THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — WINDOW-GARDENS 343 



Some persons attach tlie box to the window, or support it 

 on brackets attached below the window-sill; but a preferable 

 arrangement is to support the box on a low and Ught stand of 

 suitable height provided with rollers. It may then be drawn 

 back from the window, turned around from time to time to 

 give the plants light on all sides, or turned with the attractive 

 side in as may be desired. 



Often the plants are set directly in the soil; but if they 

 are kept in pots they may be rearranged, and changed about to 

 give those which need it more light. Larger plants that are 

 to stand on shelves or brackets may be in porous earthenware 

 pots; but the smaller ones that are to fill the window-box 

 may be placed in heavy paper pots. The sides of these are 

 flexible, and the plants in them therefore may be crowded close 

 together with great economy in space. When pots are spaced, 

 damp sphagnum or other moss among them will hold them in 

 place, keep the soil from drying out too rapidly, and at the same 

 time give off moisture, so grateful to the foliage. 



In addition to the stand, or box, a bracket for one or more 

 pots on either side of the window, about one-third or half-way 

 up, will be desirable. The bracket should turn on a basal hinge 

 or pivot, to admit of swinging it forward or backward. These 

 bracket plants usually suffer for moisture, and are rather diffi- 

 cult to manage. 



Florists now usually grow plants suitable for window-gardens 

 and winter flowering, and any intelhgent florist, if asked, will 

 take pleasure in making out a suitable collection. The plants 

 should be ordered early in the fall; the florist will then not be 

 so crowded for time and can give the matter better attention. 



Most of the plants suitable for the winter window-garden 

 belong to the groups that florists grow in their medium and 

 cool houses. The former are given a night temperature of about 

 60°, the latter about 50°. In each case the temperature is 10 

 to 15° higher for the daytime. Five degrees of variation below 



