THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



49 



the majority of my readers would be able to devote to it, my remarks 

 will be confined almost exclusively to the cultivation of the plants 

 from first to last in the boxes. 



The form and pattern of the boxes must in a great measure be 

 decided by the style of architecture of the house for which they are 

 intended, and the taste and means of the occupier. The accom- 

 panying designs, which are from the stock of Messrs. Dick Ead- 

 clyffe, and Co., 129, High Holborn,W.C, who devote much attention 

 to window-boxes and other horticultural elegancies, illustrate some 

 of the very best forms that could be devised. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are 



Fig. 3.— Rustic Wood Box. 



eminently adapted for cottage and small villa residences, whilst for 

 the more aristocratic villa and the mansion, Figs. 4 and 5 will be 

 more acceptable. Fig. 3 is, perhaps, the prettiest of the rustic 

 designs ; and of the other two, Fig. 4 is the most useful, and the 

 pattern of the tiles with which this kind of box is faced is almost 

 illimitable. Fig. 5 is remarkably beautiful, but, of necessity, is too 

 expensive to admit of its employment elsewhere than at the dining 

 and drawing-room windows, excepting in the houses of the most 

 wealthy. As an act of justice to the firm referred to, it is necessary 

 to say that the designs here figured comprise only a portion of the 

 stock, and that in selecting boxes of No. 4 pattern, a personal inspec- 

 tion will be most satisfactory, as tastes differ so much. They should 



Fig. 4.— Tile Box. 



fit the window nicely, but they must be deep and broad enough to 

 hold a considerable quantity of soil, or the plants in them will be 

 no better off than if they were grown in pots. Each box should be 

 wide enough to comfortably hold a double row of plants, and if the 

 sill is narrow, it may be allowed to project two or three inches, as a 

 neat bracket on each side, will hold it firm. Means must be pro- 

 vided for the ready escape of all superfluous water, by placing in the 

 bottom a layer of rather small crocks, and then covering them with 

 a layer of rough material, to prevent the fine soil choking them up. 

 A compost consisting of two parts turfy loam and one part decayed 

 manure or leaf-mould, will suit all the plants — with which they 

 should be filled throughout the year. 



VOL. VI. — NO. II. 4 



