THE WINDOW GARDEN 337 



the plant, pot and all, in a vessel of water 

 and let it remain there until air bubbles cease 

 to rise. 



The window-gardener who comes through a 

 whole winter without finding his plants attacked 

 by some insect pest is lucky, indeed. A ma- 

 jority will find, probably, that their plants are 

 more or less threatened by the aphis (green- 

 fly), mealy-bug, red-spider, scale or thrips. 

 Where they come from is a matter of small 

 moment; the important fact is that they are 

 there and must be removed. If the amateur 

 will employ the methods of extermination de- 

 tailed in the chapter on insect pests, he will 

 rid his garden of them as soon as they put in 

 an appearance. 



FERTILIZING 



The beginner, if he bears the various rules 

 in mind, should not find success difficult to at- 

 tain. There may be times, however, when his 

 plants seem sluggish and appeal for extra food. 

 But be sure that fertilizer is required before 

 it is applied. Then, in determining the ferti- 

 lizer to use, avoid patent preparations. Some 

 of them are good and spme are absolutely 

 worthless and the amateur is as likelv to obtain 



