Evening star., 1950-12-10

In trying to settle on approprl-
ate Christmas gifts for friends and
relatives, undoubtedly most of us
overlook the gardening interests of
many individuals.
Probably the explanation for
neglecting this fertile field of gifts
Is that the Christmas season is not
often a planting season. at least
not for planting out Of doors.
However, this problem has been
neatly solved by several enterpris-
ing nurserymen who provide suit
able gift certificates which tell of
the gift to be delivered at planting
time.
Gifts for the gardener might
well include dormant and actively
growing plants and bulbs since
they provide an annual display OF
flower and foliage to remind the
receiver of the giver of this gift,
Moreover, the average gardener
has some particular plant hobby
or interest which he greatly cher
ishes and gift of some desired
addition is especially appreciated.
Then there is the other side of
the picture. Many gardeners do
not feel justified in spending much
more than a bare minimum upon
their garden because it is hobby.
Such plant lovers, no doubt, would
be extremely appreciative of new
or unusual things for their gard
ems.
But plants are not the only
things which gardeners wish for
and hope to find under the Christ
mas tree. All of the garden gad-
gets fall in this class and there
are very few gardeners who would
not enjoy the use of them. How
long does the average gardener
work with the f1imsy troWels most
of us started out with? Years
probably before they feel justified
in buying a good steel or mag
nesium one. Perhaps trowel does
not sound Christmasy enough?
Try giving a gardener a really
good one and watch his reaction
Sprayer Is Welcome.
The same situation frequently
exists for busters, sprayers and
watering equipment. Many gar
deners do not realize the advan-
tage of a f1rst-class sprayer
(brass that will not corrode), a
good duster that will deliver a
cloud of dust particles, or a we'll
made efficient watering device.
Too often they are looked upon
as luxuries. something that isn't
quite necessary. In other words,
they are desired gifts-gifts that
will be used and appreciated for a
long time. The lady of the house
will no doubt be more than pleas
sntly surprised to receive a copper
or brass watering pot with which
she can supply needed moisture
to her potted plants without the
usual troubles incident to the use
of a pitcher or milk bottle.
Several years ago this column
told of the gardener who joyously
received a ton of well-rotted COW
manure for his garden. While
that was an actual fact and there
are no doubt many gardeners who
envied the lucky recipient of the
COW manure, there are a host of
other gifts which are more easily
obtained. Several years ago a
boy gave his father a holly tree
with the root ball carefully pro-
tected). It will always be treas
ured, because 1t grows and in
creases in beauty over the years.
For the indoor gardener there
is an endless array of vases and
equipment for the flower arranger.
No one of them ever admits hav-
ing enough vases and bowls to
adequately supply her needs dur
ing the season. Some of the new
glass containers are especially at
tractive. Then there are the
frogs" those things full of holes
Or Of spikes which hold the blos-
SONS and foliage in place.
Window Plants Desirable.
There is always some desired
plant for the window gardener,
whether it be a foliage or a flow-
ering plant. The window gar
dener Is more often likely to be
interested in bloom than in foli-