143 Balcony and Area Gardening. 



CHAPTEE XX. 



BALCONY AND AREA GARDENING. 



ALCONY and area gardening has become very 

 fashionable of late years in some parts of 

 London, and others of our large towns. The 

 art is only in its infancy with us as yet, but by-and-bye 

 instead of being confined to a few streets and squares, 

 we shall see the balconies and windows everywhere 

 draped with verdure and gay with countless flowers of 

 every hue. On the Continent this style of town 

 gardening is carried out to a far greater extent and in 

 greater perfection than with us. Of course our 

 climate will never allow us to compete with our 

 continental neighbours with anything like success in 

 this matter, but still, a very great deal more might be 

 done. A roomy well arranged balcony with its little 

 rockery, flower-pots, and boxes and creeping plants is 

 one of the best, cheapest and most enjoyable of town 

 gardens, a never failing source of pleasure and a very 

 oasis in the desert of town life for the wearied eye to 

 rest upon. It is surprising how flowers and plants will 

 flourish in a balcony or area garden if suitable plants 

 be chosen and well supplied with water, both at the 

 roots and overhead. A daily syringing or overhead 



