178 



THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



of plants. If a hotbed has been made in February we can raise 

 early seedlings of most of the better hardy annuals, and these 

 can be transplanted into the window box in March. They must 

 not be exposed to the cold air all at once, but must be gradually 

 hardened by taking them out-doors for a short time each day 

 when it is sunny and warm. For the rest of the time the box 

 must be kept inside in a light, moderately sunny, airy place. By 

 the middle of April, unless the weather is cold and windy, the box 

 may be placed permanently outside. 



If we have no hotbed, the young plants must be raised in 



a sheltered warm part of the 

 garden, the seeds being sown in 

 March. Speaking generally, it is 

 not desirable for school purposes 

 to purchase plants raised else- 

 where. It is much better for the 

 pupils to be acquainted at first 

 hand with the full history of the 

 plants they are handling. Hardy 

 perennial and biennial plants in- 

 tended for the window box should, 

 of course, be raised in seed beds 

 in the preceding late spring or 

 FIG. 71. Bulb-growing in glasses, and in early summer, transplanted into 



fresh beds in autumn, and again 

 transplanted in March into the 

 window box. 



Instead of window boxes we may use large flowerpots, and 

 almost everything which has been said above will apply also to 

 this method of window gardening. Annual creepers may be 

 made especially effective if sown thinly in large flower pots, and 

 trained to climb up trellis work (or any home-made support) 

 placed on either side of windows or doors. Some of these grow 

 with extraordinary rapidity, and produce an abundance of flowers 

 and foliage. For this purpose employ Canariensis, Hop, Con- 

 volvulus, and climbing Nasturtium. The seeds are sown in early 

 March, in pots six to eight inches in diameter, containing good 

 soil. As soon as the young plants are up they must be thinned, 



Moss fibre in vessels without drain- 

 age. Receptacles suitable for Narcissi, 

 Tulips, and Snowdrops. 



