Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1952)
f P The) tStafgnan. golem. Orecjon. Sunday, Dnmbr 21, 1932 wttn last season's Answer If the bushes are so tall that they whip about, head them back, but do not do your real pruning until late February or early March. , Question What to do with wal nut leaves? Have been told they are not good in the compost heap. Have quite a few from one tree on our back lawn. Seems they should be good for something. M. R. Answer They compost so much more slowly than the usual leaf that it is unwise to compost, the two together. A compost heap of walnut leaves alone is frequently useful. When the foliage is thor oughly composted, use a thin layer of it on the grass beneath the wal nut tree but do not let that layer become so thick that it chokes out the grass. Some of it, too, is very fine in the rhododendron "bed but, here, too. sparingly. It should be. used bloom still on them. E. A. Answer Cut off the blooms and throw on the compost heap, but do your main pruning in'earlV spring. Question Have an apple tree which- bore a lot of fruit this year, but we didn't have it sprayed. The apples are rotting on the ground as most of them were too imper fect for us to keep. Will these harm the compost heap? R. N. Answer It is never wise to put potential insects or diseases on the compost heap. The maturing larvae will come out and repeat the cycle again next year. Either destroy by burning or bury two or three feet deep so that the larvae is covered up for good. Question Is Is too early to prune rose bushes? D. S. - f- r" '.- Fill son box! wUh mixture for spring seed sowing. - me FOR SALE Cufejt Jittle BRAND NEW home In Kelzer Never been occupied, 2 B. R living room, fireplace, hardwood floors throughout, forced air heat, kitchen very modern, bath. Possession be fore Christinas. Sacrifice price for quick sale. Phone 43181, Evenings By ,lJUIe XIilaiicn -'I- - Holiday Season Recalls History Of Mistletoe Scene at Labish Christmas Show Gard en Calendar If, - . 11-'; , II . f By LILLIE L. M ADS EN Garden Editor, The Statesman It must be the season! Requests In the past two weeks for informa tion on mistletoe have been piling up. Requests have been varied, but mostly they have been for legendary material, Charles A. Cole, formerly with the state department of agricul ture, very nicely supplied me with the following information: In Europe the legend of mistle toe dates back to mythology. For centuries it has had a vague re ligious or sentimental significance. It seems that Aeneas, by plucking a branch of mistletoe was able to go to the lower regions and return without harm. Virgi! and Pliny used the bo tanical name "viscum" in describ ing the plant. The European specia is known as viscum album and the American botanists call the east coast specia Phoradendrum haves cens, and that of the Pacific coast Phoradendrum villosum. Birds Scatter Seeds The word viscum describes the gticky substance that surrounds the seed. This substance is very important in distributing the seed. The birds, in eating the berries, get the-seeds on their feet and beaks, fly to other trees and wipe the sticky substance off on the bark, thus starting a new infesta tion. "Infestation" is Mr. Cole's name for the mistletoe, not mine. But he goes on to say that mistletoe is a parasite which feeds on the sap of i Horta. of South Germany. This the nost plant, and heavy mxesta- i goddess was a Questionable vounc miss who always kept a branch of mistletoe hanging in the center of her reception hall. The kiss under the mistletoe was then considered a sign of fickle love rather than true love, and eary churches of Mrs. Joe Henny of Brooks, chair man of the recent Labish Mea dows Garden Club Christmas Show, displays the candle ar rangement that won a blue rib bon for Mrs. Alvin VanCleave i . - v - . t 4 V . ' i' - t ' I a ; ''i, . torn - - A A rrz ..i , I The entry pictured above won sweepstakes honors for Mrs. AI WrUht at the Labish Meadows Garden Clnb Christmas Show. Looklnr at the entry Is Barbara Charlene Henny. (Statesman Garden Photos). tions will 'kill an oak tree. He quotes Shakespeare to prove his point in using "infestation": "The trees forlorne o'er run with moss and balefulLmistletoe." Mistletoe is found along the South Atlantic seaboard and in r.prmanv forhada haneinff mlstle the southern states. In the list oftoe on doors or near toe places state i towers, mistletoe is given , 0 vv-orship Grows on Juniper In Oregon, mistletoe is most abundant from the Columbia Riv er up the Willamette Valley and on to the California line. The heaviest "infestation" 'again to quote Mr. Cole) is between Rose burg and Grants Pass. A few plants are found in Central Ore gon growing on juniper, but one would hardly recognize this as mistletoe. In early Christian England, mistletoe