OF THE 



UNIVERSITY 



Of 



THE PLANTING SEASON. i39 



already emphasized that the planting season extends 

 throughout the year and is regulated by local conditions 

 and not by the calendar, it follows that other garden work 

 constantly recurs, and it would be a hopeless task to at- 

 tempt to specify certain times at which certain work 

 should be done. The vegetable grower must use his own 

 powers of observation and common sense, and not ex- 

 pect to find in print the injunction that on a certain day 

 he must do, a certain thing. 



It may be possible to make such prescriptions in more 

 steady-going climates but in our diverse local climates, 

 which are either forcing or retarding, according to locali- 

 ties, and according to times of the year in the same lo- 

 cality, it is impossible to say just when a crop planted at 

 a certain time should be hoed or cultivated, trained up or 

 gathered, and the ground cleared up for other uses. All 

 such acts will be omitted from our California garden cal- 

 endar. Let it be understood rather that the grower must 

 be always on the alert to do certain things without sug- 

 gestion from any one, viz. : 



First : Stir the ground as soon as it will take tools well 

 after the young plants have appeared above the surface, 

 and thin the plants in the row to allow proper space for 

 attaining good size. 



Second: Continue stirring afterwards whenever the 

 soil works well, for weed killing if there be any ; if not, 

 stir the surface just the same. 



Third : Continue stirring so long as the cultivator does 

 not seriously injure the plant by breaking its stems and 

 foliage, and then use the hoe carefully to prevent the 

 ground becoming compacted near the stem in places not 

 reached by the cultivator. 



Fourth : Keep the condition of the plant constantly in 

 sight and thought, to train or trim its growth to attain 

 best results. Such treatment for each plant will naturally 

 be noted in the place devoted to its special consideration 

 later. 



Fifth : Watch for the attainment of such degree of ma- 



