280 



WINDOW GARDENING 



The decorative bird cage, on page 4, frontispiece to chapter 1, in a small shape, 

 looks well on a table or in front of a looking glass ; if bigger, it may be placed 

 in the centre of a room. Here is a good opportunity for showing a fine cul- 

 tivated taste in the arrangement of all kinds of plants. Below, in the stand at 

 the bottom, you will perceive drawf plants of the following species: Stachys 

 lanata, Coleus Beauty of Villamore, Nemophila insignis, Verbena tencrioides and 

 Sanvitalia procumbens mixed with Sweet Alyssum and Lobelia ; or, in a different 

 style : Sempervivums Sedums, Mesembryanthemums, Cactus, Echeveria, Cras- 

 sula, Aloe mixed with Phlox setacea and Cerastium tomentosum. Then higher 



up on the stand you have in tlat vases : 

 Sedum Fabaria, Plumbago Sarpentae, 

 Epiphyllum truncatum, Daphne Cneo- 

 rum. The four vases contain : Agave 

 anuricana fol. var.: Corypha austrahs, 

 Latania borbonica, Cycas revoluta, or 

 Bromelia sativa fol. var.; Nidularia ful- 

 gens, Asplenium, Nidus avis, Echeveria 

 metallica, Alocasia metallica, Statice 

 Halfordii, or St. macrophylla. Yucca 

 fiaccida will produce the best effect in 

 the vase on the top of the cage. Some 

 small climbing plants decorate well the 

 four corners of the cage. The lively 

 songsters inside, thus surrounded by 

 beautiful flowers, seem to forget that 

 they are prisoners, and warble their 

 lovely songs with perfect freedom and 



joy- 



The plants recommended in this article 

 are, throughout, handsome and con- 

 venient. They are to be had in any 

 good nursery which makes a specialty 

 of cultivating plants for decoration. 

 Some florists take the delivering of plants 

 TijT.it. i'oiiaiii.-.s( 11 ui>ii;itiiiK parlor lountain, by Contract, renewing them from time 

 to time. We give you also a good hint how to clean plants. Take off the dust 

 first with a small velvet scrap, then wet the leaves either with a sponge or syringe. 

 Plants, of a lasting habit, as : Palms, some kinds of Orchids, Yuccas, Dracaenas, 

 Ficus elastica, will keep well some years by attendance and regular nursing, 

 repaying the small trouble by their growth and fresh color. 



Home Ornaments. 

 This department would not be complete without a word for the little ones of 

 the bouse, some hint to them of what they can do to bring forth some glowing 



