Gardening in California 



sown in a gentle heat, in early Spring, and covered to the depth 

 of an eighth of an inch. When the young plants are large enough 

 to be handled, they should be pricked off, three inches apart, in 

 pots or boxes. Use soil composed of one-quarter leaf-mold, 

 one-half good friable loam and one-quarter old well-rotted horse- 

 or cow-manure with enough sand to keep the whole free and open. 

 Before planting out, place them in the open air for a week or ten 

 days to harden them; plant them when from four to six inches 

 high. They may also be increased by cuttings late in the Fall, 

 and again in Spring. All species of Verbena like a good rich 

 soil and a liberal supply of water. They should also be mulched 

 around each plant with half-rotted manure to encourage vigorous 

 growth. 



VIOLA (Pansy). 



This popular plant is a 

 favorite of rich and poor 

 alike, everyone, who has a 

 garden, growing a few 

 Pansies. This is deservedly 

 so, in view of its wonder- 

 ful variety of color and its 

 free-flowering habit to- 

 gether with the ease with 

 which it may be grown. 



The Pansy delights in a cool moist situation, and generally gives 

 its best flowers in cool damp weather in early Spring. As soon 

 as the hot dry weather commences, the flowers become small, and 

 the growth spindling and weak. The soil for Pansies should be 

 of good strong loam enriched with a generous addition of well- 

 decomposed cow- or horse-manure. 



Plant, in October, one foot apart, and give a good mulching 

 of old manure after planting; as the Pansy thrives best in a 

 moist cool soil, watering should not be neglected, and the soil 



[276] 



Pansy. 



