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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1951-7-4, Page 3lay Richard -l. Wilkinson ilrs, Luther tvay very ,iuug, -Co' Course, darling, 1 know hate happy and thrilled you are at being star• ried, Phil is a nice boy. Dear ate, l remember when Alvin and f were first married, 1 was just the sante." Mrs, Luther sighed, -chi, illusions of youth. Dear nue," Beth Franklin tried hard to main- tain a role of gracious hostess, "Were your illusions shattered, bars, Luther?" "Shattered?" Mrs. neither laugh- ed and suddenly looked wise, "Well, yes, I suppose they were. Por I did have illusions about my husband. darling, just as you have about your Phil, And their—" Mrs. Luther's lips tightened—"he strayed." "How dreadful!" "Not dreadfnl, darling—fortunate. Oh, my yes, You see, Dave, my husband, is not naturally a woman chaser. He was frightfully upset and shamed. IIe promised to do anything if I'd only not leave him. To this day Dave is repentant. He'll do anything I ask. He is humble and gratefui, and I declare I think 1 have the best husband in the world." "I suppose it was fortunate was- n't it?" Mrs. Luther leaned toward her young hostess. "So fortunate, my clear, that I wish others could bene- fit by the salve experience. Your Phil is very handsome, and Gret- chen Carter is very beautiful." She smiled. "Well, darling, I simply must be going." Beth sat down at a window, "up- ped her chin in her hand and stared out at the rain. "Gretchen Carter is very beautiful." What had Mrs, Luther meant? Ivfrs. Luther was bitter and disillusioned . , Poor J)ave Luther, How dreadful it must be to be constantly under suspi- cion. She Really Played Cards "F1or Keeps" " 1 , Isar lire, 4 Clea❑ hearth, aid the rigour of the game." This was the , elebrated wish of old Sarah Balite (now with God), who, next to her devotions, loved a goad game of whist. She wa- none al your nuke• warns gamesters, your half-and-half players, who have no objection to take a hand, if you Wrlltt "0111• 10 slake up a rubber; who affirm that they have no pleasure in winding; that they like to wits ane game aud lose another; that they can while away an hour •very agreeably al a card -table, but are indifferent whe• then they play or no; and will de- sire an adversary, who has stint a wrong hard, to lake it up and play another. Sarah Battle U11 none of that breed. She detested their, as I clo, from her heart and soul, and would not, save upon a striking emergency, willingly seat herself at the same table with them. She loved a thor- rough-paced partner, 0 determined enemy. She took, and gave, no con- cessions, She hated favours. She never make a revoke, nor ever pass - rd it over in her adversary without exacting the utmost forfeiture. She fought a good fight; cut and thrust, She held not her good sword (Iter cards) "like a dancer," She sat bolt bowed her and neithers you upright; cards, nor desired to see yours. All people have their blind side—their superstitions; and I have heard her declare, under the rose, that Hearts was her favorite suit. As she emphatically observed, cards were cards; and if I ever saw unntingled distaste in her fine last - century countenance, it was at the airs of a young gentleman of a literary turn, who had been with dif- ficulty persuaded to take a hand; and who, in his excess of candour, declared, that he thought there was no harm in unbending the mind now and then, after serious studies, in recreations of that kind! She could not bear to have her noble occu- pation, to which she wound' up her faculties, considered in that light. It was her business, her duty, the thing she came into the world to do —and she did it. She unbent her mind afterwards—over a book.— Front "Mrs. Battle's Opinions on Whist," in "Essays of Elia." by Charles Lamb Two weeks later the J•Ieinptoit• Country Club held its annual spring opening ball. Phil and Beth went with the Craigs, En route, Dorothy Craig said mischievously: "Keep your eye on that handsome bus - band of yours tonight, Beth. They tell me Gretchen Carter has bought the most seductive gown . , " Beth laughed. She strove for and maintained an attitude of indiffer- ence. Even later when she saw Gretchen Carter, blonde and gorge- ous in it white, flinty gown that was truly seductive, she would not ad- mit that what Mrs. Luther or Doro- thy had said was affecting her peace of mind, She danced the first dance with Phil and then, conscious of Mrs, Luther watching her from across the roost, conscious of Dorothy Craig's mischievous glance, she de- liberately ignored her husband, It was quite by accident that to- ward the middle of the evening she saw Phil slip through the French doors out on to the terrace, Or was it accident? Certainly it wasn't ac- cident •that sent her eyes sweeping around the room till they Found Gretchen Carter, And then her heart stood still, Gretchen was moving toward the sante French doors. • The orchestra swung into s