Evening star., 1949-05-01
This Week in
the Garden

as zinnias. petunias. marigolds.
etc, may be set out in the more
protected sections of the city. In
the outlying areas it Is better to
wait another week. This applies
to tomatoes. Seed Of the ANIMALS
and of beans. cucumbers. sweet
corn, and other warm-weather
crops may be sown now. The
soil is still on the cool side and
early paintings will not make
much progress until 1t Is warmer.
This has been truly lilac year.
Most bushes have put on mar
velous display and those without
one or more bushes have felt the
lack of this dependable spring
bloomer. The common lilac (Sy-
ringa vulgaris) bloomed as freely
as the Persian or even the French
.hybrids. However. the common
lilac is hardly to be preferred on
the smaller lot to the Persian,
which blooms at an early age and
is not such a tall grower. The
Chinese lilac is daintier and more
of a shrub.
More than the usual trouble
with rot Of tulips has been re-
ported this season. Generally,
such losses are due to waterlog-
ged soils, condition that garden
ers with heavy clay soils have to
contend with. Subsoil drainage
is important and the mixing Of
sand with the top soil does not
supply it. A tile drain may be
needed.
The display of azaleas this
spring is very good and now is
the time to select those varieties
which have desirable color and
habit Of growth. In spite OF the
contention that Hinodigiri has the
best foliage. we still prefer other
varieties, such as Pink Pearl, Snow
Coral Bells, Flame and Christmas
Cheer of the smaller growers. The
tall-growing white Ledifolia alba,
an early bloomer. is good. Ma
crantha and some of the Kurume
hybrids are excellent. Better look
over the various displays now and
make list for planting next
spring.
Chemical weed control should
be undertaken now. After the
weeds begin to reach maturity the
herbicides are not too effective.
There are number Of trade
named products on the market.
1t will pay to get the instruction
materials that are available tell
ing on what and how they are
best used. Ammonium sulfamate
seems to be the best for poison Ivy.
According to the Horticultural
Department Of the University Of
Illinois, evaporating water depos-
its q layer Of salt on the rim of
flower pots. African violet leaves
coming into contact with the salt
are injured and soon die. To
avoid such injury the edges of the
pots should be carefully washed
occasionally or a collar of waxed
paper or some other protecting
material may be used to prevent
contact with the injurious salt.
This may partially explain the
good growth obtained in non-por-
Gus pots.
Well-rooted lilac plants may be
dug from around an old estab-
lished bush by severing the root
between the sucker and the mother
plant. Do not move the severed
sucker until early next spring
when the root system of the new.
plant will have become strong
enough to keep 1t growing salts
factorily.
Do not be in rush to take cut
tings from desirable azalea plants.
They root best If made after the
terminal bud has formed-in June
or early July. Place the cuttings
in mixture, of sand and peat
moss in partially shaded situa-
ton where they may be supplied
with ample moisture. Some va
rieties and species root much more
easily than do others. New plants
of the kinds difficult to propagate
from cuttings may be made by
'layering." This is accomplished
by bending a branch over, cutting
a notch in the underside and pin
ming it to the soil at that point.
Cover with an inch or two OF q
mixture of peat moss and sand.
Wy IT v