PART II. VEGETABLE GROWING 



California Grown Seed. 



Which are the best garden seeds to use, those raised in Ohio and 

 the East or those raised in Washington and Oregon or those raised 

 in this State f 



It has been definitely shown by experience and experiment that 

 is does not inatter much where the seed comes from, providing it 

 is well grown and good of its kind. There is no such advantage in 

 changing seed from one locality to another as is commonly supposed. 

 Besides, it is now very difficult to tell positively where seed is grown, 

 because California wholesale seeds are retailed in all the States you 

 mention, and the contents of many small packets of seeds distributed 

 in California went first of all from California to the Eastern re- 

 tailers, who advertise and sell them everywhere. 



Cloth for Hotbeds. 



Would cloth do to cover a hotbox to raise lettuce, radishes, etc., for 

 winter use where lue get a very heavy rainfall? 



Yes, if you make the cloth waterproof for its own preservation 

 from mildew and other agencies of decay. The following recipe for 

 waterproofing cloth is taken from our book on "California Vegetables": 

 Soften 43^ ounces of glue in 8^ pints of water, cold at first; then 

 dissolve in, say, a washboiler full (6 gallons) of warm water, with 

 2j/2 ounces of hard soap; put in the cloth and boil for an hour, 

 wring and dry; then prepare a bath of a pound of alum and a pound 

 of salt, soak the prepared cloth in it for a couple of hours, rinse 

 with clear water and dry. One gallon of the glue solution will soak 

 about ten yards of cloth. This cloth has been used in southern 

 California for several years without inildewing, and it will hold water 

 by the pailful. Where the rain is heavy and frequent, the cloth 

 should be well supported by slats and given slope to shed water 

 quickly. Of course, this is only a makeshift. Glass would be more 

 satisfactory and durable in a region of much cloudiness and scant 

 sunshine; the greater illumination through glass will make for the 

 greater health and growth of the plants. 



Soil for Vegetables. 



Some of my soil bakes and hardens quickly after irrigation, but 

 I have an acre or so of sandy soil. Would iliis be best for garden truck 

 and berries? 



