Evening star., 1941-11-08
Leaves From
The Garden
Notebook
Don't Fail to Study
Newest Types of
Chrysanthemums

As gardening work turns more
and more towards preparation for
winter, we should not overlook the
hrysanthemums. Many new types
and varieties should be examined to
determine their usefulness. Now is
the time to study and make selec-
tions for next springs paintings.
II plants of doubtful hardness
are to be protected, gardeners should
begin now to collect materials. Half
buShel baskets, pine boughs, burlap
and stout stakes are useful and ef-
fective for such use. The snow fence
such as used along the highways is
very good 1t is not unsightly and
can be readily stored from year to
year.
Field mice move into winter quar-
ters at this season, and gardeners
will do we'll to trap, poison or de-
stroy their hiding places. Often
times they nest in the grass and
leaves that collect about our shrubs.
If left undisturbed they oftentimes
feed on the bark and may kill shrubs
and trees. The spreading of mulches
for winter protection should be de-
layed until the ground has frozen
to avoid trouble with the mice.
Tn, h,itriy,r cI,v,,tc opI for
fall planting select those with strong,
fibrous root systems. The size Of
the top of a shrub or rose bush is
not nearly as important as the kind
of root system. Strong root systems
quickly produce strong plant above
ground. while small. weak roots
cannot support a large top. Plants
with long, straggly root systems do
not Withstand transplanting as well
as those having smaller, WELL
branched roots.
Late fall applications of nitro
genouS fertilizers (thoSe containing
5 per cent or more nitrogen) are of
doubtful value. Nitrogen is soluble
and may leach out of the soil with
out benefiting the plants. However
during a mild winter many plants
make root growth and can use a
certain amount of plant feod The
use of fertilizers in the fall there
fore is questionable and will depend
largely upon the kind of winter you
expect.
As frosts kill the ANIMALS and
tops of perennials it is good garden
practice to cut them off and put
them on the compost pile Un-
wanted seedlings may be prevented
If this is done before the seeds fall
Then, too, these tops are in many
cases the wintering places of dis
eases and insects BY removing
them to the compost pile and treat
ing with hydrated lime and am
monium sulphate they become an
asset rather than potential source
of infection.
Deciduous tree and shrub plant
ing and transplanting need not be
delayed until the leaves fall. BY
stripping the leaves from them the
plants becomes dormant quickly and
apparently can be safely moved
much earlier than was commonly
thought.
Trees and shrubs from nurseries
where root pruning is regularly
practiced transplant most success
fully. although with care unpruned
plants can be moved with a reason
able degree Of success. There are
two methods Of accomplishing this
A major effort may be made to dig
up as large a part of the root sys-
tenn as possible. The other is to
take whatever part Of the root sys-
tenn as is convenient and then to
remove most Of the branches. Prob
ably there is happy medium. This
would involve digging so as to secure
a major portion of the roots and
removing only q part Of the growth
above the ground.