WINDOW GARDENING IN WINTER. 



425 



facing the north, a plant or two of the dwarf 

 growingf silver variety Madame Saleroy being" 

 perhaps the only partialexception tothis rule. 

 For trailing and hanging plants tradescantias, 

 vincas, and German ivy will be found effec- 

 tive for a north window. 



For a window facing the south a much 

 wider range of plants is open to select suit- 

 able varieties from. All of the varieties 

 mentioned for windows having a north 

 aspect will succeed in a window facing the 

 south, to which may be added double and 

 single flowering geraniums, fuchsias, 

 begonias in variety, B. incarnata, B. rubra, 

 B. fuchsiaoides, B. semperflorens, B. gigan- 

 tea rosea, and B. ingrama being among the 

 best for winter flowering varieties, whilst 

 begonias diadema, metallica, sanguinea, 

 manicata and manicata aurea will be found 

 useful for the beauty oi their foliage 

 during the dark winter months. To this 

 list can be added winter flowering bulbs 

 of all kinds, not forgetting a few hanging 

 pots of oxalis lutea (Bermuda butterfly). A 

 plant or two of epiphyllum (lobster cactus) 

 will also make a desirable addition to the 

 collection. The variegated and flowering 

 ivy leaved geraniums and the hybrid variety, 

 P. Crozy, as well as many of the silver and 

 gold tricolors as well as bronze foliaged 

 varieties will be found to succeed well in a 

 sunny window in winter. The pretty little 

 plant that may be fairly termed a window- 

 shrub (Linum trigynum) is one of the most 

 remunerative of winter flowering plants, 

 producing its large bright yellow flowers in 

 great profusion during winter and early 

 spring. A pot or two each of primulas — 

 more especially of primula obconica — cy- 

 clamen, freesia, with a pot or two of climb- 

 ing asparagus, (A. tennuissimus,) or of the 

 perennial varieties of tropeolums or smilax, 

 will complete a list from which a selection 

 of plants can be made that will make a 

 bright and attractive appearance during the 

 winter, when all the recent beauty of out- 



door plant life has been marred or destroy- 

 ed by the keen biting frosts and winds of 

 winter. 



Care of Window Plants in Winter — 

 Watering window plants is one of the 

 features of winter window gardening that 

 requires great care and close observance of 

 the requirements of the plants, so that they 

 may not suffer from drought, or on the 

 other hand — as is often the case — become 

 stagnated and the soil made sour and con- 

 sequently dangerous to the life of the plants 

 from too much water being given them. 

 Tapping the pots with the knuckles will in 

 most cases be a sufficient guide to the in- 

 experienced plantgrower to ascertain whether 

 it is necessary to give the plant water 

 or not. If the pot emits a ringing or hollow 

 sound when struck, give the plant a good 

 watering, sufficient to moisten all the soil in 

 the pot. If on the contrary there is only a 

 dull heavy sound in response to the tapping, 

 very little if any water is required. When 

 plants require water at the roots, the soil on 

 the top of the pot assumes a somewhat 

 lighter appearance in color and feels dry and 

 crumbles when touched. When this is the 

 case it is safe to give the plants water. On 

 the other hand if the soil is sticky and pasty 

 when touched, in all probability no water 

 is required. When water is required give it 

 liberally so as to soak the soil to the bottom 

 of the pot. Use tepid water if possible, at 

 about a temperature of 45° to 50 , or just 

 luke warm. Water the plants early in the 

 day, and on fine warm days if possible. 



Insect Pests. — There are four or five in- 

 sect pests that are a source of annoyance and 

 often of destruction to plant life, more espec- 

 ially io window or house plants, the usually 

 dry atmosphere of the house presenting just 

 the conditions suitable for the introduction 

 and subsequent increase in numbers of most 

 of these pests. Green fly or aphis, red spi- 

 der, mealy bug and scale, are the principal 

 enemies to plant life in windows in winter. 



