Evening star., 1940-08-10

ance. Not only will it give a tidier
look, but in several cases it may
produce another crop of flowers.
The trimming back is sure to stim-
ulate new growth and a healthier
appearance.
1t is time to slip geraniums,
coleuS, ageratum, etc, for use as
house plants this winter. The slips
taken now and rooted in sand will
produce vigorous young plants that
will be bushy and when potted in
well-enriched soil should make an
attractive indoor display this
winter.
For next seasons bloom we should
sow the seeds of many perennials
(columbine, delphinium, painted
daisies, etc. and of biennials (pan-
sizes, English daisies, wallfowers,
foxgloves, etc. before it is too late.
1t is better to sow the seed of most
of these where they are to grow,
although if sown in well-prepared
seed fiat and then transplanted to
pots or widely spaced in larger flats
where they may develop large root
systems they will make strong
plants by transplanting time (Sep-
tember).
At this season one should rake
the lawn before moving in order
to lift the seed heads of crab grass
high enough for the lawn mower
to cut them. If the seed is anyway
near maturity it is well to use the
grass catcher. If the crab grass
is at all thick it is we'll to rake it
a second time and to NOV again
so as to remove as much of the seed
as possible before it falls to the
ground.
A summer Towering shrub that
makes a pleasing display of blue
flowers is the viteX macrophylla (V.
agnus-castus) commonly called the
chaste tree. The clusters of flowers,
resembling loose sprays of lilacs,
are borne on the tips of the
branches. The shrub is bushy in
growth and may be used either as
a specimen shrub or in the back
ground. 1t prefers full sun in a
fairly rich, well-drained soil.
Among the summer-flowering
perennials we have Saliva farinacea
the mealycup sage. 1t is rather
tall growing, is hardy and drought
resistant. There are a number of
blue-fowering members of the
Saliva family, although most of us
think of the scarlet sage when any
one mentions Saliva. Some of them
are not hardy here, and unfortu-
nately they are the most Snowy ones.
The mealycup sage is hardy and
worth growing for its late season of
bloom.
1t is time to give the sweet
alyssum a shearing to encourage
another crop of flowers. This very
dwarf border annual, the best of
the white edging ANIMALS, may be
kept in bloom if sheared regularly.
Shear it first on one side and then
on the other at intervals of two
weeks or more, and it will keep in
flower throughout the season.
1t is not too late to divide clumps
of columbine, painted daisies, and
other spring-fowering perennials.
BY dividing columbine now one is
apt to have greater success in re-
tanning this rather uncertain though
attractive spring bloomer. The
painted daisies, alyssum, and lilies
of the valley should be divided
occasionally as means of increas-
ing the stock, but more especially
to permit reworking the soil.
Rose mallows, or malloW marvels
as they are often called, are snowy
herbaceous perennials that under
favorable conditions assume shrub
like proportions. The chief value
of the mallows, however, Is their
late season of Towering. In full
bloom at this season, they make a
colorful spot in any garden. The
mallows (Hibiscus) prefer a moist,
partially shaded situation, but will
do fairly well in full sun and ir an
ordinary garden soil. A soil that Is
well supplied with humus IL desir-