THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — WINDOW-GARDENS 841 
The inside window-garden, or ‘‘house plants.” 
The winter window-garden may consist simply of a jardi- 
niére, or a few choice pot-plants on a stand at the window, or of 
a considerable collection with more or less elaborate arrange- 
ments for their accommodation in the way of box, brackets, 
shelves, and stands. Expensive arrangements are by no means 
necessary, nor is a large collection. The plants and flowers 
themselves are the main consideration, and a small collection 
well cared for is better than a large one unless it can be easily 
accommodated and kept in good condition. 
The box will be seen near at hand, and so it may be more or 
less ornamental in character. The sides may be covered with 
ornamental tile held in place by molding; or a light lattice- 
work of wood surrounding the box is pretty. Buta neatly made 
and strong box of about the dimensions mentioned on page 337, 
with a strip of molding at the top and bottom, answers just 
as well; and if painted green, or some neutral shade, only the 
plants will be seen or thought of. Brackets, jardiniéres, and 
stands may be purchased of any of the larger florists. 
The box may consist of merely the wooden receptacle; but 
a preferable arrangement is to make it about eight inches deep 
instead of six, then have the tinsmith make a zinc tray to fit the 
box. This is provided with a false wooden bottom, with cracks 
for drainage, two inches above the real bottom of the tray. 
The plants will then have a vacant space below them into which 
drainage water may pass. Such a box may be thoroughly wat- 
ered as the plants require without danger of the water running 
on the carpet. Of course, a faucet should be provided at some 
suitable point on a level with the bottom of the tray, to permit 
of its being drained every day or so if the water tends to accu- 
mulate. It would not do to allow the water to remain long; 
especially should it never rise to the false bottom, as then the 
soil would be kept too wet. 
