June, 1907 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



287 



cupful of bonemeal to every half-bushel of 

 soil. Mix one or the other of these thor- 

 oughly with the soil before filling the box. 

 Never use heavy clay soil. Some people 

 have raised good window plants in nothing 

 but street sweepings — no other fertilizer. 



purchasers' guide to window plants 



(The trade or catalogue names are used in this table) 



FOR FOLIAGE EFFECT OXLT OR CHIEFLY 



Trailers (hanging down several feet) 



Best green and easiest to grow German ivy 



Best variegated Vinca major, var. var- 



iegata 



Best spotted leaf Pilogyne suavis 



With dainty little flowers .... KenUworth ivy 



Edgers (hanging down three to twelve inches) 



Easiest Green "Wandering 



Jew" (Tradescantia 



vulgaris) 

 Commonest variegated Tradescantia multi- 



colo 

 Strawberry geranium or mother 



of thousands Saxifraga sarmentosa 



Variegated ice plant Mesembryanthemum 



cordifolium, var. 



variegatum 



Artillery plant Pilea serpyllifolia 



Variegated white and green . Anthericum repens 



Centres 



Best for shade Boston fern 



Best for fragrant leaves Lemon verbena 



A curiosity Coccoloba platyclada 



FOR FLORAL EFFECT 



Climbers or trailers (climbing or hanging down several 

 feet) 



The most popular Nasturtiums 



Unique purplish flower Cobcea scandens 



Blue, f-inch across Convolvulus Mauri- 



tanicus 



Flame, tipped yellow Manettia vine 



Several colors Maurandia Barclay- 

 ana 



Blue moonflower Ipomcea Learii 



White moonflower Ipomcea Noctiphyton 



Trailers only (hanging down several feet) 



The best Ivy-leaved geranium 



Edgers (hanging down six to eight inches) 



Best white, fragrant Alyssum 



Best large blue Browallia elata major 



Best small blue Lobelia gracilis 



Hangs down less Lobelia Erinus 



Best yellow, spotted Monkey flower 



Best changeable Lantana delicalissima 



Cigar plant Cuphea platycentra 



Many colors, fragrant Verbenas 



Flowers close at night Gazania splendens 



Centres 



The easiest and best Double geraniums 



Fragrant, several colors Single petunias 



Fragrant, violet Heliotrope 



Finish Impatiens Sultani 



Mixed colors Snapdragon 



Purplish blue Ageratum 



SHADE-DEMAXDIXG 



Centres 



Purple, red, pink Fuchsias 



Several colors Flowering begonias 



Eight colors, costly Tuberous begonias 



Trailer 



" Little pickles" yellow flowers Othonna crassi folia 



THE SECRET OF SUCCESS AND FAILURE 



The secret of robust growth and numerous 

 flowers is plant food, which you can get from 

 any seedsman or florist. Simply ask for a 

 "fertilizer for house plants." A one-pound 

 can of liquid that costs twenty cents will last 

 a season. The directions are on the can. 



Ferns are the best for the shady side of the street. The only flowers that demand shade are fuchsias and 

 certain tuberous begonias. Flowers are often stolen in great cities 



You will not need fertilizers if the soil has 

 been carefully prepared in the manner first 

 described. 



The reason why people fail is that they 

 sprinkle the soil instead of soaking it. If 

 there is trouble, poke into the soil and nine 

 times out of ten you will find it dust-dry two 

 or three inches below the surface. Soak the 

 box once a day — twice in hot weather. Water 

 slowly and never cease until the surplus 

 begins to run out of the holes or cracks. 



HOW TO CHOOSE THE PLANTS 



The ideal window plants are hard-foliaged 

 ones, like English ivy, aucuba, Draccena 

 indivisa, and the palm called Chamarops 



excelsa — because of their greater size, dignity 

 and permanence. Also, they require less 

 care than flowers. However, they cost more 

 than fifteen cents each and as a rule require 

 a foot of soil. They are, therefore, omitted 

 from this article, with the remark that Eng- 

 lish ivy is the best of them all because it lasts 

 both summer and winter outdoors, costs 

 about twenty-five cents and does not require 

 more than eight inches of soil . The following 

 are all soft-foliaged plants and therefore 

 faster growing and cheaper. 



The first thing to decide is whether you 

 want a foliage or floral effect. Foliage is 

 surer, more dignified and requires less 

 care. Flowers are more brilliant but need 



A window box of good rustic construction. Petunias in bloom 



