104 WINDOW GARDENING. 



hardy vines, Moneywort and Partridge vine, (Mitchella repens,} come forth in 

 fresh beauty and gracefulness. 



Miniature baskets can be made of a goose or turkey's egg, that are exceed- 

 ingly pretty and attractive. Select the largest size, make a hole with a needle 

 at each end, and blow out the yolk and white. Then dip the egg into boiling 

 water, and while it is hot cut it in the middle, a little at a time, for fear it will 

 crack down too far. Use a pair of small, sharp sissors. For a covering and 

 c rds to suspend it, take scarlet, green, or blue split zephyr worsted, and either 

 net or crochet a cover. Use a fine mesh or needle, and make an ornamental 

 scolloped edge around the top. Crochet cords, or twist them, of the zephyr, and 

 hang the tiny baskets with them. Three baskets can be made and sewed together, 

 with a cord attached to the edge of each shell. A different vine can be planted 

 in each egg shell. Use a rich, but rather sandy soil, and the vines will grow 

 luxuriantly. 



The same device can be suspended from the chandelier to hold cut flowers, 

 or the chains can be omitted and the baskets be used as vases 



Boys or girls who possess any ingenuity can construct these pretty floral 

 adornments in their leisure hours. Money is not always required for their man- 

 ufacture, nor need those who live in the country apply to the florists for plants 

 to fill them; for the fields and woods contain many twining vines that are very 

 suitable for them. Almost anything will do for a basket shells, horns, or any- 

 thing that will hold earth, have been used for the purpose. Even turnips and 

 carrots can be hollowed out and made to hold pretty little plants so no one need 

 be without these simple floral adornments for parlor or dining-room. 



Plants for Hanging Baskets. 



Our theme is now a more pleasing one, for how infinite, and yet indescribably 

 beautiful, are some of the combinations of plants in baskets which we occasion- 

 ally see. 



Take, however, from us one general word of advice : Do not crowd in too 

 many plants of upright growth. Usually one erect plant of showy, striking 

 character, should be used say a Begonia or a bright flowering Geranium ; then 

 around this gather your plants, of great variety, but lower and more compact 

 growth, and around the edge plant both your climbers and your trailers. If 

 your basket is to hang in a northern or eastern window, where the temperature 

 is lower than any other exposure, you will have to choose such plants as the 

 Lycopodiums, Periwinkle, and Moneywort. They will do well here, for they 

 require less sunlight. An Ivy will do well anywhere, so you may consider this 

 your safest plant. As we have mentioned before, it is not best to bring your 

 plants immediately from the outdoors to the warm air of the living room. Do 

 it gradually, by first bringing the basket, after it is filled, into a cool room with 

 plenty of light, but not directly from the sun. Here let the plants get well 

 started, and after two or three weeks you may bring the basket into the parlor 

 or living room. 



