Evening star., 1944-10-22

causing injury and loss. If the beds
are mulched after the ground is
frozen much of this injury can be
prevented A straw mulch or cover
Ing with pine boughs is ordinarily
effective for this purpose. Leaves
are not satisfactory as they pack
and hold moisture.
While pansleS will live through the .
winter in this area without pro-
lection mulch of well-rotted ma
nure or enriched compost is benefi- !
cial. They need the extra plant |
food, while the mulch keeps the soil
warm and the roots active. Avoid
covering the foliage when applying
the mulch.
1t is not too early to prepare beds
for November planting of hardy an
nuals. The soil should be made
ready as soon as convenient but the
sowing of the seeds should not be
done before freezing weather. The
following are recommended for fall
planting; Sweet alyssum, snap
dragon. calliopsis, calendula, candy
tuft, cynoglossum, pinks, California
poppy, hunnemannia, nicotiana, nj
CELIA, petunia, portulaca, poppies,
stocks and violas Bachelors but
tons and larkspur can also be added
to this list but they do better if
planted earlier. Ageratum. celosia
lobelia, salpiglossis, schizanthus and
annual poppies are not as hardy as
those listed above but are worth
trying since they give much better
results from fall seeding.
4 *
Where manure is available gar
deners will find that liberal an
plication to the asparagus bed is in /
most cases beneficial. Winter rains
carry the plant food into the soil.
and the humus, when mixed into the
top soil, helps to increase its mois-
ture-holding capacity. Expert grow
ers, in addition to the manure. ap-
ply a mixed fertilizer to their beds
in the early spring.
X
Temperatures of so degrees
Fahrenheit or above are recon-
mended for the winter storage of
Peruvian daffodils. Storage at low
er temperatures frequently results in
failure to flower the next season.
X X X
Gladiolus bulbs should be thor
oughly cured before storing. This
may take from to 10 days, and may
be indoors or out, depending upon
the situation. Do not allow the
bulbs to freeze during this curing
process. After the curing, it is de-
sirable to treat the bulbs for two or
three weeks with naphthalene flakes
to control the thrips.
X X X X
Tulips and hyacinths last longer
and give better bloom if they are
planted somewhat deeper than the
usual recommendation of to g.
inches. Six, 8 or 10 inches will give
finer blooms, but makes summer
digging harder. However, with the
current scarcity and higher cost of
bulbs this extra effort is we'll worth |
while.
X X
In preparing beds for the early
spring blooming bulbs every effort
should be made to work the plant
food and humus into the soil below
the planting level. Roots normally
go down-not up-after food and
moisture.
AS the houseplants are brought
indoors for this winters growth they
should be carefully inspected and all
insect pests controlled. Aphis.
white fly, and the mealy bug are
sap-suckers and, unless controlled, :,
greatly weaken the plants and re-
duce their floral display.
X x
Late set perennials should be given
an early, heavy application of
mulching material. This aids in
keeping the soil warmer and per-
mits root action later in the season.