Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. V St. Louis, Mo., February, 1917 No. 2 
WINDOW BOXES, A TYPE OF FLORAL DECORATION 
APPLICABLE TO DOWN-TOWN DISTRICTS 
In working toward the beautification of a city, the oppor- 
tunity of making the business districts more attractive 
through floral features should not be neglected. Even pub- 
lic buildings of the noblest proportions and occupying suit- 
able plats of ground are graced and rendered more beautiful 
by the profuse use of vines and shrubbery ; and much greater 
is the need for touches of nature about the buildings in the 
crowded business section where the planting of trees and 
shrubs is an impossibility. Window boxes and vines break 
the monotony, soften the hard outlines of business structures, 
and refresh the eye, so that more and more the value of such 
floral features is appreciated and demanded. 
The use of window-boxes in the business districts is 
an extension of the spirit which encourages the floral deco- 
ration of the home and the public squares, and it is not 
an experiment in St. Louis. much improved appearance 
was presented on some streets last season, due to the use of 
floral effects by firms whose interest was inspired or intensified 
both through the circulars prepared and distributed by the 
Business Men’s League and through prizes for the best deco- 
ration — the latter being offered by the St. Louis Art League. 
Tt has taken more public spirit to coéperate in this move- 
ment than in the beautification of home grounds, because 
the good resulting in the former case is less tangible and 
the owner has perhaps far less opportunity than others to 
enjoy the effects. Nevertheless, it has been found, in cities 
where the movement has been carried out, that the utiliza- 
tion of plants in this way is an excellent advertisement, and 
that the effect upon those employed behind windows thus 
decorated is wholesome and conducive to better work. The 
experience of a large firm which has long used window boxes 
is reported as follows: “We have repeated this flower display 
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