WINDOW GARDENS 



By FRANK K. BALTH1S 

 DeKalb, 111. 



i'he successful cultivation of plants in the ordinary dwelling or 

 schoolroom may be anticipated if care is' exercised in procuring 

 proper soils, judicious watering, the selection of suitable varieties 

 and a congenial situation where light and heat may be regulated. 

 Then, too, the natural habits and requirements of the plants 

 should be learned, if not already known, by consulting any of the 

 excellent works on gardening (Bailey's "Cyclopedia of American 

 Horticulture," Nicholson's "Dictionary of Gardening," Hender- 

 son's Manual of Plants.") This could well be correlated with the 

 study of geography. For example, we find that the common 

 geranium came originally from South Africa. It delights in 

 bright sunshine, and in a firm, clayey soil. Again, the common 

 rubber plant was found in the rich, damp forests of Tropical Asia. 

 It requires a soil rich in humus and an abundance of water during 

 the growing season. Turning to the Western Hemisphere, we 

 find that practically all of the cacti are indigenous to the arid 

 regions of Mexico. Therefore, we should secure a sandy soil for 

 cacti and water only occasionally when at rest, which is during 

 the fall and winter months. 



It must be borne in mind that all plants have a growing and a 

 resting season, and will not grow continuously. In the geranium, 

 for example, to secure an abundance of bloom during the winter, 

 cuttings ("slips") should be made in late July or early August. 

 Old plants that have bloomed during the summer require severe 

 pruning if lifted in the fall, but even then will be inferior to those 

 propagated during the summer. 



Air and Light. The dry atmosphere usually found in the 

 schoolroom is troublesome, but by a careful selection of varieties 

 the difficulty may be reduced to a minimum. Some plants will 

 endure dense shade, but all the light possible should be given. A 

 south window is the best for all plants, but when such a location 

 is unavailable only those plants possessing leathery leaves, or 

 leaves with small stomata, should be selected. Some of the 



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