Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04
Readers Clearing House

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4 cooler weather to get on. II the
soil must be held until fall, which
is proper seeding time. leave the
crab grass or else SOW italian Rye
before 1t gets too hot.
To start new lawn this pro-
cedure Is best. First, insure proper
grading even II it means studying
your lot conditions a year or more.
Second, plant rye or q similar crop
several seasons, tiIling 1t Gas against
plowing, never plow) each spring and
fall, then reseeding until you have
created q dark spongy top surface
that will hold water. This takes one
to several years. depending upon
what you are starting with. Well
rotted manure worked In ilastens
the process but is lacking In phos-
phorus, so add some. Third, after
good growing conditions are estab-
Ished put your seed in, In the fall
OF the year. Fourth, unless the
grass Is terrifically long do not rake
of clippings These make q mulch
and the more mulch the better the
growth.
In Pleasant Valley" "a book I
recommend to every one) Louis
Bromfield made what was to be q
very interesting observation. He
said that when he left his pastures
alone except for the cones, white
clover crowded out everything for
several seasons, then bluegrass came
in apparently from nowhere and
grew stronger and stronger, crowding
out everything until 1t had depleted
the nitrogen laid down by the clover
at which time the clover began
coming back to replenish the sup
ply so the bluegrass could come
back to use 1t up ETC., etc. Makes
you think, doesn't 1t?
If you insist on going ahead at
this time, then scramble the crab
grass around so it won't act as q
blotter to draw the moisture from
the new top soil. You could also
lay down lead arsenate at this time
to kill any Japanese beetle grubs
that want to winter on the grass
roots.
Conclusion: A good lawn can't
be hurried we've been here four
years and still In the grading and
rye STAGE. I know this isn't complete
but it Is quite q lengthy subject.
Pleasant Valley" and "Plowmans
Folly" can give you some ideas,
otherwise you can ask RICH for my
phone number.
PERIWINKLE?
(Front Mrs. M. L. X, Washington. }
Has any one q good patch of
periw1nkle from which rooted bits
could be spared? I need to cover a
shaded area where nothing else will
grow. If you have them, please call
me any morning at Emerson 6274
and shall be glad to call for them
and bring a good African violet
plant in exchange, If wanted.
EGG WHITES.
from Mrs. II. X. E., Washington
Most OF us learned in cooking
classes to keep egg whites in the
refrigerator until we are ready to
beat them, some recipes even sug-
gest to put the egg beaten in the
refrigerator. Practical experience,
corroborated by recent scientific ex-
pertinent, proved that egg whites
before whipping should be at room
temperature: they whip up more
quickly and expand to greater
volume.
"AIR-CoOLED" MOTORING.
(Fron, Mrs. +. A. R., Wasllington.)
Since vacation time Is here, II
have a hint to offer long distance
travellers who travel by automobile.
When going on long, hot journey,
purchase about 10 pounds of dry
ice, place in shoe box or like con-
tainer, put on the floor of the car,
and keep the windows closed. BY
doing this the night before the trip
you will enjoy the comfort of an
aforementioned car, and, If planning
a long trip across the dessert in the
West, special stations are set up at
each end to supply travellers with
dry Ice. An Army major told me
about this years ago, but I have
never tried 1t. II any one has used
it, and can supply information about
the results, + believe 1t would make
a lot Of vacationists happier when
travelling.
II n N