FURNISHING AND FIXIHG. 



79 



holds a layer of sand, to catch any overflow of water and 

 return it in a moister atmosphere for the plants. When 

 set so low that the tops of the pots are nearly level with 

 the bottom of the window, it makes only the forms of the 

 plants conspicuous, and secures for them the largest 

 amount of light direct from the sky. If fitted with cas- 

 ters, it is movable at pleasure ; and when it is made large 

 enough to hold all the standing pots in a compact body, 

 and is crowned with a vine-covered trellis, it forms a 

 complete miniature garden on wheels. 



While such a box may be made of any size, shape, ma- 

 terials, or cost, it is really the best when it answers to 

 the greatest number of demands, or is most convenient. 

 It is easily constructed at trifling 

 cost as follows : Of pine or other 

 soft wood ends and bottom 

 thick, and sides thin nailed 

 together, and painted outside 

 and inside, or having zinc, in- 

 stead of paint, as an inside bot- 

 tom lining about six inches 

 deep, twenty inches wide, and 

 long enough to suit the window 

 supported on a low, narrow 

 bench or table, or by legs of its 

 own, and in either case fitted 

 with casters. Instead of paint 

 for the outside, a friend of mine 

 has used floor oil-cloth of a pat- 

 tern representing tiles ; and he 

 tells me that it could not be dis- Fi - ^-GARDEN-BOX. 

 tinguished a few feet off from the expensive tile-covered 

 boxes. This hint, I imagine, you will not be slow to 

 accept. The box may be completed by having attached 

 to the ends light wooden posts about an inch in diameter, 

 extending to any convenient height, and connected at the 



