AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 31 
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Bh OT es me 
A s ass \ vet ne 
ie? Window Boxes, Ornamental and Useful 
oe By Ida D. Bennett 
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MIELE fnany bf the bright ; and more common spotted farfugium and fancy leaved caladiums, or these 
flowers—as the verbena’, ee and the 
like—make charming sviidow boxés, it is, 
R\ I think, desirable where’ possible, to choose 
SY some of the rarer, ignpriclicate flowers for 
cértain windows. "Bor one reason, the 
Badow box offers an absolutely safe*placé forthe culture of 
choice varieties; plants that one would hesitate to trust to 
the open ground in many cases, here, safe from straying cat 
and predatory hen, may be grown in beauty and luxuriance. 
Almost any variety of begonia will thrive luxuriantly in a 
latter may be combined with the crotons. 
Gloxinias, and the primrose forbesii may find a place on 
the north, while on the east side of the house, plants that love 
the morning sunshine may find a home. Here the tuberous 
begonias may be grown in perfection and a color scheme of 
one or more colors carried out successfully. The various 
ivy geraniums and the silver-edged variety are delightful 
here; so, too, the double pink and white petunias. All these 
may be combined with any graceful growing vine, the wild 
cucumber being especially attractive in this combination. 
Good Effects Are Obtained by the Use ‘of Vines ‘of Variegated Foliage Trailing Down from a Window Box 
north window box; even the rex begonias may be so grawn, 
provided the sun does not shine directly across the boxes 
at morn and evening, but is tempered by near-by: trees, though. 
not shut off entirely. Begonias, ferns and asparagus sprer- 
gerii may be massed together with excellent effect, and form 
one of the happiest motives for the north window. Fuchsias, 
especially the trailing variety, are always beautiful and:may 
be combined with the erect, large flowering varieties; ‘these 
with Impatiens hoestii make charming boxes for the north. 
Where more formal effects are desired, the pandanus and 
dracenas are very effective and may be massed with. the 
In west windows almost any bright flowers will thrive. The 
scarlet and. white geraniums are especially successful in this 
position, :aftd in combination with scarlet geraniums, the 
»white antirrhinums and the white camphor geranium are 
“excellent. 
There are so many vines to choose from that much latitude 
may be given to individual preference. Pretty effects are 
gained by the use of any one of the variegated foliaged vines 
+—as the variegated vinca or the variegated Japanese hop. 
The nepeta glechoma is also effective, while in the plain 
leaved vines no more graceful creeper than the mau- 
