IN CALIFORNIA 99 



any plants, two or more inches of well-rotted manure 

 for future plant food ; in reserve, as it were. Econ- 

 omize in room as much as possible when planting; 

 no harm will result from pressing the balls of soil 

 about the roots quite flat if they are to lie against 

 the sides of the box. Plant the sides first and the 

 middle last, and get enough vines to fairly hide the 

 box. Care must be taken to see that all interstices 

 between plant balls are filled with soil, so that the 

 soil used should be finely sifted and not too wet. 



After careful planting settle with thorough water- 

 ings, and then before putting in permanent position 

 fill up to within one to two inches of the top, using 

 finely-sifted, well-rotted manure for the top half -inch 

 to provide a mulch which will largely overcome the 

 evaporation of soil moisture. More window-box 

 plants during summer are ruined by too little than 

 by too much watering. The crimson-flowered lotus 

 (Lotus peliorensis) would prove just the plant for 

 such places. Do not confuse the botanical name, 

 lotus, which belongs to members of the pea family 

 (Leguminosae) , with the popular name, lotus, which 

 is often given to water plants of the genus nelumbo. 

 Our plant is a trailer with finely cut, grayish-green 

 foliage and crimson flowers of parrot-bill form ; flow- 

 ers closely resembling those of clianthus. It will 

 stand great heat and much drouth. 



HANGING BASKETS 



There is no class of plants so neglected as those in 

 hanging baskets. In their exposed position they 

 dry out very rapidly, and are often given only a lit- 

 tle water on top. The roots that need moisture so 

 much seldom receive any, and these baskets are any- 

 thing but ornaments. They should be taken down 

 at least once a week, placed in a tub of water and 



