210 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



is past. Perennials of whatever class are set out just previous to the 

 time they ordinarily begin growth, be that fall or spring. With these 

 slight differences in planting due to the cooler spring time all the 

 varieties noted heretofore can be grown successfully at these alti- 

 tudes except in some places in northern California, where there is 

 danger of frosts nearly every month. 



Even at higher mountain elevations, however, there may be found 

 frostless summers and one well defined growing season, and then 

 spring planting is the rule. The conditions of growth are simpler and 

 resemble those of the prairie states. As would be expected, hardy 

 annuals succeed best at these altitudes since the growing seasons are 

 invariably cool, though robust summer growers like zinnias do well. 

 On the other hand, such varieties as cosmos, chrysanthemums, cannas, 

 and castor beans are often frozen back in early September a short 

 time after beginning to flower. Blue grass and white clover, and most 

 annual and perennial flowers, appear entirely at home with the cool, 

 moist growing season of the higher elevations, while at the lower alti- 

 tudes of the interior regions with great heat and aridity the growth of 

 most of these plants is practically impossible without adequate pro- 

 tection. 



HINTS ON GROWING CACTUS. 



On the dry plains of the interior one can surround himself with 

 cacti and get grand flowers from them, if he knows how to handle the 

 plants in propagation, transplanting and subsequent growth. The 

 following practical suggestions are given by Eleanor M. Lucas, a Cali- 

 fornia grower, who enjoys these plants and delights in a mild climate 

 where so many cacti may be grown in the open ground. 



Rooting Cactus Cuttings. Make a clean cut. Heat an iron redhot 

 (the poker will answer our purpose and it is the handiest tool for a 

 woman to use) and sear the cut edge until it looks white and dry. 

 Have a seedpan or box of coarse sand. Do not make the mistake of 

 sifting the sand this may cause it to "pack," and being close is liable 

 to cause decay. If you cannot obtain coarse sand, mix with the sand 

 some broken charcoal or bits of granite or other rocks. Do not use 

 broken pottery it holds the moisture and anything of the kind will 

 induce decay. Have plenty of this drainage stuff in the pan or box; 

 one-third is not too much. Water the sand until it is damp, then make 

 a hole, insert the cutting and press the sand closely about it. Let it 

 alone for at least three days, placed in the sun. If at the end of this 

 time the sand is very dry, water slightly. One cannot give explicit 

 directions for watering, as climatic conditions vary. Better err by 

 keeping the cutting too dry than by giving too much water. Under 

 good conditions a cactus cutting will root in two weeks, and at the 



