154 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



different classes of plants which flourish in the open in 

 California. Plants which in the East and Middle 

 West are grown under glass in pots for table and hall 

 decoration, in California grow out of doors into large 

 bushes and stately trees; and the same is of course also 

 true to a certain degree of the region abutting on the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



In New England only plants from the cold temper- 

 ate regions of the Northern Hemisphere flourish in the 

 open ground but on the Pacific Slope and in the real 

 South the plants of the cool and warm temperate 

 regions of both Hemispheres thrive out of doors and 

 garden lovers there may enjoy the beauties of a host 

 of plants eastern gardens know not of. 



There are drawbacks of course and gardeners in these 

 warmer climes have difficulties peculiarly their own. 

 In parts of the South and West there is a meagre water 

 supply but this can be and is overcome by irrigation. 

 In many places the soil is more or less alkaline and such 

 a soil most plants abominate. When only slightly or 

 moderately alkaline the soil may be neutralized by 

 growing on it crops of beets or even by washing. In 

 only slightly alkaline soils most trees and shrubs will 

 grow if vigorous specimens a yard or more tall be 

 planted and given careful attention for a few months. 

 With young seedlings and small plants raised from 



