CHAJPTER III. 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF WINDOW GARDENS. 



In-door plants naturally require more care than those grown in the open air, 

 for nature supplies all the needs of the latter ; but the secrets of successful growth 

 and profuse blooming in the house are enumerated in the following few essential 

 rules of management : 



1st. Give them plenty of light during the day, and darkness with a cooler 

 temperature at night. 



2d. A good supply of fresh air, when the sun shines brightest and warmest; 

 in mild days the upper sashes may be lowered a little, and the cool air will blow 

 over the plants instead of directly upon them. 



3d. Perfect cleanliness, which is very important, for if the plants are covered 

 with dust, they cannot grow, and will frequently die; their leaves are their 

 lungs; frequent syringing will keep the leaves moist and clean.- 



4th. A proper amount of moisture ; a dry atmosphere is fatal. 



5th. A good compost or soil, in which their roots can luxuriate and send forth 

 vigorous branches, leaves and flowers. 



6th. Get good healthy plants to start out with ; plants that have been bloom- 

 ing all through the summer, or for several months previous will not do well ; 

 new ones are best, or plants that were used the previous winter, and have rested 

 during the summer, will also answer, but in general it is best to get new plants. 



7th. Keep only a few plants ; too many in the window will make close crowd- 

 ing ; pots should never be set two or three deep on top of each other. 



8th. A uniform temperature of 60 to 70 in the day time and 40 to 45 in the 

 night, should be steadily mantained. 



9th. Different places should be provided for different plants. A sunny win- 

 dow with a temperature of 45 to 50, will suit roses, geraniums, &c., best ; Bego- 

 nias, Coleus, Cissus discolor, want a still warmer place of 60 to 70, and yet but 

 little or no sun light directly upon them. On the other hand, Heliotropes, and 

 Bouvardias want all the sun possible, with a temperature in the daytime 

 of 60 to 75. 



Sunlight. 



Plenty of sunlight is the gardener's first requisite. If the location for this pur- 

 pose is not right, the plants will not be healthy. If the plants are well placed in 

 a good light, then the pots must be turned occasionally so that all sides may 

 receive it equally. It will be well also to put flower stands or racks of pots on 



