130 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



in this connection. Objections to it are several it does not hold leaves 

 after sharp frosts and the area is left for a time with a dark stemmy cover 

 during the rainy season; its color is apt to be blue-grey instead of green; 

 the desirability of its abundant bloom is a matter of taste, but it is not of 

 long duration and can be removed by mowing. Lippia is propagated only 

 by stem cuttings or by subdivision of the thick turf of roots which it makes. 

 The latter is the easier way and this method is advised by John Swett & 

 Son of Martinez, who have made quite a specialty of its propagation : 



"Take a lippia turf fifteen inches square, and cut this with a sharp knife 

 ten times across each way, making one hundred small squares, which 

 is enough for one hundred square feet of surface. Plant small squares 

 a foot apart each way, their upper surface level with the ground. 

 When all are planted water freely to settle the loose earth around 

 the roots. Then keep the ground fairly moist until the lippia has 

 covered the entire surface of the ground, after which it will require water 

 at only long intervals. While the lippia plants are spreading, weeds are apt 

 to come up between them. These should be pulled up or a lawn mower 

 run over at short intervals, thus checking their growth until the lippia is 

 strong enough to choke them out. Lippia will flourish on poor soils and on 

 moderately sloping ground, provided only that it gets enough water in 

 midsummer to prevent the ground from entirely drying out. It stands the 

 wear of feet better than grass, and is excellent for broad garden walks, 

 under hammocks, or for tennis or croquet grounds. When watering at 

 considerable intervals, use an ordinary lawn spray, applying always enough 

 water to sink deep into the ground." 



Flowering Plants for Ground Covers. On the open spaces in small 

 gardens low-growing flowering plants are sometimes effectively used 

 as ground-covers. The writer has seen pansies, marigolds, verbenas, 

 etc., thus employed. Those which volunteer freely from seed can be 

 renewed from time to time by raking off all the old plants and giving 

 the seedlings a chance to make a new cover. Verbenas and other 

 similar plants can be mown or otherwise cut a few inches above the 

 ground to renew the foliage and preserve the flat appearance. 



