IN CALIFORNIA 193 



can have a constant succession of blooms from late 

 February up to the first of May. 



Build the beds with ridges at the sides so that they 

 may be watered by flooding. This gives infinitely 

 better results than sprinkling. Once bulbs are 

 planted mulch the surface with one inch to an inch 

 and a half of good fibrous manure; this retards the 

 evaporation and tends to keep the under soil cool 

 and moist. Bulbs in general give much better results 

 when no surface cultivation is resorted to. The 

 mulch referred to eliminates the necessity of culti- 

 vation. It prevents the ground from either cracking, 

 which is the case in soils of a heavy nature, or from 

 drying out in those of a lighter character. 



HERBS, SHRUBS AND TREES 



Plant out in permanent place in the garden : Calen- 

 dula, cineraria, columbine, lobelia, pansy, pink, pri- 

 mula, petunia, and verbena. 



October is the time for planting evergreen shrubs 

 and trees, and conifers of all sorts handle well at this 

 season. The soft summer growths are now hardened 

 up and the operation of transplanting may be done 

 without endangering the life of the plant. 



The mild days, with the cool nights and mornings 

 of a California autumn, cause but little evaporation 

 of sap from the foliage; the new feeder roots put 

 forth at once, and with the advent of winter rains 

 new growths of stem and foliage spring forth with 

 surprising rapidity. The moving at this season 

 gives a well established tree or shrub in a short space 

 of time. 



One of the most important matters for immediate 

 consideration is attention to roses. The fall growths 

 begin to push out during this month and it is time to 

 prune out all the thin straggly growth, leaving the 



