The San Francisco call., 1909-01-17

banksia, camellia and japonica all do
well in California and the last named
has marvelously delicate, waxIike blos-
SONS OF great purity Of tint
The celebrated silver, tree also takes
kindly to the California climate and
soil. The seeds must be obtained from
South Africa, where IN the region OF
the cape of Good Hope 1t grows TO a
height Of 80 feet. 1t gets Its name
from its leaves, which are OF a soft.
silvery white color and densely COW
cred with white, silky hairs. If kept In
a warm sheltered situation IT becomes
when in health a striking ornamental
ton. Especially should care be taken
not to overwater the young shoots.
which should be kept In a warm green
house after their first springing from
the seed.
Just opposite IN character and habit
is the noble and symmetrical beech,
which requires so little attention In the
eastern states and IN Europe, but
which In California needs good shelter
and a fairly good soil. It's chief re-
quirement is plenty OF moisture. as 1t
seldom reaches its best excepting when
close to a pond or water course. The
purple leaved variety seems to be the
favorite for this state, although II Is
not advisable. according to authority,
to attempt propagation here.
Justly proud OF it's oaks, and 1t is hoped
that owners of fine specimens will pre-
serve them as long as possible. remem-
bering that It takes at least a hundred
years to grow them. and that many
of our grand specimen oaks were large
trees when Drake and Balboa first
visited the coast"
The pepper tree. mountain ash, Span
ish broom. the lilac. the yew, coral
bush, elm. California laurel and swamp
cypress are varieties all well known
in California. and are species which
when planted have added greatly to the
character and outlook OF the landscape.
Many of these may be seen in the park,
but are either passed over or classed
merely as trees or shrubs" by the
casual observer, to whom all trees look
alike: but to the eye trained to behold
the fine and delicate markings on the
leaves, the shape and conformity of
the branches, the network of irregu-
lar leaf veins. ali Of which are natures
infallible signs to the student OF for
estry, the distinctions between the diff
ferent growths are no less interesting &
than they are sure.
or the climbing and twining shrubs
perhaps the wistaria Is the best known
and loved. According to the author OF
Gardening In California" the genus
contains about i've species. which de-
light In q light and rich soil. which
causes the shrub to produce branches
sometimes 100 feet in length on each
side OF the main stem. giving gorgeous
masses of bloom in the early spring. In
Japan the wistaria Is the theme Of song
and story, the variety, bearing white
flowers and another bearing lilac fow-
ers with purple wings being the best
known and most popular.
The writer OF this remembers an old
fashioned garden where the sun used tc
beat down warmly at noontime and
where were found many quaint, sweet
smelling flowers. that some way have
never seemed to bloom since. Quaint
too. and odd. were the conceits spring
ing in our minds as we picked sorne
familiar flower to pieces to see how n
was made" The pansy was platnly
THE little cid man washing his fset's