3 Og WINDOW GAEDENING. 



The true Maiden'' s Hair Fern, (Adiantum Cajnllus Veneris'), by spreading at 

 the roots will soon cover the surface of a basket. 



The Asplenium Lanceolatun and A. Marinum, are also spreaders. 



Ferns will always be beautiful plants for window culture on account of their 

 delicate outUne and tasteful droop of their branches. Every amateur, however, 

 will do well to begin with two or three at first, and then study the rest gradu- 

 ally until he becomes familiar with their general characteristics. In watering 

 Ferns, use warm water only, they will require it frequently also, for Ferns are 

 natives of moist situations and latitudes ; to most of them the dry air of a warm 

 room is often injurious ; closed cases are best. 



The following trailing Ferns are suited for hanging baskets : Nothodaena- 

 tenera, Davallia pentaphylla, Fadyema, prolifera, Adiantum Cordatum. 



The list of plants for baskets is endless; you are never at lack what to choose. 

 You may begin with one plant, but as you become more acquainted with the 

 nature of each plant, and learn their habits, you will love them so dearly as to 

 sigh because you have not room for more. 



How to arrange Plants in the Baskets. 

 We offer several plans of how to fill a number of baskets easily : 

 No. 1. — A fine low standard for a small hanging basket is the Primula Sinensis 

 (Chinese Primrose), bearing white or crimson flowers. Soil — two parts garden 

 mould and one part sand. Water often, but slightly. Raise from seed or 

 division of the root, in sandy soil. Take offsets from old roots in May, re-set 

 them in fresh soil and keep the pots in the shade until September. Gloxinias — 

 flowers of rose color or crimson — make a fine display in similar pots. They 

 need the same soil as the Primula. Water scantily, except when in bloom. 

 Propagate by division of the roots, or a single leaf set in damp sand. Just 

 within the edge of the pot set Lysimachia nummularia (Moneywort), Nepeta 

 Glecoma (Ground Ivy or Gill run over the ground), or Coliseum vines. These have 

 yellow, blue, white flowers. They will throw out trailers three or four feet 

 long. Twine some of these around the chains or cords that sustain the 

 basket. 



No. 2. — In the same sort of pots and soil, with the same drooping plant, Cyc- 

 lamen punctatum, or C. persicum — flowers white, pink or purplish — are very 

 pretty. Or a root or oflshoot of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (Ice-plant), 

 whose stems and leaves, when the sun shines upon them, glitter as if covered 

 with pearls and diamonds. One of these plants will soon spread over the sur- 

 face and hang prettily around the basket. The flowers are small — pale crim- 

 son or white. Or two or three Verbenas — white, scarlet and maroon, or white, 

 pink, and purple — spreading and drooping, and creeping and climbing as they 

 choose ; they flourish much better thus than when trained and trimmed. Start 

 new plants from seed, or small branches, every June. Keep them rather dry 

 and shaded, till September, then give them plenty of sunshine and increase 

 the water, but never water them very freely. 



