Gardening in Californi 



loam, one-third leaf-mold and one-third silver-sand with a 

 sprinkling of pulverized cow-manure mixed with the soil. To 

 encourage vigorous root action, warm humid air should be pro- 

 vided; close the ventilators early in the afternoon and conserve 

 the sun-heat; syringe the plants freely with soft tepid water and 

 shade them during the bright sunshine. 



Repot Coleus, Begonias, etc., as their pots become filled with 

 roots. 



The majority of greenhouse plants may be propagated during 

 this month. As a general rule, those cuttings root most readily 

 which are taken from plants that have formed half-ripe wood. 

 In the case of Begonias or other soft-wooded plants, cuttings may 

 be taken from any portion of the young shoots, provided a clean 

 cut is made immediately below a joint and with a sharp knife. 



APRIL. 



Nymphsea, Lotus or other water plants should be planted or 

 replanted early in April before the young leaves have made much 

 growth. 



If the water cannot be run off the pond, it is a good plan to 

 fill, with loam and old manure in equal proportions, the required 

 number of wicker-baskets (boxes made of laths will answer for 

 the same purpose), plant in each basket a few good crowns, cover- 

 ing the surface with an inch of coarse sand or fine gravel, and 

 then sink them in the desired positions in the water. For strong- 

 growing varieties, such as the Nymphsea Marliacca, Nymphsea 

 albida, Nymphsea Cromatella, Nymphsea tuberosa and also the 

 Lotus family, larger bodies of soil are required in order to have 

 them at their best. 



In the case of ponds where the water can be run off, mounds 

 of soil, held together by being surrounded with big round stones, 

 should be made, the plants set out and the pond quickly filled. 



It should be remembered that a large number of crowns on a 

 plant is not conducive to free-flowering. 



[346] 



