116 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

 WINDOW GARDENING. 



WINDOW gardening during the summer months is 

 much more successful in England than with us, owing ^o 

 a more temperate climate, and hence is there almost uni- 

 versally practiced. In the cities especially, where space 

 is economized by placing story upon story, and the 

 buildings are so close that there is often no room for even 

 a spear of grass to be grown, the only garden that is pos- 

 sible is one formed in a box on the window-sill. This is 

 limited in its extent, as the space afforded is only some 

 four or five fest in length, and from eight to ten inches 



. 39. PLAIN WIXDOW-BOX. 



wide, with a depth for the soil of about six inches. These 

 boxes are made of a great variety of materials, such as 

 wood, terra cotta, iron, etc., according to the taste or 

 means of the owner. As the boxes are usually too high 

 up to allow of a close examination, and the sides soon 

 become draped with drooping plants, an ordinary box of 

 pine, as in figure 39, will answer as well as a more expen- 

 sive one. As it is exposed to the weather, and the weight 

 of the earth is considerable, it should be put together 

 very firmly. Having procured the box, let a tin-smith 

 make a lining or box of zinc that will exactly fit 

 inside of it. This needs only a few tacks at the upper 

 edge to hold the zinc to the wood. Usually spaces are 

 left in the bottom to admit of the water passing freely 

 through. When this is not done greater care is required 



