22 THE FLORIST. 



plants. And I have done it in this way, in order to make the small 

 space hold as many pots, give them as much light, and bring them 

 as close to the glass, as possible. The glass of the window is 3 feet 

 9 inches broad, and of a proportionate height. This, therefore, is 

 the breadth of the stand I had made in the ordinary way, but as 

 light as possible, and with six shelves, channelled along the middle 

 for the water to run out of the pots. As the plants are of all sizes, 

 and more of them small than large, the four lower shelves are 4, the 

 fifth 5, and the sixth 6 inches broad ; the bottom one 3, the rest 4 

 inches high, which, with 3 inches allowed for standing in its pan, 

 make the entire height 2 feet 2 inches. 



This frame stands in a water-tight wooden pan, 3 feet 10 inches 

 long by 2 feet 4 inches broad, and 3 inches deep, with a hole and 

 plug in one corner to let off the water, so that I can water my plants 

 as freely as I like without wetting the room or making a mess. The 

 whole stands on two three-legged tressles, and the waterpot is kept 

 underneath, so that the water shall be always of the same tempera- 

 ture as the room, a point I have found to be of great importance to 

 the well-being of the plants. 



This stand, painted, cost 15s. And as I began collecting gradually, 

 bought but few, and exchanged with friends, I had a very good col- 

 lection before I had spent £2 upon my hobby. Since then 1 have 

 been more expensive, as I will not keep any but first-rate varieties, 

 and unhesitatingly condemn a flower that displeases me, whatever 

 its price in the market. Yet I believe I may challenge any other 

 hobby, far less useful or ornamental than this, on the subject of cost. 

 Careful as I am bound to be of my expenses, I should expect an 

 acquittal from the charge of extravagance even from those who do 

 not partake of the taste for these things. And I am sure that the 

 pleasure and the profit have amply repaid my little outlay ; for 

 profitable it is. Any thing that decorates home, and concentrates 

 a man's amusements and attractions round his own hearth, and 

 unites the rest of his family with him in them, is an avoidance of 

 expense to him, and is w r orthy of encouragement as a benefit to 

 society. And among these things, gardening, within legitimate 

 bounds, has always deservedly held a high place. And in this I 

 am sure " window-gardening" may fairly claim its little modicum 

 of praise, as being least liable to abuse ; unless, indeed, the bedroom 

 be made, as I have sometimes seen it, the depository of plants, for 

 then they are really injurious to health. 



When my plants are on the stand, I do not find they require 

 looking to every day, though even if they did, their wants are so few, 

 and so easily supplied, that it would be but little trouble. 



1 . Light is their greatest and invariable requisite ; and this is 

 the chief difficulty to give them in a sash-window when there is 

 more than one row of them. A short and simple rule will, however, 

 lessen much of the difficulty ; for they require light in proportion 

 to the rapidity of their growth. Consequently the back rows, as 

 having least light, should be kept driest, in order that they may 

 grow slowest ; and when they shew a tendency to throw out too 



