148 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



For spring, the best plants for window boxes are bulbs, 

 such as crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, scillas, and tulips. 

 Wallflowers are also excellent, provided that they have been 

 transplanted, and kept bushy and dwarf. If they are tall, 

 they shut out too much light. Forget-me-nots, aubrietias, 

 arabis, or some of the hardy saxifrages may be grown in front 

 of them to hang down in front of the box. 



For summer, marguerites are among the most popular 

 plants. They are often associated with lobelias in the front 

 row, and sometimes with calceolarias in the second row ; but 

 this mixture of three colours is not nearly so effective as a 

 single one, or at the outside two. In other arrangements 

 the place of marguerites is taken by asters, fuchsias, geraniums, 

 petunias, annual phloxes, verbenas, or zinnias. Among 

 plants which should be grown by themselves are dwarf 

 nasturtiums and ivy-leaved geraniums. The former are so 

 strong in colouring that they kill any other colour ; the latter, 

 besides carrying their beautiful flowers throughout the season, 

 spread so rapidly that they soon fill a box, and as they grow 

 down in front and also rise up irregularly, they break the 

 straight lines and are very effective. 



For autumn and winter, window boxes are often filled with 

 small conifers or other evergreens. If, however, wallflowers 

 are to be used in spring, they may be put in position in 

 autumn, and wall then serve the same purpose. If any of 

 them get shabby during the winter, it is easy to replace them. 



