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THE YELLO 

Wott IN 
o. 10 — — Laura D. Cole, Coan “ArK., Seeger ree 
4 rey | 
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The spring of 1945 is proving an 
unusually wet one, delaying farm and 
garden work, and by wash-outs, hin- 
dering rail and truck service. Reminds 
me of the spring of 1895. The farmers 
then said they did not plow their crops, 
they mudded them. 
1895 was followed by what are 
still known as “‘the three dry years.” 
Three disastrous summer droughts in 
succession. We do not know that his- 
tory will repeat itself in this instance, 
but there is one sound precaution which 
gardeners can take, just in case, and 
that is—-use your post hole digger 
freely under hill crops. Go down three 
or four feet with your digger; then 
pour in leaves, leaf mat or whatever 
vegetable refuse you have, enough for 
several inches when lightly tamped. 
Rake in several inches of dirt, throw- 
ing out stones and other indigestible 
trash. The upper layers can well be ani- 
mal refuse if you have it. Add commer- 
cial fertilizer, if you intend to use it, 
with the top layer of dirt. Pull surplus 
dirt around making a sort of cup- 
shaped form, to save water in a dry 
spell, or hill it up if still rainy. I have 
found this particularly effective with 
Cucumbers and Melons, Pole Beans of 
all sorts and Tomatoes. 
PARTRIDGE BERRY § (Michella 
repens) Hardy evergreen, ground 
cover.—Needs acid soil, deep shade in 
the south, berries edible, ideal for ter- 
raniums. 
RED TRADESCANTIA, so called 
from cold weather coloring of the 
leaves. Color of blossoms seems to 
depend upon the nature of the soil 
and amount of the sun. One of the 
spider worts. Hardy perennial. 
GREEN BRIAR, vine © stickery; 
berries black; nodules on roots grow 
quite large and are used to make 
pipes. 
FIVE FINGERS, (Potentilla), 
medicinal vine, with rather attractive 
foliage and yellow flowers in early 
summer. 
VIRGINIA CREEPER, Native 
Vine; good cover for buildings, takes 
brilliant autumn coloring. 
WHITE VIOLETS good in yard or 
as pot plants. Does not require rich 
soil and can stand over half sun. 
WOOLLY VIOLETS, very early, 
through blooming now and will soon 
be dormant for the year. 
BIRDSFOOT VIOLETS, © nearly 
through spring blooming. Found in 
thin, clayey soil. If moved to moder- 
ately good garden soil, bloom again 
with the cold fall rains. 
CONFEDERATE VIOLETS, grey 
effect, thrive in poor soil and can stand 
more sun than others. 
Hemerocallis Kwanso—5c., 
Sempervivum tectorum. 
HARDY CACTI—10c EACH. 
OPUNTIA VULGARE (Common 
Prickly Pear) hardy, flower creamy 
yellow, fruit edible. Can be used as 
pot plant. Thrives well in poor soil. 
OPUNTIA ROBUSTA. Much taller 
plant and bigger pads. Stately lawn 
decoration. 
OPUNTIA VASEII, native to Colo- 
rado deserts. Much thicker pads. Does 
well in pots. 
OPUNTIA ERINACEA § (Grizzly 
Bear) plenty stickery, hardy. 
OPUNTIA RAMOSSISSIMA, hardy 
and dwarf, good in full sun in rock 
garden, also good as pot plant. 
Any of the above plants, 5c each 
unless otherwise noted. 
