September 1931

The Old Woman, the Trees, and the Stick

ONE day in the deep, black forest many years ago an old woman was wandering around, apparently lost. Finally she came to a stream which was hardly narrow enough to jump across. She looked up at the trees and asked them to give her a branch to assist her to the opposite side.

ALONG THE GARDEN PATH

HOW time passes! The outdoor growing season of the garden is almost over in most sections of the country. It seems only yesterday that I was writing of the first flowers of springtime. And now it is more appropriate to speak of falling nuts, yellow pumpkins, Fringed Gentians, and rosy- cheeked apples. Roadsides and gardens are lovely with Wild Asters and the goldenrod.

What to Do in September

IT'S peony-planting time. Divide and reset old clumps that need it. Buy and plant varieties you do not have.

Diary of a Modern Eve

September 2. "YAHOO-- S'prise for you-- Run like everything!" called Peter tonight as he came toward the kitchen.

Behind the Scenes of Childhood Problems

BROAD forehead under dark hair, thoughtful dark eyes, firm chin and sensitive mouth-- Robert is the sort of boy you would like your own boy to be. His torso, exposed for the doctor's examination, is well nourished and well muscled, so one sees that he is a good physical specimen as well as of high order mentally.

Every Help You May Want

When Grades Are Pleasing

THE grade of the front lawn bears an important relation to the appearance of the house, especially as it is seen from the street. Grading which is well studied in relation to the house adds much to the general appearance of the entire ensemble, while grading which is poorly done detracts equally from the whole scheme.

Autumn's Queen the Chrysanthemum

TO BE successful in the garden, chrysanthemums should be selected for known hardiness of plant as well as early-blooming habit. For those who have the time and the patience to work with them, the more tender, large fancy double varieties may also be brought into perfection in the garden. But these do not comprise the truly garden sorts.

For Home Cleanliness and Beauty USE TILE

YOU have, let's suppose, funds available for investment. For investment in the home, new or old, the money is to be particularly allotted to gilt-edge securities-- Tile.

Are You Going to College?

COLLEGE rooms can and should express the individuality of the girl or boy who uses them just as much as their rooms at home. Of course, there will be a difference in the expression, inasmuch as the furniture, or even the furnishings, may be of a totally different type. But granted all this, there is no reason for college students' spending four years of their impressionable period against a dull background whose very drabness may affect a memory of school life in after years.

The House on the Cover

I HAVE always thought that if I had not chosen to be an artist I might now be working with a T square and ruling pen in place of paints and brushes. I have always been keenly interested in architecture and have on various occasions had the privilege of working with some of America's greatest architects.

"The Dirt Gardener" Advises Fall Planting

WITH many different nursery products and in a good portion of the country, fall buying and planting is just as good or even better than spring buying and planting. This is nothing new. Every old hand at gardening, every landscape planter, every nurseryman knows it.

The House That Smith Built

CONSIDERED from the outside looking in, there was every reason why the home of the John Smiths should be a happy one. They had money, they had a new and completely equipped house, they had health-- all of which are raw materials from which a good deal of happiness can be made-- by persons who know how.

Dahlias--How to Grow Prizewinners

AT A RECENT dahlia show I came upon a much admired entry that received four ribbons. When I learned that this exhibit was entered by a local amateur-grower, I asked her to describe her method of growing dahlias. Tho differing in some respects from that of other growers, any method that produced such superb blossoms is worth considering.

Blanket Covers Are New and Practical

EVERY homemaker prides herself in the possession of a generous supply of linens which will contribute to the restfulness and decorative charm of her bedrooms. And blanket protectors are interesting accessories which add a lovely color note and serve a practical purpose as well.

Book-Helps for the Busy Homemaker

HOW would you like to pretend right now that you are just starting homemaking, garden-making, baby culture; that you aren't the firm homemaker who always sweeps the upstairs Thursday, the downstairs Friday, and bakes a cake and two pies on Saturday?

Keep Your Home Young

IF YOU are one of the countless thousands of persons who own a home from twelve to twenty-five years or more old, you are confronted today with a situation about like this:

A Hospitable House for the Narrow Lot

NESTLING among many shrubs and trees, the delightful architecture of this house would claim almost everyone's attention. A lot 40 feet wide would be sufficient and would allow for a wide side drive and an abundance of shrubs and planting about the house.

ASTERS--a Galaxy of Stars

MICHAELMAS-DAIST, starwort, frostflower, farewell -summer, swanweed, white-rosemary-- so various the names they bear-- these lovely asters. How effectively they adorn and animate the garden long after other flowers have been blackened by the first frosts! And, in their case, "how goodness heightens beauty," for added to their charm of form and color are the more practical good traits of extreme hardiness, easy adaptability to nearly any situation or soil, and an apparent immunity from disease and insect pests.

Small But Complete

BECAUSE many prospective home-owners must bring their plans within a limited number of square feet, it is interesting to see how the small house can be made both complete and charming.

A Bed Ensemble That Spells Comfort

WHEN the question is asked, "What kind of a bed shall we buy?" the important part of the answer does not lie in the decision as to whether it shall be Early American, Early English, or modern in style, but rather in the decision as to the kind of springs and mattresses with which it shall be equipped.

Fun in School and Out!--with The Junior Garden Clubs of America

THIS month our Junior Garden Club Knights of America the Beautiful are returning from their summer crusade against the Black Prince of Ugliness. They have come back with many interesting reports of exciting and victorious bouts with the Black Prince's army of weeds and neglect.

How We Have Tomatoes Until Christmas

"BUT how do you manage to keep them until Christmas?" queried our guest.

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The Children's Pleasure Chest

"LADY BUG, lady bug, fly away home," chanted Babette and Jerry gayly, and right away Mrs. Lady-Bird Beetle spread her shiny polkadot wings and sailed thru the air. But she did not go home. Oh, no. It was dinnertime and Mrs. Lady-Bird Beetle was very hungry.

The Garden-Club Handbook

ACROSS THE EDITOR'S DESK

PEOPLE are turning from congested living to the detached home. This is the plain and obvious fact shown by the census returns made public sometime ago. Until 1928 there was a drift toward apartments. In that year the tide turned, and now more and more people are living in detached houses.