Evening star., 1951-06-24
This Week in the Garden

lnIS week IT
The hyacinths that I dug last
week were in excellent condition
land will store safely until fall.
This condition was caused largely
|by the GOODNESS Of the soil. Bulbs
will keep safely in cool soil even
Though moist. In a warm, moist
soil they rot. The same applies to
tulips and for that reason we must
leither plant them deeply-8 to 12I
inches. or mulch heavily if we
would leave them In the ground.
However. there is one other reason
for digging tulips each spring,
namely, so that we may sort the
bulbs by sizes. 1t is much easier
Ito keep our tulip beds uniform
by planting with uniform -sized
bulbs.
1t is time to set out tomato
plants for late summer and fall
production. This is an old prac-
ltice that is seldom followed today
because modern varieties, if given
reasonably good culture. continue
to produce until killed by frost.
However, should leaf diseases
weaken the spring planting we
can have good fall crops from
plants set at this season. It is
better TO depend upon spring
lplantings for canning because
they should provide an ample
supply Of fruit before the "late
blight" damages the plants.
Old paintings of daffodils that
are not Towering freely should be
Ilefted, the ground enriched with
compost and bonemeal before re-
planting. The bulbs can imme-
|diately be replanted or that chore
may be postponed until Septem-
ber. If the bulbs are to be stored
until fall they should be well
dried and stored in shallow crates
in an airy basement or garage.
II piled deeply they may heat and
certainly lack of air circulation
may cause them to rot.
Annuals may be purchased and
set out for summer bloom. Glads
and dahlias planted at this sea-
son will provide fall bloom. Even
|potted roses will do well If given
a good mulch.
The new home owner will no
doubt wish for flowers this first
season and even though it seems
late to be planting 1t can still be
done with husky well started
plants. They should be set out in
a soil that has been improved
through the addition of compost,
peatmoss or some other form of
humus. The plants may need
watering, although If heavily
mulched this should be unneces-
sary except during prolonged
drought. +,
Few plants will thrive in a soil
that has a hard crust. Where such
a condition exists the plant roots
are unable to obtain sufficient air.
II the gardener cannot cultivate ;
he should mulch heavily. A good ,
mulch prevents the soil from ,
reduces evaporation and,
Of course, prevents weed growth. ,
However. most kinds of mulchingI !,
materials are attacked by bacteria 3,
and unless the bacteria obtain
nitrogen from fertilizers or nitro
gen from fertilizers or nitrogen
bearing materials they will rob the
soil. Apply nitrogen in some form
oil meals. sulphate Of ammonia,
nitrate Of soda, poultry manure,
etc. Two or three pounds per
100 square feet of area will be
ample.
Now that the strawberry season
is past the beds should be thinned,
weeds and grass removed, and fer
tilizer applied. The growth be-
tween now and September will de-
termine to large extent the size
Of next springs crop. There is a
direct correlation between the size
apd number Of leaves per plant I'M
September and the yield the fol-
lowing spring. Don't neglect the
bed now that harvest is past. If it
Is impracticable to keep the bed
hoed and weeded during the sum-
mer. give it a good cleaning and
mulch heavily.
1t will soon be time to take cut
tings Of azaleas and other ever
greens for starting new plants. A
cutting frame prepared now will
insure good results. A good cut
ting frame may be made from
wide boards set on edge and thor
oughly staked. Dig the soil out to
CAM ELIAS
hIII's cameIIIa Garden