Gardening in California 



the plants become stunted and rarely recover from the neglect. 

 They should be moved just as soon as the roots have well-occu- 

 pied the soil. Keep the plants in a cool half-shaded position 

 away from fire-heat and dry air. While giving them plenty of 

 ventilation, no cold draughts should be allowed to reach their 

 foliage. Should green fly attack the leaves, fumigate at once, 

 and, if necessary, two evenings in succession, until all trace of the 

 aphides disappears. 



DECEMBER. 



When Lawns or grass edges have become uneven or in bad 

 condition or partially worn, this will be found a good month to 

 relay the sod. Low spots should have the sod raised. This is 

 done by taking up the sod and leveling up with good rich soil, 

 then relaying the sod and afterwards rolling or tamping it with 

 the back of the spade until the whole is level and even. 



Where grass edgings are worn, the sod should be taken up, 

 (being cut in squares of about one foot) and placed on the oppo- 

 site side of the walk. After giving the ground a good coating of 

 old manure, spade to the depth of twelve inches, breaking up the 

 soil as fine as possible with the spade. Level and rake the ground 

 into shape and relay the sod, putting each square into place as 

 neatly as possible. Give a light sprinkling of sifted soil and a 

 good soaking of water; the following day, tamp level with the 

 back of the spade, making the whole solid and hard. After 

 edging into line it should look as well as an old established lawn. 



Where new grounds are to be laid out and much planting to be 

 done, December is one of the best months for the carrying for- 

 ward of this work, also for the planting of most of our hardy trees 

 and shrubs. 



Plant deciduous trees and shrubs, also Cypress, Pine, Laurel, 

 Euonymus, Box and all hardy evergreens, leaving Eucalyptus, 

 Pittosporum and most of the Australian groups until March. 



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