SCHOOL AND HOME GROUNDS. 359 



The taller-growing plants, as cosmos, golden- 

 glow, and dahlias, were placed in the back- 

 ground ; in the middle ground, perennial phlox, 

 nasturtiums, and cannas ; and in the foreground, 

 California poppies and sweet alyssum were 

 planted. Throughout the entire scheme con- 

 sideration was given to the massing of colors 

 that would harmonize. Much of the material 

 for this work was obtained from the General 

 School Garden of the Normal School. 



III. The Window-garden. 



Window-boxes of growing plants will add to 

 the attractiveness of the school-room. The 

 difficulty lies in the danger of freezing the plants 

 in winter nights; but even if this cannot be pre- 

 vented, there are three months in the spring 

 and two or three in autumn when the plants 

 may be had, and much can be done in inter- 

 esting the pupils in this time. 



The window-box should be made of inch lum- 

 ber, about seven inches deep and the width and 

 the length of the window-sill. A strip of oil- 

 cloth should be put upon the window-sill, and 

 the box supported by blocks or other means, so 

 that the air may pass freely beneath it, thus 

 preventing the decay of the window-sill or fac- 

 ing. It is important that the soil be well pre- 

 pared by thoroughly mixing decayed leaf-mould, 

 garden soil, and sand. 



