Gardening in California 



the water having been aerated and warmed by contact with the 

 atmosphere before being used. 



The season for planting is from November until growth com- 

 mences, which is generally in February. When planting, see 

 that the soil is of the nature recommended; plant moderately 

 firm and not too deep. 



Ferns grown in pots require repotting more or less frequently. 

 This must be very carefully done, it being remembered that these 

 plants make their most luxuriant growth after they have covered 

 the inside of the pots with a network of their roots. The repot- 

 ting may be done at any season, but early Spring, just before 

 growth commences, is regarded as the best season for the work. 

 In repotting, see that the pots are clean and dry ; should new pots 

 be used, they must be put in water and allowed to remain there a 

 sufficiently long time to become thoroughly soaked; they should 

 then be well dried before being used. New pots absorb great 

 quantities of water, and, unless they are well soaked before being 

 used, it often happens that the first two or three waterings, 

 instead of watering the roots of the plant, serve to only soak the 

 pot, while the balls of earth, which the pots contain, become so 

 dry that it is difficult to again get them moistened. When pre- 

 paring pots, see that the proper amount of drainage is put in. 

 First place one piece of broken potsherd over the hole in the 

 bottom of the pot, then fill the pot about one-fifth of its depth 

 with clean, broken potsherds; cover this drainage material with 

 moss to keep the soil from mixing with it. The soil should con- 

 sist of two parts sandy fibrous loam, one part of leaf-mold and 

 one part of peat with enough coarse sharp sand to keep the whole 

 open and porous. 



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