Evening star., 1950-01-01
This Week
in the Garden
By Wilbur H. Younqmun


Cold weather is still on the mild
side judging by the growth in
many gardens. Roses are to be
found in bloom in nearly all Sec
tions of the Washington area.
Kale, turnips, cabbage greens, col
lards and Brussels sprouts should
be available in the more protected
areas.
This mild weather favors early
pruning, although there is so
much sap In some kinds Of trees
as to make saving difficult. How
ever, that need not deter garden
ers from getting this chore done
early. Treat all pruning cuts Of
over half inch in diameter with
a tree-dressing preparation. Good
tree dressings seal the wound
against decay-forming bacteria
and do not retard healing.
During mild weather is the time
to apply dormant" spray to
control scale insects and to destroy
disease spores that spend the win
ter on the shrubs and trees. Do
not apply a dormant spray to
evergreens or to roses that still
have their leaves.)
Two main types Of dormant
spray materials are available
lime sulphur and miscible oils.
The first is easier for most home
gardeners lacking in special spray
equipment. The second seems to
be more effective in large orchards
and nurseries.
Lime sulphur may be purchased
in powder and in solution. The
solution is less likely to clog the
sprayer nozzle. 49,
Apply dormant sprays when the
temperature is above, and is likely
to remain above, freezing for a.
hours.
Check stored bulbs and tubers
to make certain they are not 20
dry as to shrivel. Add water with
caution since excess moisture can
produce decay.
Glad corms stored In bags with
napthalene flakes should now be
placed in open shallow containers
and stored In q cool, airy situa-
ton.
Spring catalogues are In the
mail and the home gardener
might well do a bit Of planning
before becoming too intrigued with
them. Planning the garden, both
as to kinds and quantities for
vegetables and flowers Is . de-
sirable practice. Most gardeners
want to grow little Of every
thing, but the experienced gar
+dener concentrates on q continu-
GUS supply Of those kinds most
likely to do well and which will
be used.
The new All-America Gold
Medal winner, Fire Chief Petunia,
Is bound to be popular since the
petunia is one Of the most widely
grown Of the ANIMALS. However,
the gold medal-winning snap
bean, Topcrop. is better for COM
mercial use than for the home
gardener. Topcrop produces its
pods in a relatively short period,
whereas most home gardeners
wish to have the harvest period
of each planting spread over a
period of several weeks. Topcrop,
because Of its disease resistance,
will set a second crop Of pods
| if protected from the bean beetle
and given good culture. This may
be a new experience for many
gardeners.
The new Uconn squash should
appeal to many gardeners. espe-
cially those who prefer the baking
type, because Of the bush habit
of growth and early maturity.
Uconn, however, Is not immune
to disease and will need the same
protection Of spray or dust as
given to other varieties. Don't
use sulphur or DDT on squash
vines.)
/ Hybrid corn first sold In Iowa in
1926. BY 1882 it constituted 0.5
per cent of the total crop; In 1885.
14.4 per cent; in 1941, 96.9 per
cent, and in 1916, 100 per cent.