246 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



The window-box may consist of merely the wooden box: 

 but a preferable arrangement is to make it about eight 

 inches deep instead of six, then have the tinsmith make a 

 zinc tray to fit the box. This is provided with a false 

 wooden bottom, with cracks for drainage, two inches 

 above the real bottom of the tray. The plants will then 

 have a vacant space below them into which drainage water 

 may pass. Such a box may be thoroughly watered as the 

 plants require without danger of the water running on the 

 carpet. Of course, a faucet should be provided at some 

 suitable point on a level with the bottom of the tray, to 

 permit of its being drained every day or so if the water 

 tends to accumulate. It would not do to allow the water to 

 remain long; especially should it never rise to the false 

 bottom, as then the soil would be kept too wet. 



Some persons attach the box to the window, or support it 

 on brackets attached below the window-sill; but a prefer- 

 able arrangement is to support the box on a low and light 

 stand of suitable height provided with rollers. It may then 

 be drawn back from the window, turned around from time to 

 time to give the plants light on all sides, or turned with the 

 handsome side in as may be desired, and so on. 



Often the plants are set directly in the soil ; but if they 

 are kept in pots they may be rearranged, changed about to 

 give those which need it more light, etc. Larger plants 

 which are to stand on shelves or brackets may be in porous 

 earthenware pots ; but the smaller ones which are to fill the 

 window-box may be placed in heavy paper pots. The sides 

 of these are flexible, and the plants in them therefore may 

 be crowded close together with great economy in space. 

 When pots are spaced, damp sphagnum or other moss among 

 them will hold them in place, keep the soil from drying out 

 too rapidly, and at the same time give off moisture, so 

 grateful to the foliage. 



In addition to the stand, or box, a bracket for one or 

 more pots on either side of the window, about one -third or 



