CULTURE IN WINDOW BOXES. 85 



astrous. It is very essential that coolness and darkness 

 should be the prevailing conditions until root action has 

 actively commenced. Moreover, it is important not to 

 have to supply water to the fibre until plenty of roots have 

 formed to imbibe it, otherwise the stagnant moisture will 

 render the compost sour, and prevent healthy root forma- 

 tion. If the foregoing instructions are implicitly followed 

 the bulbs will not only form an abundance of roots, but 

 also yield good sturdy stems, and fine flowers. Very 

 warm rooms are not conducive to successful growth; the 

 flowers are apt to wither or to develop imperfectly ; there- 

 fore grow them as far as possible in cool rooms. 



CHAPTER III. 



CULTURE IN WINDOW BOXES. 



BULBS are excellent subjects to grow in boxes on the 

 window ledge, on roof gardens, and on balconies. It is 

 interesting to watch the development of their growth 

 during the early period of the year, and very pleasant to 

 behold their bright blossoms in the early days of spring. 

 To the town gardener, especially, bulb culture should 

 particularly appeal as a means of beautifying the dull 

 surroundings of his home and yielding congenial occupa- 

 tion in attending to the simple cultural requirements of 

 the plants. 



Bulbs to Grow. Any of the numerous varieties and 

 kinds of hyacinths, narcissi, crocuses, snowdrops, scillas, 

 muscaris, chionodoxas, and tulips are adapted for box 

 culture. We have also seen Spanish irises and gladioli do 

 very well indeed in window-boxes; in fact, there is no 

 reason why the owner of & roof garden should not grow 



