IN CALIFORNIA 31 



a lawn at the seaside nothing will equal it as a 

 ground cover. No one who has taken note of it on 

 the Coronado Hotel grounds would bother with any 

 other plant for lawns of great extent near the ocean 

 front or on sands of this nature. It is the only plant 

 that could be used to effectively hold the loose soil 

 there and preserve a perfect carpet over the whole. 

 Intending planters should remember that seeds can- 

 not be procured, cuttings must be used to establish 

 a growth. It also is not hardy enough to endure 

 freezing weather, being native to the tropics. 



TERRACE COVERINGS 



A great diversity of opinion prevails as to what 

 is the most effective covering for banks and terraces, 

 both as regards appearances and soil-staying quali- 

 ties. Some prefer roses like Wichuriana or Chero- 

 kee, but if the soil be friable, too much of it is 

 washed away before the vines form a ground cover. 

 To prevent washing from excessive watering it is 

 best, above each plant, to set in the soil an ordinary 

 fruit or tomato can with several nail holes punctur- 

 ing the bottom. These may quickly be filled from a 

 hose and allowed to remain permanently, for in time 

 the vines will cover them and they will still catch a 

 goodly share of the falling water and allow it to 

 slowly percolate into the soil about the plant roots. 

 If either of the roses mentioned is used, it is best 

 to encourage growth in all directions and peg down 

 every foot or two feet of stem. A still better way 

 perhaps is to layer it. Scratch out narrow slots in 

 the earth a foot or more apart along the growing 

 stem, push the stem down into these places and pack 

 soil solidly on top. In time the points of contact 

 with the ground will take root and do much toward 

 making a solid, soil-staying bank covering. 



