WINTER WINDOW GARDENING. 



'33 



these, unless plenty of drainage is given, as 

 well as care in watering, as they are very 

 liable to rot at the base of the growth, es- 

 pecially if over-potted. 



The Farfugium grande (Leopard plant) 

 is also a good window plant, its thick leath- 

 ery gold spotted leaves being particularly 

 noticeable in a window. It delights in a 

 rather cool shaded window, requiring plenty 

 of moisture at the roots. This is one among 

 the few plants that succeed better in a win- 

 dow than in most greenhouses. It is sel- 

 dom a good specimen is seen in a green- 

 house, whilst handsome specimens, a foot or 

 two in diameter, are often, seen in dwelling 

 house windows, as well as on verandahs in 

 summer. 



The Ficus elastica (rubber plant) is also 

 a good enduring window plant. Its leaves 

 require sponging frequently to increase and 

 preserve the glossy green of its foliage ; the 

 latter, together with its power of resisting 

 gas and the bad effect of a dry temperature, 

 being its chief points of recommendation as 

 a window plant, as it is not of a very grace- 

 ful appearance, even under the very best 

 conditions. 



Amongst climbing or trailing plants the 

 several varieties of Tradescantia or Wander- 

 ing Jew, as well as the variegated Japanese 

 Vincas or Periwinkles cannot be omitted. 

 The Saxifraga sarmentosa (Spider wort or 

 Mother of Thousands) is also a splendid 

 plant for a hanging pot or basket in a win- 

 dow. 



The rampant climbing plant known as the 

 German or Cape Ivy is a grand climber for 

 the window, a single plant often covering 

 the entire window. 



During the address practical illustrations 

 were given by the lecturer of the methods 

 of propagating most of the plants men- 

 tioned. The method of propagating the 

 Ficus or Rubber plant by mossing partially 

 severed cuttings, whilst the branch or cut- 



ting is still left on the plant, was most in- 

 teresting. Cutting up the leaves of the Rex 

 Begonia into discs and sectional cuttings 

 from the leaves of these plants was also ful- 

 ly illustrated and described, as well as the 

 best methods and seasons of the year for 

 propagating them. Propagation from ter- 

 minal cuttings from plants, such as the 

 fuchsias, geraniums, begonias, etc., was fully 

 illustrated and explained, as well as sectional 

 stem cuttings, and raising plants from root 

 cuttings, natural specimens being used in the 

 different demonstrations made during the 

 progress of the address. 



It was also explained that clean, sharp, 

 fine sand placed in well drained pots or shal- 

 low boxes was the best material for rooting 

 cuttings of most window plants, the sum- 

 mer time being the season when success was 

 most likely to crown the efforts of the ama- 

 teur in increasing his stock of window 

 plants from cuttings of any kind. 



The best kind of soil to furnish the basis 

 of a good potting compost for window- 

 plants is obtained by cutting sod from a pas- 

 ture field where the soil is of a loamy nature, 

 and the grass kept fed down. Cut the sod 

 about four inches thick and the size over of 

 a spade. Make a pile of sufficient size of 

 this sod by first laying two thicknesses of 

 sod with the grass side downward, then put 

 about the depth of one sod, three or four 

 inches, of cow manure. Continue this suc- 

 cession of sod and manure until the pile is 

 large enough. Make the pile outside in a 

 corner of the garden away from chickens 

 and animals. In six months it will be 

 ready for use. This compost can be tem- 

 pered with sand or leaf soil as required for 

 plants that require a very light soil, such as 

 begonias, fuchsias, ferns, etc. ; but for 

 geraniums, roses, bulbs, and the majority of 

 window plants, the sod compost will suit 

 splendidly, especially if the sod is taken 

 from a sandy loam soil. 



