IN CALIFORNIA 171 



Be careful not to cover seeds too deeply; one- 

 eighth of an inch is sufficient for asters, and in the 

 case of very small seeds not to exceed one-sixteenth 

 of an inch. Sweet peas planted now will not flower 

 before the weather is too warm to allow a normal 

 development. Small, puny flowers will result. 



March is the ideal month for the sowing of a host 

 of summer annuals. In a month or two beds which 

 you devoted to bulbs for winter and spring bloom- 

 ing will be empty, so make preparations for succes- 

 sional plantings. A few of the more important an- 

 nuals for summer are : Antirrhinum, aster, balsam, 

 celosia, cockscomb, calliopsis, centaurea, cosmos, 

 dianthus, larkspur, African and French marigolds, 

 nasturtium, Phlox Drummondi, salpiglossis, scabio- 

 sa, zinnia, etc. The foregoing are but a few lead- 

 ers. There are dozens of others. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS 



Bottom heat either in greenhouse or in a hotbed 

 made with stable manure will prove a great aid, in 

 all cases bringing a much greater proportion of the 

 cuttings to root. However, bottom heat is not 

 needed, though better results can be obtained with 

 such a convenience. The average garden owner 

 would better rely on the nurseryman for needed 

 plants. For those who wish to experiment the fol- 

 lowing is recommended. 



Make all cuttings with a sharp knife, occasionally 

 wiped clean, cutting through at an angle of about 45 

 degrees, just below a bud or eye. Insert these cut- 

 tings in a box of clean, sharp sand in rows. Do not 

 force them down but use a lath or other straight 

 edge by laying on sand and making a cut in the wet 

 sand with a piece of shingle, old table knife or simi- 

 lar utensil, and after insertion of cuttings press the 



