144 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



surance of adequate heat and moisture. It is the month 

 for the dilatory man who has missed his earliest oppor- 

 tunities to fill the ground with seed, and it is the time 

 when plantings in small frosty and rainy valleys, which 

 have been deferred because the ground was too cold and 

 wet to start seeds and plants well, may be confidently 

 made. Successions and rotations are in order, as the fall- 

 planted vegetables are cleared away. Early small plant- 

 ings of string-beans, melons and cucumbers will often 

 carry through or can be easily replanted if the frost 

 catches them. Potatoes are widely planted and will sel- 

 dom be killed, though they may be cut back, except on 

 low ground, which should be planted later. Chicory is 

 sown, and sowing of sugar beets as a field crop for the 

 factory, begins in February, on the warmer, drier lands. 



MARCH. 



Later plantings of all sorts of hardy vegetables for suc- 

 cession is pursued. The venturesome on higher, warmer 

 lands try corn, melons, squashes, tomatoes, and continue 

 planting beans. Sugar beets are largely sown for factory 

 use. Sweet potatoes should go into the hot-bed for slip- 

 ping. 



APRIL. 



April is another month for succession planting of hardy 

 vegetables, but it is getting late except where moisture is 

 ample and late showers quite certain. Tender plants are 

 out of serious danger except in especially frosty places. 

 Beans can be confidently planted. Peppers, tomatoes, egg- 

 plant, sweet potatoes, and other growths can be brought 

 to the open ground. Corn, melons and squashes can be 

 s&fely planted as field crops. The season's race is well 

 along in its last quarter, the heat and drought have al- 

 ready made hay and are ripening the grain. 



MAY. 



Everything for which there can be assured ample mois- 

 ture can still be planted in the moderate heat of the Coast 



