The New Practical Window Gardener. 3 



cause ; all friends of the movement should ever make 

 it their endeavour to arouse their hearers to its import- 

 ance and encourage the establishment of cottagers' 

 flower shows ; for the healthy rivalry engendered by 

 them works like a charm for the general benefit of the 

 district in which they are held. 



The lover of flowers though he only possesses one 

 single plant enjoys a real pleasure in the care and 

 attention he bestows upon it — a pleasure which the 

 very poorest may enjoy, even though shut up in the 

 heart of a large city. It is principally for those who 

 live in towns and large cities, who have no convenience 

 for cultivating flowers but their windows that I write 

 this little book. Therefore I will try to give as clear 

 information on the cultivation of window plants as I 

 can, using the simplest language, so that I may be 

 understood by all ; and if what I say, should enable 

 any one to grow his or her flowers to greater perfection 

 and in larger variety, and induce those to grow a few 

 flowers who never have done so before, I shall be amply 

 repaid. But most of all would I hope to confer a 

 benefit on the invalid whom God in his merciful 

 visitation has deprived of the pleasure of enjoying the 

 possession of a few plants except in the sickroom. To 

 the invalid more than any one a fiower is the messenger 

 of joy, soothing the pain and loneliness of many a weary 

 hour. 



There is a great variety of flowers which can be 

 grown to comparative perfection in a window, provided 

 the window has a southern exposure, more or less, so 

 that the plants may enjoy the benefit of the sunshine ; 



