Plant nutrients do not have to be soluble in water in order to enter the roots of plants. This statement is contrary to the long-standing belief of plant scientists, but its truth has recently been demonstrated by Dr. F. L. Wynd and his associates at Michigan State College. Proof that undissolved nutrients can enter roots … Read more
It would be a strange situation if a gardener did not value most highly the first little spear of life that starts the spring show. Yet I have so long taken the snowdrops, crocus, and Siberian scillas for granted to be planted abundantly and thereafter left to their devices that I am not sure of … Read more
With home-freezing of foods steadily on the increase, fresh homegrown vegetables and fruits are still more important than ever before. Since the revival brought about by the recession, the continued interest in backyard vegetable and fruit growing owes at least part of its popularity to enthusiasm for home-freezing. Growing food for this purpose is no … Read more
Early in the growing season, while the plants are not yet in flower, the purple meadow rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) may be mistaken for the wild Columbine. The two plants often grow in the same moist edges of meadows and timber tracts, and there is a superficial similarity in leaf shape and foliage color. Besides, both … Read more
Home gardeners are always interested in the mere mention of chemical weed killers. Certainly, one would suspect that the millennium had arrived were it possible to spray some chemicals on the ground so that all weeds would be killed. Desirable plants such as potatoes, turnips, corn, or even grass were allowed to grow unharmed by … Read more
To herbs, our forefathers credited the most miraculous powers. Mallows would keep witches away from the house. To stop bleeding, one had to write the word “veronica” with pen and ink on the ball of the left thumb. The chaste tree (Vitex agnuscastus), when eaten by wicked, unchaste people, would make them as chaste as … Read more
It is always stimulating to explode beliefs hoary with age. So here goes another. Weeds are not all bad. Many of the ones well known to us are important and are doing great good in the garden. However, this does not mean you stop pulling weeds and let them strangle your crops. It does mean … Read more
So, here we are again! Just for the fun of it, dear readers, go back to your last issue of HORTICULTURE to pick up the reference to Cleopatra and her all-important share in this yam—about salads and salad making! Garlic and Olive Oil This last half of the story, in a sense, deals with a … Read more
Everyone likes a garden that is clean and neat. Weeding, thinning, and cultivating are necessary tasks for every gardener who takes pride in keeping their garden in proper order. However, in almost every garden, large or small, there is apt to be a corner where grass clippings, dead weeds, and similar debris are placed either … Read more
Bouquets are lovely in their way as those of flowers may be made from the fragrant, rich range of green-toned foliage found in the herb garden. Moreover, the scent of herb leaves and blossoms seems to many of us more piquantly individual than the scent of flowers. It runs from the flower-like sweetness of angelica … Read more