Gardening in California 



VIOLA ODORATA (Violet). 



This favorite, sweet-scented Winter and early-Spring flower 

 is grown by everyone who cultivates a garden whether in a 

 twenty-five foot lot or in grounds of many acres. In the cooler 

 portions of the State it thrives well in open, sunny situations, 

 while in the hotter and dryer sections it grows best in shaded 

 spots or in a situation facing the North. The Violet prefers soil 

 of a light loamy nature well-enriched with plenty of old manure. 



Propagation is by runners taken off the old plants about the 

 first of March. After the ground is spaded and leveled, it should 

 be raked fine and the young shoots planted from six to twelve 

 inches apart, the strong growers (such as the California, Prin- 

 cess of Wales, etc.) twelve inches apart, and the Neapolitan, 

 Marie Louise, etc., six inches apart. Should the weather be dry, 

 the young plants should be given a thorough watering; about the 

 beginning of June give the surface of the ground a mulching of 

 old manure an inch deep, and water frequently, not allowing the 

 ground to get dry at any time during the growing season. 



The operation of replanting should be attended to each 

 Spring as the old plants get worn out and weak if left in the 

 same ground two or more years. 



ZINNIA. 



The Zinnia, a native of Mexico, is one of the favorite flower- 

 ing annuals, growing easily and being much used in the decora- 

 tion of the flower-border and also for bedding. It thrives best 

 in a deep rich soil and a sunny situation. 



Sow the seeds, one-eighth of an inch deep, in a warm green- 

 house or frame in early March, or in the open border in April. 

 When they are two inches high, prick off the young seedlings 

 four inches apart, in boxes, if they have been raised under glass, 

 or, if sown where they are to bloom, thin them out to one foot 



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