WINDOW-BOXES AND PORCH-BOXES 179 



spring or summer. Planted thus freshly they germinate 

 readily. The only difficulty is that in most cases they are not 

 hardy the first winter, and so must be protected with a cold- 

 frame while seedlings, or grown in the house until of 

 sturdy growth. While annual vines will be used freely at 

 first, it is desirable gradually to introduce the perennial sorts 

 as a mainstay. 



WINDOW-BOXES AND PORCH-BOXES 



The outside window garden serves two important pur- 

 poses. On the one hand it renders the building more attrac- 

 tive to the eyes of passers-by, lighting up the bare walls with 

 patches of beautiful color, while on the other hand it serves 

 to bring to the occupants of the room a continually renewed 

 suggestion of the beauties of the outer world, giving to those 

 who are confined to the town through the summer months, a 

 suggestion at least of the natural beauties which are enjoyed 

 by those more fortunate ones who are able to escape to the 

 country. The window garden should always please the 

 sense of sight, making the room inside more attractive, and, 

 in the experience of many people, making it appear larger 

 and more spacious. Such a garden may also be made to 

 minister to the sense of smell, that "poet of the senses" 

 which receives so much delight from the delicate fragrance 

 of beautiful flowers. 



It is very desirable that the window-boxes be at least ten 

 inches wide and six or eight deep, as this gives an opportunity 

 to fill them with a considerable amount of rich, loamy garden 

 soil, and of course the larger the amount of soil in proportion 

 to the evaporating surface, the easier it is to keep the plants 

 from suffering from drouth. The boxes may very well be 



