GARDENING IN WINDOW-BOXES 



results. In this class of flower-growing — H in any — ^an hour to-day 

 has emphatically no power at all to replace the lost half-hour of 

 yesterday, the ten minutes from the day before. 



To begin with, the boxes themselves must vary in accordance 

 with circimastances and individual taste, and only a 

 few broad lines can be laid down here for following. Window 

 A strong box of weU-seasoned wood, made the re- °^^^ 

 quired size, is the first requisite, and in this a sufficient number of 

 holes must be pierced at the bottom, as drainage is all-important, 

 while as a further aid to this it is advisable to have the bottom of 

 the box raised half an inch or so from the window ledge by means 

 of supports at the sides or comers. 



The wooden box needs a couple of coats of paint, but many desire 

 to further decorate with a facing of virgin cork or tUes. 

 If tiles are used, unglazed red ones, or those that re- ^""^ °° 

 semble sUghtly-glazed cheap brown pottery, are recommended as 

 more fitting backgrounds for trailing plants than the highly-glazed 

 blue or green or yellow tiles of suburban fancy. There is something 

 to be said for having the window-boxes painted unobtrusively to 

 match the painted window frames, but if green boxes are hked 

 where (say) the sashes are white or buff, few things are more simply 

 successful than the shade of ready-mixed paint known as Middle 

 Brunswick Green, which wUl be found to tone down with weather 

 into that picturesque blue-green so satisfactory to the artistic taste. 



For filling, still with an eye to proper drainage, the first thin 

 layer should be of old broken-up flower-pots, and yj. 

 amongst this some lumps of charcoal is advised, to ^ 



keep the drainage and the soil above it sweet. As to the best soil 

 opinions vary, but as in any case the boxes should be emptied and 

 refilled half-annuaUy, personal experiment is not out of the question. 

 A writer lq the Morning Post has recently recommended that " about 

 a third of the quantity should consist of old mushroom-bed manure 

 and the remainder should be composed of sound fibrous loam and 

 leaf-mould in equal proportions. With this a liberal allowance of 

 rough grit should be incorporated." And although this mixture 

 may not be practical for all, it may serve as a guide to the kind of 

 soil most suitable for the purpose. Further, a Httle artificial manure 

 may be added occasionally with advantage. 



Window-boxes should be watered morning and evening" when 

 the weather is very dry and hot; otherwise, to water ^ ., „ 

 them in the evening when they require it should be ^ Care 

 sufficient. But it is strongly advised that the leaves of the plants 



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