THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 181 



to a large proportion of decorative plants, very seldom want re- 

 potting, and the propagation of a fresh stock will only be necessary 

 at long intervals. The compost which appears to suit them best is 

 prepared by well incorporating together good turfy loam three 

 parts, leaf-mould one part, well-decayed manure one part, and silver 

 sand half a part. In this mixture they will grow vigorously, pro- 

 vided the pots are well-drained and the soil pressed firm. To keep 

 them in health, they must be supplied liberally with water at the 

 roots, and during the summer season be syringed overhead 

 frequently. 



WINDOW GARDENING. 



BT MISS A. IIASSAED, 

 St. Eonan's, Upper Norwood. 



|EEAT many people who are very fond of flowers, and would 

 be fond of minding them, had they the opportunity to 

 do so ; but because they may not have any greenhouse 

 or garden, they never think anything about them, quite 

 forgetting how many charming plants and creepers they 

 can grow in window boxes for a very little cost and trouble. Per- 

 haps, therefore, a few hints may prove useful to those who are 

 thinking of litting up some this season. 



First of all, I shall say a few words about the boxes. There is 

 no use in getting expensive ones. I have seen some that only cost 

 half as much as others, look twice as well wken the plants were 

 growing in them. Some are made of tiles, others of common wood, 

 painted green, and then covered over with virgin cork. The latter 

 look twice as well as those made of tiles, and Avill not cost so much ; 

 but those made of zinc and tiles will last twice as long. Firmly 

 attached to the ends of the boxes, and acro?s the tops of the win- 

 dows, should be a few strained wires, as I think creepers growing up 

 out of the boxes form such pretty frames round the windows. There 

 should always be plenty of holes in the bottoms of the boxes, and 

 over them a good layer of broken crocks for drainage, as one of the 

 great things to keep the plants in health in summer is to give them 

 plenty of water; and to do this, of course there must be good 

 drainage. After the crocks have been placed over the bottom of 

 the boxes, they should be filled up with a mixture of loam, leaf- 

 mould, a little manure, and some sharp sand or road-grit. Next 

 plant (one at each end) different kinds of clematis to train up the 

 wires round the windows, as nothing looks better, and they stop 

 out all the year round, and season after season. Such sorts as 

 Jachmani, purple, and Candidissima, white, are eminently suitable. 

 A box which I saw last summer, and admired very much, was fitted 

 up in the following manner : — trained round the window, planted as 

 above described, were two plants of Clematis Jachmani; in the front 



June. 



