IN CALIFORNIA 81 



They should be planted in full sun, two feet apart 

 each way, in any good loamy soil to which has been 

 added and thoroughly dug in a liberal dressing of 

 well rotted manure. An occasional mulch of the 

 same material during the hot months will greatly 

 increase the quality of the bloom. Arrange the 

 beds so that the plants may be irrigated either by 

 the trench method or by flooding. Sprinkling over- 

 head, as with numerous other plants is detrimental 

 in many ways and should not be practiced. 



FOR SANDY OR ALKALINE SOILS 



Use should be made of desert vegetation so far 

 as possible. Most California wild flowers that grow 

 on our open plains will thrive in arid sections. Ger- 

 aniums and petunias are two splendid drouth resis- 

 tant plants, and chrysanthemums, German iris, can- 

 nas, elephants' ears and Himalayan bamboos may all 

 be seen in the Coachella Valley. 



In alkaline soils try: The giant reed, Arundo 

 donax ; New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax ; pampas 

 grass, Cortaderia argenta; aloes, asparagus, lav- 

 ender, lupin, ice plant, yucca, chrysanthemum 

 and all nearly related plants of the composite family 

 seem to like alkali. 



CARNATION PROPAGATION 



Propagating carnations by cuttings is quicker and 

 easier than layering ; in fact, except in the case of a 

 variety that requires special attention and is diffi- 

 cult to root, it is the best for all purposes. The 

 shoots at the base of the plant are the best to put 

 into the cutting bed. Those that appear on the flow- 

 er stems are of inferior quality and will in time show 

 signs of degeneration. The same will be the case if 

 cuttings are taken from exhausted blooming plants ; 



