128 
Gardeners and Florists’ Annual for J9J8 
Prepare the soil for, and plant, Violets for Winter and early 
Spring flowering. They like a moderately heavy soil with good drainage. 
Get ready for planting Dutch bulbs by deeply spading the soil in 
the beds and enriching it with well decayed cow manure. Add plenty 
of sand also if the soil is heavy. 
Sow the main crop of Pansies. 
Geraniums of all kinds root freely now in sand under a lath shade 
if kept moist. 
Keep up the irrigating on everything that is still in a growing 
condition. 
October 
Spread a little manure around Winter flowering Roses and water 
thoroughly. If no cow manure can be obtained use blood and bone. 
Pot up Lilium giganteum as soon as received and plunge the pots 
in sawdust or other material in as cool a place as possible. 
The early Chinese Lilies will be showing above the soil and should 
be freely watered during dry weather from now on. Spread a light 
mulch of manure on them if it can be spared. 
Continue to sow Pansies and other annuals as they are likely to 
be wanted. 
Feed the Chrysanthemums liberally until they begin to show color. 
Those growing outdoors should be covered with cheese cloth now. 
Sow Cyclamen, late Primulas, Calceolarias, Cinerarias, and feed 
the plants now advancing for flower. 
Commence the propagation of Alternantheras, Iresines, Coleuses, 
Verbenas, Salvias, l.antanas. Heliotropes and all other Spring bedders. 
November 
Feed Poinsettias with dried blood or blood meal, this greatly 
improving the color of the bracts. Nitrate of soda or soot helps the 
color. of the foliage. Be sure the roots are not allowed to get dry 
or the leaves will fall. 
Lift Jerusalem Cherries from the open ground and place in pots 
for decoration. 
Cinerarias, Primulas and Calceolarias do well under lath until the 
rainy season starts. 
Plant Ranunculuses and Anemones and any other late arrivals. No 
matter how small the bulb, always cover at least three inches. 
With the shorter days keep the cultivation going regularly between 
the lines of Winter Sweet Peas. This helps to keep them growing 
vigorously, without which few flowers will be produced. 
Plant Matilija Poppies (Romneya Coulteri), being careful not to 
damage the roots in any way. 
Clean up any vacant places that are to be sown to native plants 
next month or in January in order to give them at least an even start. 
Burning over is a good beginning. 
December 
Excepting in flood localities keep on with the preparation of land 
for all classes of early Spring crops.. Where land is apt to be over- 
flowed the firmer the surface is left the better. 
