The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05
Flower Gardens in the City
Superintendent Mcharen on San Francisco's
Floral Opportunities

O0e evening at the IeCeuI uOWcI SnOW
an amateur gardener from San Mateo,
with an assumed air of, commiseration, re-
marked: You can't grow flowers 20 any
degree of perfection or with any satisfac-
tion in San Francisco. Only some few
hardy things can stand the winds and fogs.
You must get out of town, somewhere
around the bay, for flowers"
Now, this is a strange belief, and yet
it exists even among people who should
know more about the wonderful flowers
and flower gardens of the City by the
Golden Gate. The fact is, San Francisco
for many long year has been Justly cele-
brated as city of beautiful flower
gardens. in which may be seen a variety
of blooms absolutely impossible in most
other cities of the world. John Nc
Laren, superintendent of Golden Gate
Park declares that if the taste for flowers
we're cultivated, San Francisco would be
vastly improved in appearance.
Most people imagine that it is enough
10 go into the garden now and again, and
then grow tired of attending to the flow.
ers. Again, people who can afford to en-
ploy men will not engage a competent
gardener. They leave all in the hands of
man who knows nothing OF the work he
is performing. and the result is about as
far removed from the ideal as one can i'm
agine.
In a conversation about flower culture
in San Francisco Mr.. McLaren gives many
valuable hints which amateurs may study
with profit and pleasure. And then, with
the horticulture of Golden Gate Park as
an example, following it from month to
month, really pleasing results can be
III -
City. The digging and playing" round
the garden for an hour or two daily in the
fresh open air and sunshine will well re-
pay in health the little distract ion from
worldly cares.
"Flower gardening means work" was
Mr. McLaren's rather depressing opening
remark, mot month and then grow tired
of it. You must Keep it up all the year
round, for if once neglected the garden
goes behind. One thing against San
francisco g the shortness of the evenings,
that gives no time after the days work to
puddle around in the flowers. 1t is differ
ent in other cities. People have their lit
tie gardens, window-gardens and flower
shows, and great interest is taken by anna
teurs. Here, of course, we have horti-
cultural society that holds exhibit ons,
but there is not the general public interest
in it. A little more of that would be a
good thing in this City.
al know of no city where such variety
of flowers can be grown as San Francisco.
People told me when l started in here
You can't grow chrvsanthemums; you
can't grow violets.' We have grown some
of the finest chrysanthemums in the park.
and violets will grow anywhere in San
Francisco. Still you very rarely see them
in the gardens. Over on Devisadero street,
the west side near Turk, is an old cottage
where there are rows of pinks along the
entrance walk. 1 have noticed them par
ticularly. because they are as fine pinks as
/ saw anywhere.
'Roses. You can grow them as good
here as anywhere. If 1 take a month s
notice here will guarantee to do it-that
is, these large hybrid roses"
He was asked what varieties he deemed
best suited to the local conditions.
LA Refine, La Marque," he replied. "No-
where in the world are the La Maruue
better than here. I have seen porches
covered with 1.-THE finest white rose of its
character that grows. Other varieties for
San Francisco are Captain Christy, Her
Majesty, General Jacqueminot. The Gen.
eral is fine deep red. Also the Bourbon,
a deep dark red rose, free from mildew and
easily grown-a free hloomer. The Magma
Charta, another very fine rose, does better
here than l ever saw anywhere else. But
these require good stiff loan and generous
treatment.
cit does not do to starve roses. You
want good old rotten manure and LIQUID
guano or fertilizers during summer. You
can't cut roses off bush twelve months in
year without feeding. SCOT in water j.
good; a little sulphate of ammonia is 8
good thing. Any of them with a little
ammonia is good.
-'Hosing roses once day, as most peo
pie do, will never give you good roses
The great trouble, 1 find, is people pay fol
taking care of their gardens and don't ge
the right men. Thoee fellows don't know
enough to cut the grass. For instance,
know lady who bought 200 asters in pots
They looked pretty, but in the hands O
one of these fellows they died in week
They are working cheap but running tn,
gardens. They don't know the names
plants, much less the treatment neces
sary.
Now for tea-scented roses, the hybriC
China rose. They do well in a light soil
but must be enriched with decomp posed
manure. You can no more starve rose
and have fine flowers than you can starv,
fine dog or horse and expect him to lool
well.
''Pansies. They have longer season II
San Francisco than in any of the outlying
districts, where the sun is hotter. Eos
and cool weather suit them admirably