Window Gardening 



( 446 ) 



Winter Cherry 



advantage that it permits of frequent changes 

 being made in the arrangements, and for that 

 reason is to be recommended for town house 

 windows. Against it is to be urged that it involves 

 a good deal of extra trouble, especially in watering. 



Where the plants are to be planted out the 

 drainage must be perfect, and once a year the old 

 soil must be taken out and replaced by new. A 

 mixture of two parts loam, one part leaf soil, and 

 about a twelfth sand will be found to answer. 

 About 1" of space should be left between the 

 surface of the soil and the top of the sides, so as 

 to facilitate the giving of water. 



If the aspect be very windy, and the window- 

 sills rather sloping and none too broad, it will be 

 well to fasten the box securely in its place. 



A box of fair width will hold three rows of ! 

 plants. It is usual to put the tallest of these at j 

 the back, the next in the middle, and have a front 

 row of trailers to hang over the sides. Individual | 

 taste will suggest modifications of this arrangement. 



After the tender occupants have gone, the 

 windows may be embellished during the winter by 

 dwarf Conifers, Tree Ivies, Euonymuses, Hollies, 

 both green and variegated, and, if desired, various 

 spring-flowering bulbs may be planted between 

 these. 



In spring, Hyacinths, Tulips, and Scillas are all 

 available, and many showy colour combinations 

 may be worked out. In the summer Begonias, 

 Zonal and Ivy-leaved Geraniums, Fuchsias, yellow 

 and white Marguerites (Paris Daisies), Heliotropes, 

 Nasturtiums, Petunias, and Musks are commonly 

 made use of. The pretty little Fairy Roses also do 

 well if grown in pots in readiness. The appearance 

 of the window is much improved if a fringe of 

 greenery can be taken round it, and there is 

 nothing better for the purpose than the popular 

 Virginian Creeper. Tropseolum majus may be 

 used in the same way, but not against red brick- 

 work ; it is much too garish. 



WINDOW GARDENING. 



The growing of plants in windows has long been 

 a popular pastime, and yet it is probable that 

 the failures are as numerous as the successes. 

 The reason is not far to seek. It lies in neglecting 

 to choose suitable subjects for the windows. It is 

 of little use to put Ferns in the full blaze of the 

 sun in a south window, or Zonal Geraniums and 

 Fuchsias in a north window, and wonder why they 

 do not grow properly. Again, it is to be feared 

 that sufficient care is not taken in shielding the 

 plants from draughts and from sudden fluctuations 

 of temperature, while the watering problem is ever 

 recurrent. If only ordinary attention is paid to 

 these points, it is possible to grow many pretty 

 plants in the window of a dwelling room, in spite 

 of the rather arid conditions that too often prevail. 



For a south or a west window the following are 

 a few subjects that may be relied upon : Begonias, 

 of the tuberous, Rex, and semperflorens types ; 

 Calceolarias (herbaceous and shrubby), Campanula 

 isophylla, i. alba, and Mayi ; Cytisuses (Genistas), 

 Fuchsias, Geraniums, both Zonal and scented-leaved'; 

 Heliotropes, Musk, both Mimulus moschatus and 

 Harrison's large-flowered variety ; Myrtles, Pelargo- 

 niums, both Show and Regal ; Phyllocactuses in 

 variety, and Sedums. In the spring it is possible to 

 have in bloom, and with very little trouble, Crocuses 

 and Hyacinths, grown both in soil and water ; 



Freesias, and Lachenalias. Most of these will thrive 

 moderately well in an east window, but with the 

 lesser amount of sun they will naturally not be 

 so fine. 



In a north window it is useless to expect flowering 

 plants to thrive, so that the window gardener is 

 obliged to choose from among such plants as the 

 well-known Aspidistra, Araucaria excelsa, Fntsia 

 japonica (Aralia Sieboldii), Ficus elastica, F. e. 

 variegata, and such Palms as Howea (Kentia) 

 belmoreana, H. forsteriana, and Cocos weddeliana ; 

 the latter, although a stove plant, is one of the 

 best room plants in existence. Amongst the Ferns 

 available may be noted Asplenium bulbiferum and 

 its varieties, and the crested forms of Polypodium 

 vulgare and Scolopendrium vulgare. Adiantum 

 cuneatum is a great favourite among window 

 gardeners, but it is unfortunate that it is but a 

 qualified success, one season frequently being 

 enough for it. 



A few hanging baskets are a capital addition. 

 The baskets themselves may be made of wood or 

 wire, or hanging pots may be utilised. There are 

 several contrivances upon the market that enable 

 ordinary pots to be slung up. Of the subjects 

 suitable for these baskets in a sunny window 

 tuberous Begonias, the trailing Campanulas before 

 referred to, Nepeta Glechoma variegata, and 

 Linaria Cymbalaria may be mentioned. 



So far the subjects dealt with may be made more 

 or less permanent occupants of the window. There 

 are a few that are only bought in to stand while 

 they are in flower. The beautiful Erica hyemalis 

 is a case in point. It is very seldom that the 

 sojourn in the window does not kill it. And there 

 are many other plants in like case. 



With regard to treatment, window plants are 

 subject to the same rules as those laid down for 

 ordinary greenhouse subjects, except that the hints 

 as to the giving of water and air should be even 

 more closely followed. Dust should not be per- 

 mitted to rest upon the leaves of foliage plants, 

 but the sponge and syringe must be continuously 

 applied in summer, with an occasional sponging at 

 other times. During spells of sharp frost the 

 plants should be taken out of the window and stood 

 in the middle of the room ; there will then be less 

 danger of their being nipped. 



It is impossible to give window plants strong- 

 smelling fertilisers, but that does not mean that 

 they are to have no manurial help at all. A choice 

 should be made among the less odorous chemical 

 manures, and it will be found that Clay's fertiliser, 

 for one, has very little objectionable smell. If the 

 window is opened, weather permitting, for an hour 

 or so after the fertiliser has been applied, all smell 

 will disappear. 



WINTER CHERRY (see PHYSALIS 

 ALKEKEXGI and SOLANUM CAPSICASTRUM). 



Wind-root' (sec Ascle/nas tuber ota). 



Wind Rose (flmmeria lii/brida). 



Wine Berry (Vacciniiim Mi/rtilhis). 



Wine Berrt/, Japanese (see Jtiilum ph 



Wine Palm (Caryota tireni and Phoenix syl- 



ri'stris). 



Wintera (see Drimyi) . 

 Winter Aconite (sec Eranthis hyemalis). 

 Winter Berry (see Ilex). 



