That blaze of glory which makes the 
Golden Shower Tree of the Tropics such 
an eye-catcher is equalled in its showiness 
by a relative which finds our climatic con- 
ditions kinder: Cassia splendida. This vig- 
orous evergreen shrub from Brazil brightens 
the winter landscape with heavy racemes 
of even more brilliant yellow flowers, com- 
pletely enveloping the bright green foliage 
in a golden mantle. 
Cassia splendida will accommodate itself 
to almost any situation but is ideally lo- 
cated in a sunny, well-drained spot, with 
plenty of space in which to follow its dis- 
tinctly horizontal habit of growth. For 
though Cassia splendida will reach ten feet 
or more, its lateral growth will exceed its 
upward as every branch strives for a hori- 
zontal path. A sharp pruning in the spring 
following the blooming period will aid ma- 
terially in its form. $1 and $4.50. 
Calliandra... 
(Continued from front page) 
turned from South America, brought us 
among other things three lonely seeds col- 
lected in Bolivia of a striking plant which 
he had been unable to identify. Three 
weeks after planting a solitary sprout ap- 
peared. Not for several years did the plant 
produce its first flowers, enabling us to 
establish it properly as Calliandra inaequil- 
atera, the first one to make its home in 
our temperate climate. 
As might be surmised from its place of 
origin, Bolivia, this Calliandra is on the 
tender side and we cannot recommend it 
beyond the Hibiscus, Bougainvillea belt 
but given a warm south or west wall 
(where it lends itself admirably to informal 
espaliering), or a protected patio environ- 
ment, this newcomer will flourish, providing 
a truly beautiful winter flower display. 
From $2 to $15. 
IT'S TIME FOR... 
(Continued from front page) 
and will last into January. Don't forget to 
fertilize the lawn thoroughly if you haven't 
done so already with Grorite, Vigoro, or 
if new lawn, Bowsoilyfe or Milorganite. 
Dont’ forget Tulip and Hyacinth bulbs, 
and remember also the BEDDING AN- 
NUALS for early spring bloom. 
Bad Exess 
Charmian—"Is this the man? Is’t you sir, that 
knows things?” 
Soothsayer—"In Nature’s infinte book of secrecy 
a little | can read.” 
Antony and Cleopatra. 
For at least twenty-five years, the old 
garden in Santa Monica and our establish- 
ment here have been happy hunting 
grounds for plant students as well as plant 
addicts. | do not suppose a day passes 
that does not bring in its train some indi- 
vidual seeking the name of or some infor- 
mation about a plant;—or perhaps pititully 
inquiring about the distressed condition of 
the plant in question, and how it can be 
speedily restored to its pristine health and 
beauty. Sometimes the specimens shown 
to us for purposes of identification are 
rather small, occasionally even microscop- 
ic; a circumstance which has more than 
once prompted me to indulge in the quota- 
tion from Shakespeare shown above. | 
realize of course that letting myself go in 
that fashion exposes me to the suspicion 
that either | am showing off my erudition 
or | am slightly demented or both! 
It is flattering to our self-esteem if not 
good for our soul to be regarded as pos- 
sessing omniscience, if only it were true! 
The real gardener or horticulturist never 
graduates, he never gets to know it all or 
indeed nearly enough for that matter. 
When he stops learning he is finished. The 
thing to do is to aim at perfection and 
come as near it as possible, but unhappily 
so many of us are poor marksmen or the 
target is too elusive. 
But in all seriousness, while we are not 
tree doctors or plant pathologists, we pride 
ourselves in having in our organization peo- 
ple who have a wide and extensive knowl- 
edge of plants and their care and cultiva- 
tion, if we can offer an intelligent and 
helpful opinion based on our experience 
and observation we are glad to express it; 
if we cannot supply the information de- 
sired, we say so, realizing that nothing is 
given so protusely as advice, and that mis- 
information is worse than no information 
at all. 
