90 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



erect plants and three vines are enough for a box of 

 that size, and even these may need attention before 

 the season is over, especially if in south or west 

 windows. North or east boxes will, usually, keep 

 their contents fresh until frost; but a west or south 

 light makes great demands upon the vitality of plants 

 confined within the limited area, and it is a good plan 

 to leave Geraniums and similar flowers in their pots, 

 that they may be easily exchanged for others when 

 they grow shabby, cutting back and repotting the old 

 ones for winter blooming if removed not later than 

 August. 



A better plan is to have two boxes ; starting one in 

 the house in March, that it may be ready to place 

 as soon as danger of frost is past; and the second in 

 June, that it may be ready to replace the first when 

 needed. For the latter the vines started in the house, 

 or hotbed, in April will be available. Maurandya, 

 Thunbergia, and the like, and many flowers from seed 

 will have reached sufficient size to be used for the 

 second box. Plants that have been carried over from 

 another season, or purchased from the florist, will be 

 necessary for the first boxes. There is no more beau- 

 tiful vine for a window-box than the Maurandya; it 

 drapes more gracefully than any other vine I know 

 (unless it be the Wild Cucumber, which attaches itself 

 to the window-screen in wreaths of exuberant bloom, 

 drooping far below the window-box, and making a 

 lovely background for scarlet Geraniums). Its only 



