Evening star., 1951-06-10

4klC al bOl tlIdC N4AQJdl 10 Qo
ually considered q very common
place evergreen. This implica
ton is based not upon the qualifi
cations of a popular evergreen, bu
rather upon the way it is com
monty handled in foundation
paintings. Often arborvitaes ar
planted too close together and al
most never are they thinned so q
to maintain q well-roundet
growth. Frequently the arbor
vitae is given a northern exposur,
|or in shade Where it seldom thrive
satisfactorily. 1t requires sun ant
moisture for best growth.
More often. however, the tallel
growing species are used in tn,
foundation planting. and. O.
course, they soon outgrow thet
situation. In a crowded founda.
ton planting they lack in thrift
and vigor and are subject to rec
spider injury. which gives them
anything but a desirable appear
ance.
There are three main species oi
arborvitate-the American or T
Occidentalis, the giant or T
plicata. and the Oriental or T
Orientalis. In addition to the
species there are some so varieties
in cultivation. Most of these va
rieties claim distinction because
of form of growth, rapidity oi
growth or In foliage arrangement
and color. Obviously some arr
rapid-growing forest trees while
there are a few that are so dwarf
as to make good rock garder
specimens. With both variation
in form and habit of growth il
would seem that the arborvitat
is admirably adapted to home.
ground paintings. This would be
very true If their limitations were
recognized.
Tall Variety Used Often.
The taller growing American
arborvitae is widely planted ir
foundation groupings because it Il
a rapid grower and cheap to pro.
duce. Such plants are seldom use
full for more than a few years be-
cause they soon become not q
foundation planting but a house
screen. The Globe variety is fre.
quently used at entrances where
its rounded form makes it reason
ably low growing and effective.
Both of these widely planted
forms are hardly and undemand-
ing in culture. Nevertheless they
would be more effective and salts
flying if the owner would give then
an annual shearing (not shave)
in the early spring. This annua,
clipping tends to keep the tor
compact and in balance with tht
root system, thus retaining 8
youthful, vigorous appearance.
Several years ago the writer OBJ
tanned several Swedish" arbor.
vitaes then listed as T. Wareana
This variety is now classed as {
form Of the American arborvitae
However, the plants are some II
years old and do not exceed f1v'
feet in height. They have a darl
green color which is a pleasing
contrast to the yellow green usual.
ly commonplace with other varie.
ties of the American arborvitae
Another excellent variety o1
the American arborvitae is the
Douglas pyramidal. of exception
ally slow growth and interesting
foliage arrangement. Rosenthal
is a good columnar form with
dark green foliage. The Tom
Thumb variety Of the Globe is
more dwarf than the commonly
offered type and is particularly
interesting since the specimens
usually carry both juvenile anc
adult foliage.
Culture is Important.
Aside from the varieties tina
the gardener has to choose from
in order to have the right habit o
growth for particular situation
the main problem of keeping th'
arborvitae vigorous and SHAPED,
depends upon the culture given
Normally the arborvitae resent
crowding and should be kept ia
enough away from other plant
so that foliage is retained from
the ground to the tip-top. Thi
may require transplanting ever.
few years (three or FOUR. Fail
ure to observe this rule usual,
results in lopsided trees. or los
of foliage where crowding cuts of
the sunshine.
Heavy feeding of the arborvita'
is not generally desirable since
they make a fairly rapid growth
and nothing should be done which
will stimulate them to outgrov
their situation. Regular pruning
to keep them compact is much
more effective than fertilization
While growing in crowded situa'
ton or a site deficient in moisture
they are prey for the red spider
This pest may be controlled by
spraying or dusting, although 6
strong blast of cold water from
the hose is usually effective. The
common "bagworm" is a univer'
sal pest that is normally con-
trolled through hand-picking. 4
stomach poison applied to thu