WINDOW GARDEN ATTRACTIONS 



425 



Courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 



A BEAUTIFUL PLANTING IN A METAL WINDOW BOX 



A metal box containing hibiscus, crotons, vinca major, dracsena terminalis and pandanus 

 veitchii. The traiUng vines help to soften the hard, abruptly-angled lines of the building, yet 

 not so profuse as to give a ' ' weepy ' ' effect. 



and several other woods are durable in con- 

 tact with air or soil, and a box made of 

 any one of them, thoroughly painted both 

 inside and outside, will last a long time. 

 Bark of the birch, hemlock, or cedar may be 

 used with very good effect to cover the box. 

 The depth of the receptacle should be at 

 least six inches, and better results will be 

 obtained if it is eight to ten inches deep. 

 The width of the window ledge determines 

 the width of the box, although from six to 

 nine inches is considered best. Length is 

 entirely dependent on convenience of hand- 

 ling. If the ledges are long, it is easier 

 to handle the boxes if they are made up 

 in short sections. Most ledges are built 

 with an outward and downward slope, 

 which makes it necessary to put strips 

 under the outside edges of the box to keep 



it level. It should also be anchored to the 

 building by wires running to the window 

 sills, or some other means, which will pre- 

 vent it from slipping gradually or being 

 l^lown off in a storm. Boxes in upper- 

 story windows should be equipped with 

 drip-pans to prevent leakage of water 

 and consequent staining of the building 

 by the minerals dissolved in the water 

 during its passage through the earth in 

 the box. 



For the best growth of the plants a 

 fibrous loam soil is best. Too much clay or 

 too much sand will be detrimental. 



The soil will need enriching, and for 

 this purpose thoroughly rotted stable ma- 

 nure is best. It should be dried and crum- 

 bled into powder and then mixed with the 

 soil in the proportion of one part of manure 



( ,/>-'. V of the Missouri l'>',tinn< 'd C''ir'lfrt. 



ANOTHER PLAN FOR A WINDOW GARDEN 



The architecture of this building prevents the use of a long window box. Hydrangeas and Eng- 

 lish ivy here combine splendidly in an attractive bit of decoration, using the short but com- 

 paratively deep space available to the best advantage. 



Courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 



A MOST EFFECTIVE WINDOW GARDEN 



This beautiful window garden makes a very attractive decoration for the high-class apartment 

 hotel. The English ivy, completely covering the box, makes a background against which the 

 flowers of the geranium show to best advantage. The date palms add a desirable touch of for- 

 mality. 



to from two to six parts of soil. This fining 

 of the manure by drying and powdering, 

 and thoroughly mixing with the soil, is 

 considered very important in securing the 

 most luxurious plant growth. 



The drainage of the box is very impor- 

 tant, although it will be more likely to suf- 

 fer because of too little moisture rather than 

 too much ; nevertheless, if no means is pro- 

 vided for getting rid of surplus water, ex- 

 cept evaporation, the plants will suffer. 

 The bottom of the box should be perforated 

 with a number of half-inch holes about six 

 inches apart, and these partly covered with 

 pieces of crock placed curved side up. Some 

 jjeople get best results by filling the box 

 an inch or an inch and a half deep with 

 pieces of broken crock, then throwing 

 the soil in on top, taking care not to 

 pack it. 



']"he success or failure of the box very 

 often depends on the watering or lack of it. 