fox- trot, Beside her, Tont Craig said: "My dance. Beth?" "No," site said. "No, Tom, J— I've got a headache , . , Excuse ole. please," And she moved away, swiftly, blindly, Without consci- ously establisitipg a destination, she- made he-made her way out on to the tee. race, stood there in the (tint light, Abruptly she saw theist—two fig- ures silhouetted against the sky at the far end of the terrace standing close together. Reason left her. Logic fled, Seiz- ed by an uncontrollable fury, con- scious only of one desiltc—the- de- sire to wreak vengeance on this woman who had robbed her of her of her faith, she sped along lite terrace, cried out in 'sudden an- guish and flung herself toward the finny white dregs and startled facie of Gretchen. As from. a great distance she beard a masculine exclamation, stew a face in the (lint light•—anti sud- denly it was as if an icy cloak had engulfed lice and was holding her close. For the face of the non who had. been standing with his arm about 'Gretchen Carter was that of Dave Luther. Dog Robber?—Princess, a police dog, is "in the dog house" at a Los Angeles animal shelter after being booked as a suspected accomplice of her master, Ro- bert C. Wakelond, in a robbery attempt. Officers said Wakelond tried to roba man while the dog held another man and woman at bay. lywo d Shelves Spoth BF EDNA IIULES CCOLL0.• ECTIONS are tont But as e practical problem 10 household storage they are often headaches. The right plate fora collection of photographs, figurines, dolls or old firearms is often herd to come by. If you've put time, trouble and expense into a collection, you'd like • it displayed to advantage, not tucked away In e drawer or crowded onto an inadequate what -not stand. And ii yours Is the job of house- keeping, you'll want the collection in an out-of-the-way place where they'll gather less dust and be safe from the mischievous hands of small children A display shelf a bit higher than eye -level otters a practical solution to both these problems. 11 should be narrow enough to serve as a simple wall fixture; a too -wide one will detract from the prominence of the collection For stand-up groupings like photographs, the shelf Should be grooved to aid in their display It's not a good idea to construct your shell of any scrap lumber you happen to have lying around. In order to enhance and do Justice to your collection, try a natural -finish plywood in an attractively - grained wood such as birch A shelf of this material is particularly effective when It repeats in grain and finish the woods used in other furnishings of the room. 0 kciuns A collection of prized photographs is displayed to advantage on a narrow shelf of birch plywood which repeat's the natural apish of drawers In chests and valance. T.11ARM FRONT Jok Looking through The New York Times not long ago I chanced upon an article entitled "Northern Orch- ards," written by I, B. Lucas of Markdale, Ont, It was so interest- ing that I think I'll just "pinch" it and pass it along to reader,; of this column—with sincere thanks to Mr. Lucas. I hope—and believe—you'll enjoy it just as much as I did, t * ' * In my Canadian garden, where the lowest temperature during last winter was 20 degrees below zero and where the thi'rtnometer has twice touched 40 below during the past seventeen years, I grow all the familiar tree fruits except citrus. Here at Markdale, Ont., ninety miles north of Toronto, where noth- ing but the hardiest varieties of ap- ples are expected to survive, my favorite crop is peaches , , , needless to say,. thy require winter protec- tion. • • * Many fruits that are rated too tender for commercial orchards may prove hardy in northern climates, under the sheltered conditions of a home garden. especially if they are ]sept in a vigorous condition of health. Nine -tenths of my trees are listed as not hardy for this district, and yet over the past two decades my losses have been quite neglig- ible. Yet even the soil is wrong for fruit growing. And, since the garden is twenty -live miles from any siz- able body of water, it is subject to vicious late frosts when the trees are in full bloom or later: 22 degrees above zero on Jttne 8, 144'), Inc' ex- ample. e Fruit varieties are temperamental about deciding when they will sue- ceed. The Cornice pear bears won- derful fruit in my orchard, but does 1101 do well 100 miles farther south in the Niagara peninsula,. where the conditions are logically more con- genial. If it is well grown, nothing approaches this variety in quality. However, -its dessert excellence is offset to some extent by light crop- ping and the extra years it. takes -to reach bearing age. The Bartlett pear fully merits its - popularity and should sbe in every garden. If dwarfed, it will need rigid support, since it forms a weak (inion with the quince understock, Variety Conference is also most satisfactory. In contrast to the experience of some. gardeners in other and more favorable districts, I have found it a much more interesting dessert pear than Bartlett, a* HAROLD ARNETT A sfAM44 P/p/$ NER (GLASS TUE STOPPERED WITN SI'OtsiGE RUBBER MAKES A GOPP APPLICATOR FOR LIG1,U110 POLISH TO 'TWO- TONE( SHOES. 