CHAPTER X. 

 THE PLANTING SEASON. 



The chapter on California climates as related to vege- 

 table growing will show 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 avail- 

 able, for there is no degree of cold realized which en- 

 dangers the hardier vegetables. It is true that in Decem- 

 ber and January in the regions of heavy rainfall, 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 plants in the seed- 

 bed unless one wishes to wait for February planting as is 

 commonly done in such places. The antithesis of the De- 

 cember and January cold is the July and August heat and 

 drought in the interior, but this too is conquerable by irri- 

 gation, 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 val- 

 leys 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 newcomers, or to 

 the many who have not essayed vegetable growing and 

 have thus neglected glorious opportunities, which will en- 

 able 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 



