flower Garden and Lawn 



WINTER WINDOW GARDENING 



AN ADDRESS BY WM. HUNT, ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, GUELPH. 



southerly aspect is necessary to secure good 

 flowering results ; a window facing the 

 southeast being perhaps preferable, as it es- 

 capes the direct rays of the sun at noon that 

 perhaps even in winter time strikes much 

 too warm in a south window for the well 

 being of many window plants. It is de- 

 sirable on very bright days, especially in late 

 winter or early spring, to shade plants in 

 windows having a southerly aspect, by pull- 

 ing down the blinds or by partially closing 

 the shutters for an hour or two during the 

 hottest part of the day. 



A very high temperature at midday, and 

 perhaps an equally low temperature at night, 

 is not beneficial to the growth of plants, and 

 often induces an attack of insect pests, or of 

 disease, that proves disastrous to a whole 

 collection of plants. An ordinary equable 

 house temperature, such as I first men- 

 tioned, with as moist an atmosphere as pos- 

 sible maintained around and about the 

 plants, will be found the most desirable con- 

 ditions for the successful winter culture of 

 window plants. 



To secure the last mentioned condition in 

 ordinary windows is ofte n a difficult prob- 

 lem, as the surroundings are not adapted for 

 using much water around and about the 

 plants. Very much can, however, be done 

 by spraying or sprinkling the foliage of the 

 plants on fine sunny days, more especially 

 the smooth or glossy leaved varieties ; or by 

 sponging the leaves of these with a sponge 

 and some clear tepid water. About once in 

 every two weeks will suffice for this. spong- 

 ing or sprinkling. The plants may, per- 

 haps, be removed to the kitchen sink occa- 

 sionally, where no damage can be done the 

 surroundings by sprinkling. 



Fig. 2732. Geranium, Peter Henderson. 



THE most important feature necessary 

 tor success in window gardening is 

 the window itself. A window in 

 a bright sunny position, where a tempera- 

 ture of about 50 to 55 degrees can be main- 

 tained at night, with a day temperature of 

 from 60 to 70 degrees, will furnish the most 

 desirable surroundings in which to grow 

 successfully a collection of window plants in 

 Many plants can, however, be grown un- 

 der less favorable circumstances. Ferns, 

 selaginellas or exotic mosses, aspidistras, 

 ficus elastica or rubber plant, cyperus alter- 

 nifolia (umbrella plant), or even the arum 

 or calla lily, as it is usually termed, are some 

 of the plants that can be grown in windows 

 having a more northerly aspect, where the 

 direct rays of the sun never reaches in win- 

 ter time. But for flowering plants a more 



