100 THE GARDEN BEAUTIFUL 



left there for half an hour. All of the plants should 

 be submerged. In very dry weather this should be 

 done twice a week, then they will be things of living 

 green, instead of withered, sickly plants. A little 

 liquid fertilizer given while they are wet will cause 

 them to make more rapid growth, and if of bloom- 

 ing kinds will cause more buds to appear. 



One of the most useful plants for large hanging 

 baskets or shaded window boxes is the English ivy. 

 This old favorite can stand more rough usage and 

 neglect than any drooping plant or vine used for the 

 purpose. The climbing vinca or periwinkle, often 

 called climbing myrtle, is another rank-growing vine 

 for large baskets, but it is a gross feeder and will 

 not endure neglect like the ivy. The variegated gle- 

 choma is a neat, hardy little vine and even the maur- 

 andya is excellent for baskets. 



Instead of allowing all vines to hang as they will, 

 pin or tie part of them to the moss or the basket so 

 as to hide the bareness of the latter. The Kenil- 

 worth ivy is a good plant for this purpose. Abutilon 

 vexillarium, nierembergia, ivy-leaved geranium are 

 all good for basket edges, or plant a border of lobelia. 

 While flowering plants should be used to give change 

 and pleasing variety, many prefer the plain green 

 of asparagus or ferns. Asparagus plumosus, often 

 called asparagus fern, does not require the amount 

 of soil or feeding that Asparagus Sprengeri does, nor 

 is it so hardy or tough, but it may be kept longer in 

 pot or basket. 



Nephrolepis davallioides and its variety, furcans, 

 are two good sword ferns for baskets where plenty 

 of soil is present. N. exaltata, the common sword 

 fern, is a good "standing" plant and will endure 

 much abuse and neglect, but is seldom graceful 

 enough for baskets. N. tuberosa is a handsomer 