761E FLOW OF CLEANER MAY SE DIRECTO. And so it is risky to predict.what any specific fruit will do in a specific location. One of my tests with peaches showed that Vedette proved hardier and more prolific than eight other varieties, and was equally good in quality. Apples that have thrived in my garden arc, in order of hardiness and of earliness, Yel- low Transparent, Astrachan, Melba, 'McIntosh and Delicious, The tree that has the best chance of survival—in any climate—is the young one that has not yet come into bearing. 11 is freer from the debilitating effects of disease and insects, and it is spared the burden of cropping. Therefore, it follows that dusting and spraying of fruit trees and thinning of crops not only improves the, quality of the fruit but also builds up resistance against next winter's sub -zero weather. Bat. the same token, anything that lowers the vitality of a tree, such as transplanting, spray injury, in- correct pruning, spring floods or summer drought. may result fn winter losses. x: * * • 11 a fruit tree has been injured, there are several ways of compen- sating, For instance, last summer the European red ratite, which had been only a minor nuisance in pre- vious yearsa suddenly increased enormously and caused serious damage to the apple foliage. 'f re- moved the entire crop from all the affected trees, even though it was only four or five weeks before har- vest. With the additional help of extra fertilizers, cultivation, mound- ing of soil and mulching, they cane through last winter in good health. The actual mechanical protection from cold weather begins when trees are set out. They should be trained against south or west walls —wooden, or preferably masonry. The warmth of these walls and the shelter they offer from cold north winds may be protection enough for some districts.. But not for Markdale, Ont. there, one of two further safeguards is needed: (1) wrapping the branches with burlap, or (2) leaning wooden sections against the walls. (The wooden sec- tions need to be tall enough to reach over Ilse tops Of treWS,) er * * Wrapping with burlap may ex- tend the margin of safety by about 10 degrees; ssooden covers saved not only the wood tissue but also the fruit buds both times that the temperature dropped to forty be- low zero iu my garden. :I li 1 surprising protection given by the rough, loose -fitting wooden covers is due to the 'lag" between the temperature in the .open and tender the covers. Extremely cold temperature seldom lasts more than three or four hours. If it did the lag would be overcome and the trees would perish. * * i. All tender trees benefit front a monad of soil built up around the base of the trunk, whether wooden covers are used or not. A mulch on top of this also helps, but it utast not be added until the ground is frozen solid and the mice have es- tablished s- t hh'sh 1 their winter r ua rtec else- where. e- where, II With this e,1raprotection during tits• winter, healthy trees will sur- vive extremely cold winters. But the gardener should not forget the im- portance of doubling vigilance against any kind of damage to the fruit trees during the growing sea- son and of following the best cul- tural procedures, GI/LEN TIIUMB 14601801' Smith, The wide, light green blades of crabgrass are now pushing through many a gardener's carefully tend- ed expanse of turf, By midsummer, while the lawn grasses are having a siesta, the crabgrass will reach its most vigorous stage, spreading horizontally at great speed, rooting as it grows. To achieve a • lawn that is com- pletely free of this pestiferous weed, the first requisite is to have a heavy stand of healthy grass in a well - drained, well-fed soil. Where turf is thick, crabgrass cannot gain a foothold. But in almost every lawn some condition exists which gives the weed a chance to get ahead. • s, * Too close cutting of lawns in June or July, for instance. will en- courage crabgrass, for like some of the broadleaved weeds, it sprouts and develops best when it is not shaded. Also, even if the lawn seed was pure in the beginning, seeds of crabgrass which have been lying in the soil for many years will germinate if they are brought to the surface by spading the ground. * +: * T,atept seeds keep germinating over a long period. By the end of August, new plants in turn are forming seeds which are apt to ripen within a week. y: M: * There is no need for discourage- ment today, however, if crabgrass has infested tite lawns. Two reliable types of chemicals are now on the market which will eliminate this once resistant weed without hurt- ing the -turf more than temporarily. And experiments are being made with even more promising chemi- cals and new methods of applica- tion. * * * 'rhe two recommended chemicals now available