balthis] WINDOW GARDENS 277 



tropical plants, the rubber plant, the palm, cacti and English 

 ivy are good examples. Frequent syringing removes dust and 

 allows uninterrupted transpiration. Any device for promoting 

 moisture about the plants is beneficial. Potted plants may be 

 placed in shallow zinc lined boxes partially filled with moss- 

 sphagnum moss is excellent ; this keeps the roots cool and moist 

 and is sufficiently loose to enable the air to enter. The kitchen 

 is sometimes designated "The Plant Hospital," because the steam 

 and vapors rising promote a moist atmosphere. Gas and kero- 

 sene stoves or lamps are very injurious to all plant life, espec- 

 ially ferns. 



Soil. Owing to the fact that the roots of potted plants are 

 confined to a small area it is necessary to secure good soil. The 

 best plan is to procure a supply from the local florist, otherwise 

 one can make a suitable soil. Sod taken from a vacant lot or 

 pasture land that is free of weeds, cut into convenient lengths for 

 handling, stacked in piles in any out-of-the-way place with the 

 turf side down and allowed to stand for about six months will be 

 ready for use. By adding about one-third of well rotted cow 

 manure the soil will be greatly enriched. 



Sod soils are full of fibre, which indicates a condition of great 

 porosity, and permits the unhindered circulation of air. A small 

 quantity of sand should be added to the soil and thoroughly 

 mixed. The addition of sand keeps the soil from packing and 

 permits the free passage of water. Snail pieces of charcoal 

 added are beneficial in that it keeps the soil pure and sweet. 

 Leaf mould added to the sod soil is the best for plants with fibrous 

 or thread-like roots, such as ferns. A good proportion of leaf 

 mould to soil is one to three. To procure a supply of leaf mould, 

 save all the fallen leaves instead of burning, as is usually done; 

 pile them in a pit, dry goods box, or frame exposed to the weather 

 and allowed to stand for about a year. By forking over and 

 watering occasionally decomposition is hastened. 



Lessons in soils and soil making should be given whenever 

 practical. Various combinations should be tried and results 

 noted by the pupils. 



Potting. The kind and the size of pot used must be given some 

 consideration. A good standard clay pot is very porous and 

 requires more water than a glazed pot. To grow plants success- 

 fully do not paint the pots, as all pores are stopped up and the 



