Proves Useful in
Numerous Ways
Star Stah Photo.
BY LOUISE HENDEY.

One of the. largest of the herb
families is the fashioned favorite
called thyme. 1t is easy to grow
and useful in many ways. Fortu-
nately for many of us. it has very
modest requirements. in cultural
way. Like many herbs, it prefers
loose, sweet soil, so incorporate
lime in the bed when you plant it..
While it will grow in any sweet gar
den soil, it, like q number of the
aromatic herbs, will increase in
aroma If the soil is somewhat en-
riched. AS rule the seed may be
sown in the open ground. The
plants should be thinned or trans
planted to inches apart because
a thick bed winters best.
OF the almost endless varieties Of
thyme we can mention only a
few. These are the sturdier and
most commonly grown members of
the large family. 1t is possible,
however, to obtain lists and from
these lists to get plants or seed
which will give blooming plants Of
thyme all through the season.
Many shades of the green or gray
green foliage and a fairly wide color
range in flowers may be had. Some
Of the foliage is evergreen-others
nearly so. White and shades of
pink, lavender and purple may add
color and variety to your garden,
whether it be truly old-fashioned
garden or a very modern one in
which thyme fills some specific
need.
In some places thyme may be most
satisfactorily used as a ground
cover. It is especially satisfactory
when used between stepping stones.
Thymus serpyllum is used most
for carpeting. 1t is commonly called
Mother of Thyme or Mountain
thyme. 1t will make great spread
ing mats covered with fragrant
flowers.
There are q number Of varieties
of this thyme. Variety T. serpyllum
albus has bright-green tiny leaves
which make white flower covered
mats. They are so thick that they
make an ideal filler between Step
ping-stones. Variety argenteus is
gray-leaved with pale pink flowers.
Var. pulchellus, which makes thick
light-green mats with rose-colored
flowers, is the perfect cover for dry,
rocky banks. Another kind, T.
chamaedrys, grows about 6 inches
high; is almost evergreen, has pink
flowers.
T. serpyllum var. citridoius is the
delicious fashioned lemon thyme
which should be in every old-fash-
ioned garden.