WINDOW GARDENING. 281 



spot or sprig of living greenery. So we tell them how to make some pretty little 

 contrivances in grasses, &c. 



Plants with light, graceful foliage are every year becoming more popular; and 

 to complete a picture of the highest order one requires a great variety of colors, 

 and graceful pencilings; so in window gardening the culture or the grasses adds 

 greatly to the whole effect. Their feathery plumes may not possess brilliancy of 

 coloring, but their silvery and emerald tints are an offset to their more gorgeous 

 companions. 



Far prettier than many a pretentious and costly ornament is a simple bowl of 

 grasses planted in pine cones, set in sand, in moss, or common soil. 



If grown in cones procure them from the woods, and sprinkle in as much 

 soil as their scales will retain ; then scatter the grass seeds over it, and sprinkle 

 with water; place the cones in sand or moss and be sure that they do not 

 become dry but water them sparingly at first, once a day, and set in a mode- 

 rately warm place. Soon the seeds will 

 sprout, and the tiny spears protrude in 

 every direction. 



Grass will sprout and grow in pine 

 cones without any soil, but it serves to 

 prevent the cone from closing too tightly 

 when sprinkled, and also makes a more 

 vigorous growth. The cones can be sus- 

 pended in a window, either singly or in 

 groups of three fastened together with 

 thread wire ; or a rustic basket or stand 

 can be procured, and filled with cones with 

 different kinds of grass, growing in each 

 cone. There are three thousand different 

 species of grasses in the world, and their 



Study is a pleasing pursuit. F. ff . 29. A Saucer Garden. 



A very charming effect can be produced by placing a wet sponge in a glass 

 bowl, and sprinkling over it canary seed, grasses and flax seeds ; soon it will be 

 covered with a thick growth of fresh bright green ; it must be judiciously 

 watered ; if kept too dry it will wither away ; if too wet it may damp off. 

 Mustard seed may also be used, and its tiny yellow blossoms, will be to many, 

 a novelty as well as a delight. 



Children and invalids can derive much pleasure from raising a grass garden ; it 

 is better to select the dwarf varieties, as the taller kinds require more nourish- 

 ment. 



A Tumbler Garden may be constructed as follows : Fill a common tumbler or 

 goblet with water, cut out a round of cotton batting, or of soft thick flannel of 

 just the size to cover the surface, and lay it gently upon the water, upon this 

 scatter the seeds of grass, or flax or mustard, or all mixed, and gently set the 

 tumbler away in a dark place. In a few days the seed will start; soon tho roots 



