VARIETY IN WINDOW BOXES 193 



paragus Sprengeri does well in the shade and can be used in boxes as 

 well as in baskets. 



Evergreens for Window Boxes 



Here, as with all else, you have to get after your prospective 

 customers early in order to land an order for the filling of the frozen 

 window boxes with evergreens for Winter effect. 



During the past few years one thing that has put a sort of 

 damper on the taking of such orders has been the sharp advance in 

 the price of such stock. But even more important, to my mind, 

 has been the fact that we don't push hard enough, for there are 

 always plenty of people who wouldn't mind the cost if they were 

 only reminded at the right time, that is, when the boxes should 

 be filled. Another thing, we notice but comparatively few florists 

 who make an attempt to show their customers what can be ac- 

 complished, by having an attractive display of such boxes at the 

 entrance of their places of business. 



People with means are usually willing to spend a f(^ dollars 

 for evergreens or conifers rather than le^kat bare or empty window 

 boxes until the following Spring; but raie has to go after them if 

 he is anxious to land an order. Among the many desirable plants 

 one can make use of for the filling of such boxes we might mention 

 Arborvitae, Abies, Juniper, Pines, Retinispora, Yew, Cedar and 

 Spruce. All of these are discussed in Part II as well as on pages 

 204 to 206. 



BEDDING STOCK 



f TNDER bedding plants we class such stock as is used for the 

 '-^ planting of flower beds and borders during the late Spring months. 

 Years ago, planting used to be confined almost entirely to formal 

 beds. It usually meant an open lawn and in the center a round 

 bed fiUed with red Geraniums and a border of yellow Coleus; or a 

 narrow border running paraUel to the walk or graveled drive with 

 red Geraniums down the center and Dusty Miller or SaUeroi 

 Geraniums along the edge. With the more extensive use of shrubs 

 and perennials, however, the round bed'graduaUy made way for 

 the irregular border. The border along the porch which formerly 

 had Cannas and Salvias in it, is now filled with Spirxa Vanfwuttei 

 or Thunberg's Barberry, the open sweep of lawn is no longer cut 

 up with beds, but a planting of evergreens and flowering and 

 ornamental shrubs marks the lines of the lot with maybe a border 

 next to the lawn of Iris, Peonies, Phloxes and Larkspurs. The 

 Uttle beds filled with Vincas or Verbenas disappeared, and for a 

 while it almost seemed as if whenever the modern landscape gardener 

 had the laying out of new grounds, there wasn't a spot left anywhere 



