Evening star., 1941-03-08

April or May. PeIuIldS-lile OIu-
fashioned kinds-will grow and pro-
Guce 9 riot Of color when handled
in this way.
Gladiolus corms may be cleaned
and soaked in a bichloride of mer-
curry tpoison) solution 10 control
the thripS and diseases. Some OF
the commercial products available
for this purpose are easier to handle
than the bichloride and are fully
as effective.
Naphthalene flakes may be used for
the thripS. but care must be taken.
The flakes are effective only when
in a warm room. If the bulbs are
kept for long in a warm room they
will start to sprout. The fumes from
the naphthalene will injure tender
new shoots.
Spring pruning should not be de-
layed any longer than necessary.
Grapevines should be pruned as
soon as possible. Roses need not be
pruned until the buds begin to swell.
Spring Towering shrubs are best
pruned after they have finished
blooming. Heavy pruning of but
terf1y bushes, crape-myrtle and
beauty berry is recommended to
improve the size of flowers and the
crop of berries.
When pruning it is usually better
to thin out the branches than to
give shrubs a BARRIERS bob" When
cut to a general level they give the
yard a f1attened appearance and
the shrubs lose all of their natural
grace and form. Also, with such
pruning they become bare-legged
and their floral display is greatly
reduced. 1t is far better to remove
a few branches each year.
1t is not too early to watch for
bulbs and plants that have been
ing and thaWing. This winter has
been unusually good in that the
ground has remained frozen for sew
eral weeks. However, in the few
weeks of winter before us we can eX-
pect considerable freezing and
thawing. Bulbs that are heaved may
be covered with dirt or sand. Plants
under most conditions should be
pressed firmly back into the soil.
With the approach of spring we
can expect to see gardeners giving
the lawn and shrub borders their
annual application of lime Why
this is done is not clear. Many
plants need lime, others do not. And
yet we see yards in which not only
the ground but the twigs and ever
green foliage are literally coated.
Evergreens do not like sweet soil,
neither do dogWoodS, azaleaS, ferns,
ETC., benefit. The lawn needs lime
but it is a question whether the
weeds or the grass derive the greater
benefit. We know that bluegrass is
quite tolerant and will grow in a
soil that is acid. If you wish to
scatter something over the soil buy
plant food. Lime is not plant
food, it is a condiment.
Do not be in hurry to uncover
your perennial border and rose
bushes. We can expect cold weather
until April although we hope it will
be milder than usual. Winter
mulches, however, may be lifted and
stirred so as to avoid any tendency
to smother.
While it is still too cold and wet
to work outside one can get the
garden tools into shape for active
work. Clean, repair and sharpen
them now so that when spring work
starts there will be no delay.
A little indoor planning now will
help to expedite work later on. Draw
few plans for your garden on
cross section paper. Then decide on
where to plant the things that you
want to buy. Such plan will enable
you to order the proper number and
sizes. Do not delay ordering and ask
for delivery at the proper time for
planting.