CALIFORNIA POPPIES 63 



that the freezing and thawing through the winter will help in 

 giving the soil a finely pulverized condition, in which the roots 

 of the plants grow to much better advantage than in soil 

 where the particles are coarse. 



There is much else that may be profitably done for the 

 garden. Well-rotted manures are difficult to obtain in the 

 spring, so gardeners often make compost heaps in the au- 

 tumn, laying alternate broad layers of manure, ashes or lime,' 

 and sods, vines, leaves, or the like. These are forked over 

 once or twice to prevent too rapid or excessive decay, and 

 are ready to be worked into the garden the following season. 

 You will also be able to make plans for your garden during 

 the winter months with more success than if you leave prep- 

 aration to the few weeks in spring, when there are so many 

 things to take up the time and attention of the gardener. 



With plans formed it will be possible to get ready for use 

 the stakes, trellises, and other plant supports which are best 

 prepared in the winter. Many school and children's gardens 

 come to grief from lack of protection against intruders, such 

 as pet animals and younger children of the neighborhood. 

 Before the spring opens, the posts, railings, wire netting, or 

 other means for either temporary or permanent protection 

 should be obtained, ready for erection as soon as the garden 

 is seeded. Plans and preparation betimes mean early veg- 

 etables and a long season of bloom in the flower garden. 



CALIFORNIA POPPIES 



No other flowers in the garden furnish so rich a display of 

 color in tones of yellow and orange as do the California 

 Poppies or Eschscholtzias. The color tones range from a 

 light creamy white to a deep orange yellow in the varieties 



