i8g6. 



• • • GARDENING. 



89 



IN A CALIFORNIA GARDEN 



moderately close together, you then get a 

 sheet of color quite striking at a distance. 

 A strong cane was forced into the ground 

 at each corner of the group and one at 

 each side midway between these, making 

 eight canes used, each slanting slightly 

 outward and cut off three feet from the 

 ground. Two sets of canes were then 

 fastened horizontally, one 18 inches from 

 the ground, the other a few inches from 

 the top along the four sides, thus forming 

 again our hollow square. Slender canes 

 were then laid across the opening, resting 

 upon the lower lateral canes, one set 

 running across one way and another set 

 at right angles, all placed about one foot 

 apart, leaving square openings about one 

 foot wide. These were all tied to the side 

 bars. The flower stalks come up through 

 these openings, and a little help aids them 

 in a proper distribution. When the 

 flower stalks reached the upper side 

 pieces, the same course was pursued as 

 at the lower ones — viz.: canes were run 

 across each way. The outer line of flower 

 stalks feel the effect of the wind most and 

 should, to make the job perfect.be tied to 

 the outer side of the side bats. If this is 

 done allow one "line" of flower stalks to 

 grow up outside the lateral bars, then 

 their foliage will hide all evidence of arti- 

 ficial help. 



Not very far from the lychnis was four 

 strong plants of Coreopsis lanceolata, 

 open in habit and numerously branched. 

 Neither of the above methods would look 

 well in supporting it, so a strong cane 

 was selected for each plant and two cross 

 bars tied firmly on near the top, at right 

 angles to each other, thus forming four 

 arms. The shaft was then forced into 

 the ground at the base of the plant and 

 its main diverging stems fastened to the 

 arms. 



One word about tying. The surface of 

 the cane is smooth and slippery and a 

 strong wind may sway the mass cf foli- 

 age, and to prevent the canes from slip- 

 ping out cut a notch on opposite sides of 

 all horizontal canes wherever you desire 

 to fasten them to anything and then by 



the aid of a sail needle you can carry 

 the raffia through the cane and thus 

 secure them. W. G. 



IN fl CALIFORNIA GARDEN. 



The accompanying picture shows a 

 bold and effective piece of gardening, such 

 as could be produced onty in California. 

 This is one of those fine pieces of work for 

 which the Hotel del Monte, at Montere}', 

 California, is famous. 



At the left of the photo may be seen a 

 beautiful specimen of Agave rigida, a 

 native of Florida. The circular bed in the 

 foreground, edged with fine sedums and 

 echeverias, contains some good specimens 

 of Yucca aloifolia and others. The white 

 plume-like plant at the right will of course 

 be recognized at once as Grnerium argen- 

 teum, the California Pampas Grass; what 

 a noble form this assumes when in its 

 element! 



The whole picture must make our 

 eastern gardeners wish for the climate of 

 the Golden Gate. A. B. 



Linum austriacum is like an old tried 

 friend, whose friendship is never efferves- 

 cent and profuse, but gentle, constant and 

 reliable. This perennial was brought to 

 the English gardens from Austria in 1775 

 and in time reached America. It reaches 

 a height of about 18 inches, and assum- 

 ing the same dimensions in diameter, 

 makes a symmetrical plant. The branches 

 are racemose, and the flowers carried well 

 out at the extremities. They are an inch 

 in diameter, single, open, and of a delicate 

 light blue, not produced very thickly at 

 any one time but the single flowers are 

 here and there, well distributed and hav- 

 ing a setting of their own green, pro- 

 ducing the effect of a large, open and airy 

 bouquet. Individual flowers seem to last 

 but one day and not that long if it rains, 

 but with me each morning from June to 

 the middle of October my "bouquet" is 

 sure to greet me. Its companions may 

 have been more dazzling in color, more 

 profuse in bloom , but they came and disap- 



peared, like some "sunshine" friends, while 

 this gem remained constant and true. 

 Propagated by seeds or cuttings and 

 grows in ordinary soil. 



Heliaxthis annuus ( Sunflower. )— The 

 annual sun flower has sported into manv 

 garden varieties more or less worthy of 

 cultivation. Their more proper sphere is 

 enlivening the kitchen garden, although in 

 large estates and perhaps some nooks in 

 public parks, some varieties might be 

 used to advantage. The original of the 

 many forms now grown is a native of our 

 western states and was first described in 

 1596. I have tried many of them, but 

 now content myself with two varieties: 

 Oscar Wild and cucumerifolius. The 

 Oscar Wild reaches a height of 8 to 10 

 feet and the cucumerifolius i to 5. Both 

 are the artists, type of flowers the former 

 from 3 to 6 inches and the latter 2 to 3 

 inches in diameter, the centers dark and 

 the petals numerous, slender and of a 

 good _vellow. A combination of the two 

 forms make a good group. Sow the seeds 

 in the open ground in ordinary soil and 

 thin out to three feet apart. 



HeLIANTHI'S MULTIFLORUS FLORE PLENO 



(dwarf double sunflower) is a garden 

 waif without a habitat, but when well 

 grown is one of the grandest flowers we 

 possess. Had I but little garden space 

 and but little time to give attention to 

 flowers this is the one I should choose to 

 plant. Tnen I would give itasunny, well 

 drained position, manure it well, and 

 wait until August when I would be well 

 . rewarded with bright yellow blooms so 

 like a dahlia in form as to mislead many. 

 My plants are about 5 feet high and well 

 covered with bloom from the base up, 

 and I can count on them clearup to frost. 

 Insects or drouth does not affect it. The 

 foliage is pleasing and the color of the 

 flowers exquisite, and nothing surpasses 

 their lasting qualities when cut. Thev 

 need a slight protection of leaves in win- 

 ter and are readily increased by division 

 in spring. They should be "grown in 

 masses and planted three feet apart. 



