Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-28
The Garden Notebook
Number of Bulbous Flowers May
Be Substituted for Tulips

In using chysanthemums for
household decoration it is desirable
to cut them as they begin to show
color. In doing this bleaching and
insect injury to the flowers are
avoided. Remove all foliage from
the lower part Of the stem so that
only the stem is submerged. Sub
merged foliage quickly fouls the
water. To increase the lasting quail
tiles Of chrysanthemums as cut
flowers the stems should be split.
Bulb-planting time Is upon us,
and we are still without normal
supplies Of tulips. Since it seems
improbable that we shall be able
to buy our usual supplies OF tulips
perhaps we should turn our atten-
ton to substitutes. There are num-
Der of kinds of Dubious flowers which
we can use in the place Of tulips.
The Dutch and English iris, scilla
campanulata. trillium. camassia
and leucoium are all useful for cut
ting. While they lack in showiness
and range of color, all do well
under local conditions and are avail
able for planting this fall. Many
of the smaller spring flowering
bulbs are available, including cro-
Gus, scilla sibirica, scilla nutans.
muscari, winter aconite, etc.
In planting the Dubious iris 1t Is
we'll to wait until December If win
ter growth of the tops is to be
avoided. BY planting them late in
the season they do not make top
growth until spring. While ordi-
narily our winters are mild enough
to avoid serious injury to unseason-
able growth there is no point IN
taking unnecessary chances.
Gladiolus corms should be dug
and dried of as soon as the foliage
turns brown and shows signs of ma
turity. Corms left in the ground
may rot. Some growers remove the
tops before digging, others as soon
as digging is completed, while still
others do not remove them until
the corms are thoroughly dried. 1t
does not seem to make much differ
ence which method is followed.
Matured bulbs certainly do not cure
much further, and the quantity Of
foliage may delay drying. 1t would
seem then that the better practice
is to remove the stems and leaves to
within or 3 inches Of the CORN.
After drying and cleaning it is
we'll to store the corms In bags Of
not more than so corms containing
an ounce or less of napthalene
flakes. These flakes serve to de-
stroy wintering-ov thrips.
Remove and burn diseased peony
foliage as means OF controlling
bud diseases.
The dahlias on display at the
National Capital Dahlia Show in
the Shoreham Hotel suffered great
ly from the heat. Many of the
flowers which had been held in
cool storage wilted before the judg-
ing was completed. While this was
unfortunate from the standpoint of
exhibitor and spectator, it is only
one of the trials an exhibitor must
expect.
The large number of entries of
dahlias attests to the popularity of
this splendid ree-flowering garden
flower. The range of colors and
forms on display was almost end
less. Certainly every gardener should
be able to select some variety or
varieties to meet his or her desires
In cleaning out peony beds it is
well to notice If any of the plants
are set too deeply. Deep planting
is one of the most common causes
of failure to bloom. If upon ex-
animation it is found that the buds
are more than an inch below the
surface Of the ground it is well to
lift them to the proper level. BY
using a spading fork and prying
them up dirt can be worked under
the clump without lifting it from
the hole.
Garden work at this season is pri-
marily given over to bulb planting
However, let's not overlook weeds
going to seed, holes that need filling
before winter and the need for cult
walton. Diseases and insects should
be kept under control through regu.
lar spraying programs. Neglect at
this season increases the number
Of spores and insects to 90 into The