220 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



Growing seedling shrubs, trees and vines is accomplished by the 

 methods described in detail in Chapter VII. Growing and trans- 

 planting such seedlings involves all the outfit of seed boxes, frames 

 and open beds there noted and the soil mixtures for tree seedlings 

 are the same as for other plants, except that manure is sparingly used. 

 It is not desirable to push a tree seedling as you would a blooming, 

 ornamental or foliage plant. An over-grown seedling is apt to get a 

 set back after putting in permanent place; a medium-sized, well 

 hardened tree seedling is usually better than a large one. Although 

 some trees transplant well when quite large, the growth should have 

 been secured through longer, slower growth than by forcing too freely 

 with manure and water. 



Starting H&rd Seeds. Some tree seed has very hard and tough 

 envelopment, as noted on page 62 with reference to acacias. Some 

 seeds will not endure such hard scalding, but respond to less heroic 

 promotion. Professor Thornber, whose line of experience is noted in 

 Chapter XIX, obtained best results with such seeds by immersing in 

 water at 185 to 190 F. for a period of two to six minutes, according 

 to the character of the seed coat. Seeing that some seeds were injured 

 by too long scalding he adopted the method of keeping in hot water 

 for two minutes, then soaking in lukewark water from 12 to 24 hours; 

 the swollen ones are removed and the unchanged ones treated again 

 with hot water repeating the scalding and soaking several times if 

 necessary. Usually, however, this elaborate method will not be found 

 necessary and many seeds of shrubs and trees will come readily after 

 soaking in lukewarm water for 24 hours before planting. 



Shrubs and Trees from Cuttings. Many shade and ornamental 

 growths come readily from hardwood cuttings, as described on page 

 67. Cuttings of eucalyptus, for instance, can be made of new wood 

 of the thickness of one's little finger and smaller, providing the ground 

 is kept continually moist by irrigation all through the first summer. 

 From the many shoots which come, one is to be selected and others 

 removed, to get an upright stem. Cutting of deciduous trees which 

 root readily, like willows, cottonwoods, etc., can be made early in the 

 rainy season. As a rule cuttings of evergreens need greater soil- 

 warmth and do better after the cold rains of midwinter are over. 



Budding and grafting ornamental trees is accomplished as described 

 in Chapter VIII. 



Planting Trees and Shrubs. The principles involved in planting are 

 the same for all plants and the outline given in Chapter XI is there- 

 fore applicable to shrubs, trees and vines. 



Deciduous growths usually transplant successfully during their 

 leafless season, except when the ground is full of cold water, and it 

 is not necessary to take earth with the roots. In the case of very 



