Notes on Planting. II 
months. ‘The low-growing pink oxalis and the tall yellow sort 
are excellent winter blooming plants that increase very rapidly 
by bulblets, and must be dug and re-set in May or June when the 
plant dies down, otherwise it becomes fairly a pest all over the 
yard. The dwarf Mad. Saleroi geranium is one of the most 
lasting borders. It requires some trimming, and re-planting 
at least every eighteen months. Echeveria makes one of the 
easiest kept borders. It is the plant known as ‘Old Hen and 
Chicks.’ It can be grown to make any width of border, and if 
the rosettes are too thick, they are easily thinned out. The red 
and yellow altenantheras are choice border plants. They grow 
best in warm weather, and should be planted in May or June. In 
the winter the top is often nipped’ by the cold but the roots are 
uninjured. In April trim back the tops. Shearing is necessary 
to grow a good border. The name of the Florence hotel and the 
Hotel del Coronado is made of this plant. Lobelia is a pretty 
border plant, but requires trimming and frequent replanting to 
keep it in order. Blue Ageratum is good for a border, growing 
possibly a foot high. The variegated or silver thyme is much 
used about San Francisco—but is rarely seen here. The violets 
make an excellent border for all north and northeast beds. They 
should be divided and re-set in May, and are in bloom during 
winter and spring. The daisy also requires a shady location. 
The variegated dew plant is excellent if a wide border can be 
grown—one foot to eighteen inches. No department of garden- 
ing has been more neglected here than this one, but during the 
past year more interest has been shown, and in time all will be 
willing to work hard for the returns—good borders we can and 
must have. 
THE ARAUCARIAN PINES. 
Few plants can compare with the noble genus of araucarias 
for symmetry of growth and elegant proportions. All the species 
are among the choicest of conservatory plants in the United 
States and Europe, while here they are grown successfully in the 
open ground without winter protection. 
The araucarias are of very slow growth, but when mature are 
very large trees. It is very rarely that this fact is considered 
when one is planting them. In consequence, we see these beauti- 
