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WINDOW GARDENING. 



The decorative bird cage, on page 4, frontispiece to chapter 1, in a small shape, 

 looks well on a table or in front of a looking glass ; if bigger, it may be placed 

 in the centre of a room. Here is a good opportunity for showing a fine cul- 

 tivated taste in the arrangement of all kinds of plants. Below, in the stand at 

 the bottom, you will perceive dwarf plants of the following species: Stachys 

 lanata, Coleus Beauty of Vidamore, Nemophila insignis, Verbena tencrioides and 

 Sanvitaiia procumbens mixed with Sweet Alyssum and Lobelia ; or, in a different 

 style : Sempervivums, Sedums, Mesembryanthernums, Cactus, Echeveria, Cras- 

 sula, Aloe mixed with Phlox setacea and Cerastium tomentosum. Then higher 



up on the stand you have in flat vases: 

 Sedum fabaria, Plumbago Larpentae, 

 Epiphyllum truncaturn, Daphne cneo- 

 rum. The four vases contain : Agave 

 Americana fol. var.: Corypha australis, 

 Latania Borbonica, Cycas revoluta, or 

 Bromelia sativa fol. var.; Nidularium ful- 

 gens, Asplenium, Nidus avis, Echeveria 

 metallica, Alocasia metallica, Statice 

 Halfordii, or St. macrophylla. Yucca 

 flaccida will produce the best effect in 

 the vase on the top of the cage. Some 

 small climbing plants decorate well the 

 four corners of the cage. The lively 

 songsters inside, thus surrounded by 

 beautiful flowers, seem to forget that 

 they are prisoners, and warble their 

 lovely songs with perfect freedom and 



jy- 



The plants recommended in this article 

 are, throughout, handsome and con- 

 venient. They are to be had in any 

 good nursery which makes a specialty 

 of cultivating plants for decoration. 

 Some florists take the delivering of plants 

 Fi. 21. Portable seif-operatius parlor fountain, by contract, renewing them from time 

 to time. VYe give you also a good hint how to clean plants. Take off the dust 

 first with a small velvet scrap, then wet the leaves either with a sponge or syringe. 

 Plants, of a lasting habit, as : Palms, some kinds of Orehids, Yuccas, Dracaenas, 

 Ficus elastica, will keep well some years by attendance and regular nursing, 

 repaying the small trouble by their growth and fresh color. 



Home Ornaments. 



This department would not be complete without a word for the little ones of 

 the house, some hint to them of what they can do to bring forth some glowing 



