98 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS. 



quite rapidly. Only in the valley bottoms, or on the high foothills, where 

 there is too great proximity to lingering snow-fields above, does frost 

 sometimes intrude. March in the field brings lusty growth of native for- 

 age plants and wild flowers; the roadsides become ribbons of verdure 

 embroidered with golden poppies, blue lupins, yellow primroses, scarlet 

 Indian plumes and a host of others, while the fallow plains are expanses 

 of floral carpets. Nature thus advises the gardener of the season's advance 

 and exhorts him to haste in preparations for summer growth. 



March is the dilatory man's opportunity to atone for past neglect. Late 

 as it is in the growing season, he can still dig and rake, sow and plant, and 

 secure a portion of the greater reward which earlier work would have 

 produced. Even sweet peas, which should have been planted the preceding 

 autumn, will make a grand midsummer display from March planting, if 

 kept from thirst by such treatment as will be prescribed in following 

 months. The same is true of all the hardy and half-hardy flowers and 

 even ornamental shrubs, trees, etc., if you can get plants which have not 

 awakened from their winter dormancy. Nursery men sometimes favor 

 dilatory planters by keeping such plants dormant for late sales, so that one 

 may plant out young trees, lilac bushes, and so forth, while older trees near 

 by may be in or even beyond their bloom. California, by the length of its 

 planting season, is the place where the early planter can gain more and the 

 late planter save more, than in any country of sharply defined seasonal 

 changes. 



March is a good month, however, for taking the very tender things 

 by the forelock. Under a glass sash and even without bottom heat, seeds 

 of such sensitive growths can be sown to secure plants for setting in the 

 open when they are safe in the frosty places. Thus plants of balsams and 

 other tender flowers can be brought along strongly and safely with the 

 slight heat and the protection from frost which the cold frame affords. A 

 brave show of the hardier summer blooming bulbs can also be had from 

 March planting, though the tenderer ones can wait for April. Gladioli do 

 splendidly. 



Although March is a good month for a late beginning, it should not be 

 forgotten that the dry season is approaching rapidly and that all tillage 

 should now be finer and closer than earlier in the season. Fine pulveriza- 

 tion of the surface is the blanket which covers the moister soil below from 

 too free contact with the thirsty air. Sometimes heat, almost like that of 

 midsummer, makes a preliminary visit to the garden and gives succulent 

 things a setback which they can withstand if deep drying is prevented by 

 tillage. Sometimes March is almost like May, with its flowers, but lightly 

 touched by showers which give but little to the soil. Therefore, begin in 

 March, if it is dry, the frequent stirring of the surface soil around the 

 plants and give unoccupied places, which are reserved for later planting of 

 tender things, a good surface working also. Do not let weeds grow any- 



