Window box of brightly colored glazed tile in harmony with the house, filled with Paris Daisy, 

 Ageratum, variegated Vinca, suitable for a sunny exposure 



When the position is in shade the choice of material is restricted to foliage effects. Vines drape 

 gracefully. English Ivy is most satisfactory here 



Window and Porch Boxes 



A. S. THURSTON 



A House Accessory That Brings the Garden Into Intimate Friendship. — Making, Planting, and Upkeep With Combinations of Flowering 



and Foliage Plants 



FLOWERING and decorative foliage 

 plants set in boxes are important orna- 

 mental features of the windows and 

 porches in many cities and towns. 

 When they are once adopted they are* never 

 given up for, if properly filled and cared for, they 

 prove to be a beautiful addition to a residence 

 or any other building. 



To have entirely satisfactory results the boxes 

 must be so made that good growing conditions 

 can be maintained, the mixture and composition 

 of the soil being such that good results are as- 

 sured, and it is also essential that the plants 

 receive regularly the little necessary care after 

 planting. 



Making the Boxes 

 "\)17'IND0W and porch boxes are easily con- 

 " ' structed or can be bought at small expense. 

 As the plants are invariably planted very closely 

 together and as the locations are generally very 

 trying to plant culture, it is necessary that the 

 boxes be deep enough to hold soil to carry the 

 plants through the season — i. e. not be less than 

 six inches deep, inside measurement, while nine 

 inches is much better; and the width about the 

 same as the depth. The length is naturally 

 determined by the space to be filled. In 

 the case of porch boxes it is preferable 

 that they be made not more than six feet 

 long and to facilitate handling four feet is 

 a better length. Where the space is longer 

 than this, the boxes can be made in sec- 

 tions. 



The wood used should be seven-eighths 

 inch cypress, chestnut, or oak. While 

 cypress is more expensive than some of 

 the other soft woods, it will last much 

 longer. When some of the cheaper woods 

 are used the boxes should be charred on 

 the inside to delay rotting. This can be 

 done by covering the inside surface of the 

 box with kerosene and then setting fire 

 to it, smothering the fire with dirt after 

 the inside of the box has become charred. 

 Have the boxes strongly made, for they 

 have to support a heavy weight of soil. 



Proper drainage is essential to get good 

 results, this is provided for by boring sev- 

 eral holes, which should be about one inch 

 in diameter, in the bottom of the box. 



The outside of the boxes should be 

 properly painted for while the color of 

 the box may not matter much at the 

 latter part of the season, when the 

 growth of the vines has become heavy 



enough to entirely cover the box, yet, for the first 

 month or so, the box is generally plainly visible. 

 Dark green is the color commonly used but often- 

 times one more in harmony with the color of the 

 house is more pleasing. When placing the boxes 

 be sure that they are securely fastened in place, 

 for after the plants have grown and require con- 

 stant watering the boxes become very heavy 

 and present quite a surface to high winds, and in 

 the case of window boxes it is very dangerous to 

 leave them where they might be blown off" or drop. 



What Plants to Use 



npHERE is quite a variety of material suitable 

 ■*■ for planting in boxes and similar receptacles. 

 The selection will depend greatly upon the loca- 

 tion and the surroundings. In bright, sunny 

 locations flowering plants can be effectively used, 

 while in very shady positions or even where the 

 boxes will receive sunlight but a short time other 

 plants will have to be used. The one necessary 

 requisite for successful boxes is good trailing 

 vines, and generally the Vinca, green or varie- 

 gated, is the plant used, and if good, sizeable 

 plants are procured it rapidly covers the box and 

 makes a very beautiful showing. "Ivy" is 

 suitable for shadier locations; German Ivy 



In such positions the boxes must be securely fastened in place, especially those that 

 ornament the upper windows 



163 



(Senecio mikanioides) is a very rapid grower and 

 soon covers the box and hangs in long strings 

 down the front, while the true or English Ivy is a 

 much slower grower and must be planted closer, 

 but it is evergreen and the best of all vines for 

 the shadiest places. Thunbergia alata is a very 

 desirable vine, as its flowers add much to the 

 appearance of the box. The tall or climbing 

 varieties of the Nasturtium are often used when 

 an inexpensive box is desired. Lobelia gracilis 

 is a trailing plant and a fine thing to edge the 

 box, but it will not grow as long as some of the 

 other vines. Among the best of trailing plants 

 are the Ivy Geraniums which are very showy, but 

 they must be used with care to avoid any color 

 clashes with the other plants used in the box. 

 Other vines of value for edging boxes are Trades- 

 cantia, Cobea, Ipomea, and Convolvulus. 



For use in the back of the box there is a very 

 great variety of plants available. One of our 

 most used plants, the Geranium, can be used 

 with the vines alone or in combination with 

 other flowering plants. Marguerites are well 

 adapted for boxes, and if well cared for will 

 bloom all summer. Stocks, Salvias, Abutilons, 

 Calendulas, Petunias, Ageratums, Mignonette, 

 Zinnias, Marigolds and some of the other ever- 

 blooming annuals can be used. In shadier 

 locations Fuchias, Begonias and Ferns are 

 the plants best adapted. In the shadiest 

 places flowers are impossible and Palms, 

 Ferns, and other decorative plants, such 

 as Crotons and other variegated foliage 

 plants, are the only plants that can be used 

 successfully. For tropical effects Palms, 

 Rubbers, Dracenas, Crotons, Aspidistras 

 and Grevillias can be used. 



Ascompared with plantsof bright flowers 

 foliage plants are more certain, more for- 

 mal, and require less care, while the more 

 showy flowering plants offer more chance 

 of failure. The most effective boxes are 

 those in which neither too great a variety 

 of plants nor too many colors are used. 

 For very dusty locations, such as over- 

 hanging streets, avoid the rougher-leaved 

 plants, using those which have smooth and 

 glossy foliage which can be frequently 

 sprinkled and the dirt washed off. 



The Soil and Filling of the Boxes 



T> ECAUSE the amount of soil is limited, 

 ■*-* it must be of the best. Filling the 

 boxes with soil taken from just any 

 convenient piece of ground will not do. 

 There is not sufficient plant food in 



