IN CALIFORNIA 75 



er lovers. Of garden poppies, there are usually culti- 

 vated but four species : The opium poppy, the corn 

 poppy, the Iceland poppy, and the oriental poppy. 

 Of these the opium poppy is by far the greatest 

 favorite and has the largest flowers of any annual 

 species. Though useless for cut flowers, the plants 

 are tall and stately and bear an abundance of blos- 

 soms in brilliant colors so that people are content to 

 leave the flowers unpicked. 



The corn poppy is more dwarf than the opium 

 poppy* with finer-cut leaves. The well-known Shir- 

 ley poppy is the best and most popular strain of this 

 species. The Iceland poppy is a perennial species 

 with shades of red, yellow, and white, and is not 

 much grown in California. With many garden own- 

 ers the oriental poppy is the favorite because it has 

 the largest flowers of all the family. In the East 

 it is the easiest of all to grow either from seeds or 

 by root division, but in our state the air seems too 

 dry. Still, it grows fairly well if never allowed to 

 suffer for moisture. All these poppies are easy of 

 cultivation ; all like rich soil and a generous supply 

 of water. Poppies are best sown broadcast and 

 should be weeded until they get a good start, and 

 then, if sown thickly enough, they will care for them- 

 selves, except for watering. 



SWEET PEAS 



In the growing of sweet peas too much stress can- 

 not be placed upon the necessity for early and deep 

 planting if vigorous growth and luxuriant bloom are 

 desired. The bed should be prepared some time in 

 advance of planting and spaded at least one foot in 

 depth, all the better if two feet, with a dressing of 

 three inches of well rotted manure spaded in and 

 thoroughly incorporated, to insure the roots plenty 



