Gardening in Californi 



Sow seeds of Calceolaria, for succession, in shallow pots or 

 pans, carefully drained and containing soil, consisting of loam, 

 leaf-mold and silver-sand in equal parts, which has been passed 

 through a half-inch meshed sieve. The soil should be pressed 

 firm and watered a few hours before putting in the seeds which 

 should be sown evenly. Barely cover the seeds with a light 

 sprinkling of silver-sand; place them in a cold frame or hand 

 glass, facing the North; keep them closely shaded until they 

 germinate when air may be admitted gradually; sprinkle them 

 overhead morning and evening. 



Put in cuttings of Coleus for the Winter decorations and 

 repot Cinerarias, Begonias, and other soft-wooded plants as 

 required. 



JULY. 



Gladiolas are now much benefited by a dressing of old stable- 

 manure, followed by copious applications of water. When 

 nourished in this manner, the plants will grow to a large size 

 and give fine spikes of large, deep-colored flowers. 



Dahlias also should receive plenty of water, and, when in 

 heavy bloom, they will be greatly benefited by a generous 

 supply of liquid manure twice a week; no plant repays generous 

 treatment and good cultivation better than the Dahlia. Thin 

 out weak shoots and attend to the staking and tying in of the 

 shoots ; also thin the flower-buds and cut off all spent flowers. 



Early-flowering varieties of Chrysanthemums should now be 

 making rapid growth. If weak shoots appear they should be 

 removed at once; see that they are well attended to in the way 

 of watering and repotting, for if the plants are allowed to suffer 

 from lack of pot-room or of sufficient moisture, the result will be 

 weak stems and small flowers. Attend to the staking and tying 

 of the plants in order to guard against injury from strong winds. 



Deciduous shrubs, such as Weigelias, Deutzias, Mock Orange, 

 etc., should have the shoots, which have flowered this season, 



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