58 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



slat-work, to prevent the soil washing through when 

 watering. No matter what material the window box be 

 made of, outlets for water must be provided, either by 

 making holes an inch or so in diameter, at distances of 

 six inches apart, on the bottom, or making the bottom of 

 slats placed half an inch or so apart. 



Window boxes are often made to be quite ornamental, 

 but this is of little consequence, for if the plants in them 

 are properly grown, they will be the most attractive 

 ornament ; and as drooping plants are essential to the 

 beauty of the window box, these quickly cover up all 

 parts of it. The length and breadth of tl ^ window box, 

 of course, should conform to the size of the sill, but it 

 should never exceed six inches in depth. 



SOIL. 



There is nothing special in the soil used for window 

 boxes ; the same rule applies here as for plant culture in 

 pots. The best soil is what is called a turfy, sandy 

 loam ; that is, the soil formed by rotted sods that have 

 been cut two inches thick from some good pasture land. 

 That, with the addition of one-fourth rotted stable 

 manure well mixed through it, will answer for almost 

 any plant grown. But it is often troublesome to get the 

 materials to compost small quantities of soil, and it is 

 usually the best plan to get what soil is wanted, either 

 for window boxes or the potting of plants, from the 

 nearest florist. 



KINDS OF PLANTS. 



When the window box is placed at a great height from 

 the street, it is essential that the colors used should be 

 of the brightest, particularly those that droop or hang 



