8 GARDENING INDOORS AND UNDER GLASS 
rapidly dry out and need frequent changing; and 
effects in grouping and harmonious decoration may 
be had which are not readily secured with plants in 
pots. On the other hand, it is not possible to give 
such careful attention to individual plants which 
may require it as when they are grown in pots; nor 
can there be so much re-arrangement and change 
when these are required —and what good house- 
keeper is not a natural born scene shifter, every 
once in so often rolling the piano around to the 
other side of the room, and moving the bookcase or 
changing the big Boston fern over to the other 
window, so it can be seen from the dining-room? 
If the plants are to be kept in pots —and on the 
whole this will generally be the more satisfactory 
method — several shelves of light, smooth wood 
of a convenient width (six to twelve inches) should 
be firmly placed, by means of the common iron 
brackets, in each window to be used. It will help, 
both in keeping the pots in place and in preventing 
muddy water from dripping down to the floor or 
table below, if a thin, narrow strip of wood is 
nailed to each edge of these shelves, extending an 
inch or two above them. A couple of coats of out- 
side paint will also add to the looks and to the life 
of these shelves and further tend to prevent any an- 
noying drip from draining pots. Such a shelf will 
be still further improved by being covered an inch 
or two deep with coarse gravel or fine pebbles. 
