14 
GERMAIN FRUIT COMPANY’S 
Flower and Vegetable Garden. 
A Concise Calendar of Operations Throughout the Year. Especially 
Adapted for Southern California. 
JANUARY. 
Flower Garden. — Continue to plant Lilies. All kinds of evergreen and deciduous shrubs can 
now be planted. The planting of Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, etc., should be completed this month. 
Hardy annuals may be sown out of doors, and, where artificial heat is obtainable, half hardy annuals 
may also be sown. A hot-bed of stable manure is easily prepared by piling it 4 or 5 feet in height, 
well watered and trampled down, over which place a large box or frame, with glass sash, taking care to 
air and sweeten the bed well before using. 
\ egetable Garden. — For main crop sow Broccoli, Carrot, Chicory and Parsnip. At the end 
of the month, in warm, sheltered situations, Early Rose Potatoes may be planted. Plant Asparagus, Horse¬ 
radish and Rhubarb roots. These all require deeply-worked ground. Dress beds already planted with 
about 3 inches of well-rotted manure. Cucumbers, Egg Plants, Melons, Peppers, Squashes and Toma¬ 
toes may be sown under glass for after-planting. A safe plan is to sow about 5 seeds of each variety on 
reversed pieces of sod, about 4 inches square. On planting in the ground, insert the sod with the grow- 
ing plants and firm the soil in the usual way. By this method the growing plants will suffer no injury. 
Stick and hill up Peas and other crops requiring it, and attend strictly to cleanliness. 
FEBRUARY. 
Flower Garden. — General planting of evergreens and shrubs should be completed as soon as 
possible. Also finish planting Lilies, Anemones and Ranunculi. Commence planting Gladioli bulbs 
for succession. Sow hardy annuals out of doors, especially Sweet Peas, and half hardy annuals as 
recommended for last month. This is the best month in which to sow Acacia seeds. Soak for 24 hours 
before sowing, or where practicable, spread dry leaves or bushes over the beds after sowing and water¬ 
ing and set fire to them. This is the best manner of sowing all hard tree-seeds. 
Vegetable Garden. — This and the next month will be the busiest of the year in this depart¬ 
ment, as nearly all crops may be sown in these two months. (See reference table for varieties to be 
sown.) Continue planting Asparagus and other roots as recommended for last month. Plant main crop 
of Potatoes. Attend to weeding and hilling up. Thin out Turnips, Carrots and other root crops 
requiring it. 
MARCH. 
Flower Garden. — Continue planting Gladioli bulbs for succession. All hardy and half hardy 
annuals may be sown in the open ground this month. Alternanthera and other border plants can be 
planted with safety, as all danger from even slight frost is now over. 
Vegetable Garden. — Nearly all vegetable seeds may be freely sown this month. (See refer¬ 
ence table.) Plant out Cucumbers, Melons and other plants previously sown under glass. Hill up 
rows, keep down insects, slugs and vermin, and attend strictly to cleanliness. 
APRIL. 
I lower Garden. — Plant Dahlias, Gladioli, Tuberoses, Tigridias, Tuberous Begonias, and all 
summer-flowering bulbs. Continue sowing hardy and half-hardy annuals. Watch Rose bushes, and if 
troubled with green Aphis, use tobacco-dust freely. 
Vegetable Garden. —(See reference table for varieties to be sown.) Plant out Egg, Pepper, 
Tomato and Sweet Potato plants, the latter in light, rich soil, well worked, in rows G feet apart, and 2 
feet in the rows, and keep the soil well worked. Cultivate well and hill up as required. 
MAY. 
Flower Garden. As Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, etc., die down, the bulbs should be dug up, 
and stored away in a cool, dry place till fall, when they may be replanted. The vacancies thus created 
should be filled with other flowering plants. Half-hardy and other annuals may still be sown, and 
