110 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



eight inches deep and nine wide and as long as the 

 window casing is a satisfactory size for single win- 

 dows; oriole window and porch boxes will need to be 

 somewhat larger. 



The boxes should be placed so that the top is im- 

 mediately below the window sill and securely sup- 

 ported, especially if under second story windows 

 where the results of breaking loose would be very 

 serious. 



Plants placed in the restricted confines of a win- 

 dow box will require rich soil and a mixture composed 

 of fibrous loam, or earth taken just below the crown 

 of the grass from old sod, mixed with bone meal and 

 old, well decayed manure is best. For north windows 

 where ferns, begonias and the like will be grown the 

 addition of leaf mold and sharp, white sand will be 

 desirable, but on an exposed western side a heavier 

 soil will be required. Fill the boxes quite full to be- 

 gin with and in setting the plants press the earth 

 very firmly about them, leaving the surface somewhat 

 lower in the center than at the edges so that the water 

 may remain more in the body of the box. 



When the boxes are to be filled with plants from 

 the greenhouse the roots should be disturbed as little 

 as possible. Simply press pot and all into the soil 

 so as to make a hole the size and shape of the pot ; 

 then invert the pot on the hand, tap it against the 

 side of the box to loosen the ball of earth and slip it 



