32 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS. 



accumulated near the surface, good results can be had by digging in 

 considerable amounts of stable manure, rotten straw and sand as 

 prescribed for the improvement of heavy soils above. This makes the 

 soil friable, reduces evaporation from the surface .and therefore pre- 

 vents the accumulation of alkali in the upper soil where it will do most 

 harm to plants. Use fresh water freely on a surface largely of sand 

 and litter and quite gratifying results can be obtained with plants 

 which are somewhat tolerant providing the alkali in the whole soil 

 mass is not too strong naturally or has been weakened by washing 

 into the drains. There is much difference in the toleration of plants 

 and everyone having to deal with alkali should keep an eye open for 

 observation. Oleander and lemon verbena have succeeded in strong 

 alkali, while roses perished entirely. Chrysanthemums grow moder- 

 ately well and a few of the hardy annuals. Bermuda grass is most 

 promising in lawn-making on alkali. Of ornamental trees, cotton- 

 wood, black locust, honey locust, Russian mulberry, California fan and 

 date palms, European sycamore, eucalyptus rostrata and tereticornis, 

 umbrella, pomegranate and tamarisk and various atriplexes are de- 

 pendable for ornament and shade. 



GREEN MANURING 



All garden soils are improved by digging-in green plants and 

 winter-growing weeds, clovers, grass, etc., should always be spaded 

 under rather than cleared off, unless they are taken to the compost- 

 heap for decaying, as has been mentioned. Tall weeds which may 

 interfere with digging as they stand should be chopped flat, pulled 

 into the furrow and covered in. When the rains come early or the 

 ground is wet down deeply 'by irrigation in September a good covering 

 of clover, vetches, rye or barley, etc., can be quickly grown to be dug 

 into the soil in the early winter. 



VARIOUS FERTILIZING MATERIALS 



Finely-sifted coal ashes and road dust are good absorbents for 

 manurial fluids and gases, and may be freely used for such purpose and so 

 may powdered gypsum. Lime and wood ashes should not be so used 

 because they set free the nitrogen compounds which are the most 

 valuable content of manures. This action is conditioned largely upon 

 the presence of moisture, and if the material is kept dry and hurried 

 into the soil the loss is lessened, but there is always danger of some 

 losses. 



Liquid manure is a readily available stimulant of plant growth and 

 is largely used by florists. It should, however, not be too strong, nor 

 too freely used. It can be easily made of well rotted cow manure or 

 of fresher droppings of other animals by filling a cask one quarter 

 full of manure and filling with water from a hose which is allowed to 



