Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-06
This and'That
BIZ Charles E. Trace1Uell

The reader who wanted to know what to
plant to attract rabbits is advised by corre-
spondent to try putting out a few Early Har-
vest" apple trees
These are small, sweet apples.
Wild rabbits like to MUNICH them from the
ground.
Another correspondent suggests the grow
ing of plenty of white and red clover.
1t will be necessary, he says, to permit the
clover patches to grow tall.
Then the ears only of the wild Dummies will
show above the tops.
This makes a pleasing picture for a nature
lover.
Surely it is better to look upon the visits
Of rabbits this way than to grow red in the
face because they eat few flowers or vege-
tables.
We recall the last time the 17-year locusts
were with us. Ut won't be long now, until
they appear again; 1851 is the year, we believe)
People trembled for the sake of their small
trees and shrubs
Many protested that their plants were being
eaten by the grubs.
They grew so excited that they forget all
about the mystery and wonder of the cicadas,
as the "locusts" properly are called.
In the end, they failed to get the interest
thousands of wiser persons managed to achieve,
and nothing much was done to their precious
old plants, after all.
There is such a thing as being too finicky in
a garden.
It is well to be careful, in watching and
tending plants, but there Is not much real
sense, one may believe, in being too much
upset about animals insects time and drought,
and SO on.
The great feature of even the smallest yard
is that nature happens there, too
Everything that can happen to the largest
ranch happens as surely in the small place.
Some of these happenings the owner wishes
would not come about, but If he faces them
everything as if the world were coming to
an end
To expect the worst. yet hope for the best
that ought to be the motto of the small yard
gardener
Certainly such an attitude will save him
from gritting his teeth over invaders, spending
too much time over too little space, or worry
ing because the compost pile does not function
as well as he hoped
The wild rabbit is a special invader.
He has powers of interest with which he is
not credited by those who only see in him
something to kill.
Viewed morally he is a good animal, with
picturesque properties widely recognized by
artistic persons.
One has but to think of the motion picture
Inumpcr, always IedStIlS OH CfOVC4, W ACoA1S
the beauty in this small beastie
1t is easily seen, at least by those who have
eyes for beauty in the commonplace.
Such persons feel they are fortunate when,
moving to the suburbs, they look out the
window one morning, and see their first
wild rabbit.
Often the mother rabbit builds q superior
nest at the foot Of q great oak. The den
is covered over with gray wool, so cleverly
dispersed with the tree roots that wandering
dogs smell In vain at the site. But II one
lifts the mass of wool, there will be seen
the baby rabbits, huddled together, very help
less, but usually very safe.
A wood pile Is good If for no other reason
than that it provides young rabbits fine
playground There are few natural sights
more interesting or amusing than q family
of rabbits playing tag around wood pile.
1.-The rabbits rush around the brush" as the
song put it: the phrase is no Pigment Of the
imagination but the real thing. not only in the
heart OF Texas, but in nearby Maryland and
Virginia, too.
Plant plenty of annual flowers including
petunias; some vegetables, such as lettuce and
carrots; plenty OF clover, both red and white,
and Q few small apples such rs Early Har-
vest" II you want rabbits.