Evening star., 1953-04-19
In the Garden
This Week

ing behind schedule with too
many rainy week ends. This
has tempted some to work the
soil while it was too wet. a risky
practice. In case Of doubt it
will pay to put OF digging or
working the soil. To test the
soil squeeze a handful, then tap
the ball-if it crumbles it Is in
good condition to work, but if
there is moisture on the surface
of the ball and it does not
crumble it is too wet.
The daffodil season is nearing
the end, but it has been an ex-
cellent one. Rains damaged
some Of the older varieties with
thin petals. The size Of the
blooms and length of stem, in
most cases. were very good.
Newer, better varieties were out
standing. Gardeners seeking to
add to their collections of early
season flowers might obtain the
names of the better varieties
they are worth the few cents per
bulb that they cost.
Streaked foliage Of daffodll
indicates disease and when one
is found in the bed it should be
lifted, bulb and roots. and de-
stroyed. The streakS are most
pronounced in the early season.
AS soon as the soil is ready
the gardener should plant chard.
beets, carrots and other early
garden crops. A second plant
ing of lettuce and radishes may
be due. Frequent paintings in
sure continuous harveSts, but
keep the paintings small so that
the crop may be used up before
1t goes out of condition.
Now is the time to start mari
gold and zinnia seed in the cold
frame or indors. They are rapid
growers and should be ready for
planting in the garden by mid
May.
Now that the forsythia has
finished blooming it is time for
the annual pruning. Remove
from "a to % of the oldest canes
cutting them off at the ground.
The blooms are best on the
younger wood and SO to insure
good bloom a renewal type OF
pruning is practiced. BY cutting
out all wood that is over three
years old the bush will not be-
come leggy, nor will it take up
too much space, and the quality
Of the bloom will be maintained.
Overlooking the forSythia is
to be avoided because the blooms
are so widely spaced on the canes
that they look thin. An underfed
forsythia bush will have the
blooms so closely spaced that the
bush has a solid show of bloom.
The desired display is probably
between these extremes.
Now is a good time to select
azaleas for the garden-Speci-
men, border or foundation plant
ing. There are a great many
kinds available to the Washing
ton gardener in colors. heights,
season of bloom and petal forma-
ton. Descriptions are not much
help in selecting hence a visit to
the National Arboretum, nurs-
cry, or to a lobbyists garden.
will prove helpful.
The chrysanthemums are big
enough to lift and divide, q job
that should be done every year
for best results. Use the stronger
outside shoots, disearding the
center ones if not needed. Space
them a foot or more apart in
rows 2 feet apart-planting in a
well-prepared soil so that they
will make strong growth. Pinch
them back as they are planted.
Plants are making rapid
growth and the season is much
advanced over normal. More
over, the winter was mild and
insect survival is above normal.
Forecasts indicate the impor-
tance OF early control measures.
A regular application of spray
or dust is needed to have the
protective coating on leaf and
stem before bug or blight arrives.
The early applications get the
first broods and greatly reduce
subsequent generations.
At recent garden club meet
ing a local gardener displayed
81 varieties of camellias-he has
more. The early ones were past
and some of the late ones were
not open. Tests of numerous
varieties. such as this one, made
IN different parts of the Wash
ington area should, within q few
years, give a reliable guide to
the best varieties for this Sec
ton.