was not used in the re ligious part of the yuletide fes tivals. The aversion to using the plant in early Christian festivals dated to the legend of tre Druids of early England. This group con sidered MistletM a most sacred plant and used it in their annual celebration, held at about the time of the Christian English Yuletide." The Druid priests cut the mistle toe with a golden sickle from trees growing in their groves of worship. Branches of this sacred mistletoe were distributed by young men to homes where It was hung on the doorways to ward off the evil spirits. Other religious sects looked on the custom as black art and therefore barred mistletoe from their religious fes tivals. In the early legends of the Norsemen, mistletoe held a part as an agent of destruction. Beldier, the son of Odin and Frigga, dreamed that his life was threat ened. His mother made all animal and plant life promise not to harm her son, but she forgot to include mistletoe. Beldler's young friends. knowing that he was immune to til things, amused themselves by throwing various kinds of objects at him, only to watch them bounce off, leaving him completely un harmed. Lokl, Beldier's secret ene say, found that mistletoe was not Included in the list of objects pledged not to harm him, so he made a dart of mistletoe wood and gave it to Hothar, Beldier's blind brother. Hothar threw the dart, piercing Beldier's heart. Kiss Traced The kiss under the mistletoe may be traced back to the goddess. But not in every locale was mis tletoe one of dishonor. In Perth shire. In Scotland, the Hays of Eroll used mistletoe as a badge of honor. By wearing a sprig in bat i tie, victory was assured. To ac complish this, the spray had to be taken from a special large oak growing on the Hays estate at Perthshire. Wllamette Valley has no special legend associated with mistletoe other than its part of Christmas season to go mistletoeing and bring back a few sprigs or bunches. Mrs Maine Reichert, Dallas, re ports that holly, too, is legendary. She tells that the crown of thorns, placed upon the head of Christ at the crucifixion was made of holly. and that the name "holly" Is a corrupt spelling of "holy." As with mistletoe, holly played a part in the life of the Druids, who wore It in their hair wnen tney went to pick the mistletoe. Early Romans are said to have used holly as decoration in their homes and as a speciaL decking for their idols. Mrs. Reichert tells of other folk tales, in which holly was believed to repel lightning and thunder and, therefore, was planted close to houses ... a stick cut from a holly tree was believed to subdue the most stubborn animal, and holly had a power against witches. But in England it was consid ered unlucky to bring the holly into the house before Christmas Eve, and even more unlucky to leave it there after Twelfth-night, January 6, 12 nights after the birth of Christ. Probably there are many other legendary tales connected with both of these "Christmas greens," but I believe most of the questions concerning them are answered here ... if not, let us hear again . . and Merry Christmas! Mulch rhubarb with compost and manure. Mulch asparagus bed likewise. Spread manure now on garden area that does not have cover crop. Gigantic Wallpaper SALE! 500 stock patterns sacrificed below costl V Patterns up to $1.00 .NOW 35 Patterns $1X0 to $2.00 Patterns $2.00 to S&00 .NOW NOW S5 Cloeeout patterns From .15 up THE FRIENDLY SCOTSMAN SALE ENDS DEC. 23 t x I.,,,,, , nty- mniwj uiiuhw.ii ",SW"Y Mrs. Walter Brutka of Brooks, who teaches In Salem, Is shown pour ing refreshments at the Labish Meadows Show. Question Can you tell me how long Poinsettias have been asso ciated with Christmas in America? Where is the plant native? We've noted it in Southern California growing outdoors and blooming in gardens. Is it a native there? . R Answer Poinsettias are native of tropical America. They grow nicely outdoors In Southern Call fornia, usually blooming there from early November until late February or early March. The plant is named after Joel Poinsett, a botanist who brought the plant to the States more than a century ago I believe, garden encyclope dias give about 1830-33. Question I recall last year you mentioned several "does" and "don'ts" for the Christmas poin settia. Would you mind repeating the most important? We don't care about holding the plant over until next season just making it last as long as possible this one O. T. Answer Keep the plant away from draft. A chill draft even for a brief time may start leaves and bracts falling. Keep the plant from drying out. Set the plant where it will have good light and a tem perature between 65 and 70 de grees. The location should be so that drafts from opening doors will not reach the poinsettia which makes the hall table out. If the