CHAPTER X. 



THE PLANTING SEASON. 



The chapter on California climates as related to vegetable 

 growing has already shown that there is really no closed season in 

 the state except in the mountain districts. It is always time to 

 plant something, if the moisture is available, for there is no degree 

 of cold realized which endangers the hardier vegetables. It is 

 true that in December and January in the regions of heavy rain- 

 fall, there is apt to be a cold, wet surface soil which does not give 

 a hospitable welcome either to seed or seedlings, but even this can 

 be overcome by using lighter soil at a little higher elevation or by 

 the devices for raising the seed-bed unless one wishes to wait for 

 February planting as is commonly done in such places. The anti- 

 thesis of the December and January cold is the July and August 

 heat and drought in the interior, but this, too, is conquerable by 

 irrigation, with added shade for some tender-leafed plants, or by 

 choosing moist, low land, of which California valleys both on the 

 coast and in the interior have great areas. The conclusion of the 

 whole matter is that California valleys and foot-hills are naturally 

 fitted for almost endless succession of sowings and gatherings and 

 such temporary unfitness as locally occurs is easily overcome by 

 very simple cultural arts and provisions. Still there are best times 

 for doing things for specific purposes and many of these can only 

 be learned by local experience. An attempt will be made however 

 to give hints to new-comers, or to the many who have not essayed 

 vegetable growing and have thus neglected glorious opportunities, 

 which will enable them to realize, it is hoped, some directions in 

 which promising efforts may be put forth. 



Seasonable Work in the Garden. In view of the fact already 

 emphasized that the planting season extends throughout the year 

 and is regulated by local conditions and not by the calendar, it fol- 

 lows that other garden work constantly recurs, and it would be a 

 hopeless task to attempt to specify certain times at which certain 



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