are phenyl mercuric • acetate, known in the trade as PMA, and potassium cyanate, de- signated as ICOCN. Each one ap- pears on the shelves of garden sup- ply stores under a number of trade names, '.l'o learn the chemical content of each, tite label must be inspected, and, to insure proper re- sults, the directions for each brand must be followed accurately. ri * * The gardener who can distinguish crabgrass from other grassy weeds may wish to start attacking it as soon as two or three of its leaves are' visible in early summer, This is entirely practical, except that it does not bastes the end of the job. One or two follow-up treat- ments are necessary and, while these may be given its July, research men recommend that work be con- cluded in mid-August. At that time, two treatments given from seven to ten days apart will catch the sea - track the fn's se . yet n' latest ed g sea- son's mature plants before they go -to seed. A; ,. For the early -season treatment, PMA is recommended, since it acts on the roots and surface seeds as well as on the foliage of crabgrass. This chemical may take as long as three qr our weeks, However, for calnplete 1tf11, a: * For late -in -the -season treatments, KOCN is recommended, since its action is more rapid. At that time, plants are apt to mature and drop their seeds before a slower herbi- cide take effect. Any of the KOCN mixture can by used early as well as late. * {, * At the Experiment Station where PMA was discovered as a means of killing crabgrass, it has also been found that combining it with 2,4-D in the season's first application will eliminate the broadleaved weeds, such as plantain and dandelion, at the same time. Subsequent applica- tions of PMA alone, at the rate directed on the container, need to be made as usual. -PMA, which was originally developed as a fungicide, will successfully combat dollar spot and other lawn diseases. Both PMA and KOCN will cause a slight browning of the lawn grass, but the effect should wear off after a couple of weeks. In other words, the lawn grasses re- cover while the crabgrass dies, The damage will be more severe, how- ever, if the grass is cut too short, if too strong a concentration of the chemical is used or if the weather is exceedingly hot and dry. * * * Some of the crabgrass chemicals are sold as liquids, some as pow- ders to be used either wet or dry. When applied dry, the hto-wteed fertilizer ::proader dues the Joh effi- , cantly and is handy to ose * * * It is important to I.now the tai• mensions of the lawn, since the results will 1101 be :1; expected nn• Less tile correct proportion of weed- killer ,is used for a given area, The proportion, will be speeiiied on the. label. a: * * If the herbicide is applied in liquid form it is helpful to know how many square feet the , -,ntrnth of the sprayer will r„vcr. .reo amount of water used to dilute it maters little, as long as the ,awn is thoroughly and etenly covered, although faster action may be ole• tailed with a relatively smaller amount. Completely do applica- tions, nn the "thee hau,1, are tate slowest of all. The first time the grass is rua after a crabgrass killer is applied; the lawn mower should be set at two and a half inches, After that, it is returned to the normal height of one and a half to two inches. * * * Before these present-day chem- icals were discovered, arsenates were the principal weedkillers used for crabgrass and all other weeds, They not only kill all plants with witch they e i n coo in contact , but: are dangerous to handle. The new compounds are safe to use if ordin- ary precautions are taken. And they are selective; that is, they will 1 1 without per- manently one kind of plant a t tt affecting others. Potas- sium cyanate, which is relatively harmless, is not to be confused With the deadly cnenpnnud, potas• stunt cyanide. While crabgrass killers 110, on the market are effective. Home- owners will do well to watch for the new ones now being tcste'1 4t several experiment stations anti by manufacturers. One—dichloral urea. —which is completely harmless to use, has given excellent results with no burning of the lawn at all, It is reported to be rathee bulky te• handle, however. "Just to discover and rescue ,!„t: baby plant overgrown by upas weeds is achievement, more than Hitler accomplished. To tear up ono of your own seedlings by accident stakes you cry with anguish.” Via- SALLY'S, SAll S 'Dol 't worry! Papa waa't say HO becat:se he sure realizes Pct a growing e::p'snve," "See The Birdie"—That seems to be the ideq N 71/2 -year-old Philip Gill turns the tables on the cameraman, Philip Was Waiting to board a plane for Casablanca, French Morocco, where hell join his father, �I JITTER - AN -MOT SO RAST MOTHER. YOU MAVEN'T SEEN MY WONDER PiPE V01/ DIDVOU EYI,RS Cp154T-TIEt?, SAVE AND THERE ARE FIffY OTHER STYLES IN MY SAMPLE 1:ASE.' • I AND TAME ALL LINED WIN PURR MAPLE SUGAR TO HELP BREAK'EM IN - rust -tow VOU IN A MINUTE ! •� Ne? 1 By Arthur Pointer,