foliage begins to drop normally and slowly, the same cultural con ditions should be maintained until half have fallen, then cut the sup ply of water gradually until the soil is dry in the pot. That's the end of your plant for the season If you wish to hold them over, and have no greenhouse, store them in a cool dry place, out of light. Mrs. L. S. T. wants to hold her poinsettia over, and asked for further information to the above, so this is included here: In late April take up the poinsettia, cut oil the stem to about four inches, repot the plant in rich soil, using garden loam with sand and well decayed cow manure and a little leafmold. Grow the plant in a sun ny indoor place until all danger of frost is past usually late May, then sink the pot to the rim in a sunny spot in the garden. Keep it well watered and a mulch of leaf- mold over the top of the soil in the pot. During the first few days of Sep tember, take the plant indoors, getting it used to the indoor air before the winter heat Is turned on. Question When may I cut my hydrangeas back? They look aw December Month To Spray Peach Trees for Curl Dormant spray for control of peach leaf curl must be applied this month. This means both for the commercial tree and the lone tree which may ornament a city lot . . . and further, it means both the fruiting and flowering varie ties. Use fresh bordeaux, phygon. puratized agricultude sprav or cal cium polysulphide. Dormant oil in combination with bordeaux or lime sulphur used in winter will kill insect eggs, some over-winter ing larvae and insects. Keep in- secis on or nouse plants. Fruiting House Plants Termed Easy to Raise Nothing is less trouble than some of the fruiting house plants. Orange globes may hang on the Otaheite orange- from December until June. The clusters of red berries deck an ardisia just as long, and a Ponderosa lemon. which will have large fruit, is a long-lived acquisition. There are also dwarf forms of pyracantha and pomegranate. Just about all these take are regular watering, an infrequent feeding, trimming in the spring and a brief vacation outdoors in summer sun. Everything for Your Window ELMER THE BLIND MAN Venetian Blinds, Drapes and Shade Traverse Rods Bamboo Drapes and Shades Columbia Matic Screens Cloth and Aluminum Awnings Fireplace Screens and Accessories Chapman Home Freezers Verti Vertical Blinds Folding Doors Transparent Plastic Store Shades. We Wash, Faint. Slat and Retape Venetian Blinds Free Estimates 10 Down Pay Monthly S870 Center St (formerly West Salem) Phone 3-732S Que Sifts That Eswj Living Shrubs and Trees are permanent gifts. You can shop by phone or by mail, by using our Nursery Gift Certificates. He (or she) can select the exact variety desired at his own leisure. Azaleas, rhododendrons, rose bushes and trees of all kinds. KNIGHT PEARCY NURSERY 2 Salesyerds Open 7 Days a Week ' Town Yard S. Liberty 3 Blocks South of State Ph. 3-3212 Country Salesyard on 99E 1 Mile South of Brooks flneaBaE03Bg3:sa2OWara 8 Jh HOFFMAN 8 ii For Christmas 9 $254 95 end up s Jift f0? the 3ami(ij O IMMEDIATE DELIVERY O IOW DOWN PAYMENT ... I O WE DO OUR OWN SERVICING & WILLS MUSIC STORE I 7 ! 0 fffl I When you need Denial V fj" Aj CflS Health and your Appear- U ty1 WITHOUT DELAY. Don't '""'""""'Sl y p.. put It off merely because " f yo'f hort of caih! Take yr J W dvantage of Dr. Settler's L.,, Ub"ii'"i Hlf'l . V --tv55 Y - yOMr Bw flPtfV Ws-- i. Dr. $mUr Invites ya t m hit Liberal Credit U fr all type, of dentSyes, Including Hi beautiful new Transparent PJte Dental Plate. Atk Yeur Dentist to aplaln hew these Medern Plates can help vw LOOK BETTER . . . FEEL BITTER. 0 DR. SEMLER GIVES YOU 0 ALL THE CREDIT YOU NEED ... fer all the Dental Werk yeu need. N red tape. bank r finance company te deal with. YOU DECIDE hew snail your Credit Payments should be, and Dr. Semlor will accept ANY REASONABLE TERMS YOU WANT. A Complete Dental Sorvico It available at all I Dr. lemler Offices ... Portland. Salem. Eugene. Prompt, eewrteous attention . . rA APPOINTMENT NEEDED ... FOR BXOfc--S5.-Cni CONSULTATION. QGEB5 Change NOW to the benefits of Modern Platesl -Come in before 10 A.M. (eseept Saturday! and your new p!etes will be ready by 1:30 THE SAME DAY ii cim that do not require extraction. NO WAITING! Broken Plates immediately Repaired at Dr. Semler's ... Missing Teeth promptly Re placed. Loose, uncomfortable Dental Plates Reset for Added Comfort . . Easier Chewlnfl. OUT-OF-TOWN PATIENTS ffod te portWelorty coo. oeoiet to rofeo odv toqo of too prooapt aenrlco o Dr. Soa tor's ... Doojtol Wok completed hs 1 to S stays fdtfficvJt sows oropd). Avoid ! ef tiete . . . ett.Nhc oastfe trips! 1 LWi 7 0n seffl(ie(B enoi?a (gaiitKs 1 AND STAFF OF REGISTERED' DENTISTS located In the oorwo-teiNS SONS JMTt .wuAtt 255 R Cemmerds! Street 432 State Salem, Oregon ii
