130 YARD AND GARDEN 



angle-irons. The boxes should never be set flat 

 upon the floor of the porch, but should be sup- 

 ported by pieces of "two-by-four." Stout iron 

 brackets firmly secured may be used to support 

 the window boxes. In the bottoms of all bore 

 quarter-inch holes at intervals of six or eight 

 inches to insure drainage. 



SOIL FOR BOX GARDENS 



For the best results, only the best soil must 

 be used. Obtain good rich loam — such, for in- 

 stance, as is found directly under the roots of 

 the grass in a fertile pasture — and with this 

 mix well-rotted manure and sand. The best 

 compost is one-third loam, one-third manure 

 and at least one-fifth sharp, clean sand. This, 

 however, is a general mixture ; for some plants 

 it is not by any means the best. Ferns, be- 

 gonias and caladiums, for . instance, demand 

 well-rotted leaf mold instead of the manure. 

 But, even though rich soil is generously pro- 

 vided, thrifty plants soon exhaust it, and the 

 successful box. gardener will not overlook this 

 fact. During the summer, from time to time, 

 he will supply additional plant food in the form 

 of fertilizer. Liquid manure is always best and 

 safest; use, if it can be obtained, dried sheep 



