52 HINTS AND HELPS 



The mixtures that I shall give will give satisfactory- 

 results and are more easily obtained than mixtures often 

 given. Persons having a larger variety of materials at 

 their command usually have a gardener competent to mix 

 the soil to suit the needs of the individual plants. 



For Common Plants such as Geraniums, Coleus, 

 Fuchsias, Etc., mix one part of soil, one part of well 

 rotted manure (cow manure if obtainable) spread this on 

 the potting bench (a shutter placed on two horses, or an 

 old table serves the purpose) . To a bushel of this mixture 

 apply one quart of bone meal and four quarts of gritty 

 sand, if obtainable; mix thoroughly with the spade and 

 then with the hands until it contains a large amount of 

 air. A sprinkling o*f air-slaked lime and a pint of tobacco 

 dust will help to rid all objectionable insects. Have the 

 soil moist (neither wet nor dry) and mix it until there are 

 no lumps. Allow this soil to remain over night or for 

 several days and mix again when ready to put the plants 

 into it. This work cannot be too thoroughly done. A 

 spring hot-bed will often furnish sufficiently well rotted 

 manure in the Fall in case cow manure is not to be had. 



For Palms and Roses use in place of the soil pure 

 clay. This is generally best mixed by allowing it to dry 

 and then pulverizing and mixing. 



Cacti of all kinds are not generally suited by the 

 ordinary soil mixtures, and while not very common in the 

 window garden, their odd shapes and the free. flowering 

 habit of some species attract attention. For potting them 

 use plenty of drainage and equal parts of mixed soil, sand 

 and brick rubble. 



selecting and arranging the plants. 



Everywhere in nature there are societies of plants that 

 grow and thrive together. In selecting the plants for the 

 window box, great care should be exercised, not only to 

 select those that will best harmonize in color and present 

 the best artistic appearance, but to select those that will 

 best grow together under the conditions. A collection 



