GASSELL'S POPULAK GAPDENING. 



well-grown plants, not cultivating- them. If the 

 watering-pot is used, it is merely to wash off the dust 

 from the leaves, regardless of whether the roots do 

 or do not want water. The dead leaves are not 

 picked off, the decaying hranches are not cut out, the 

 insects are not killed or removed, the soil is not re- 

 newed or manured, the plants are not screened from 

 hot sun or cold wind ; in short, nothing is done for 

 them that could be called gardening. When they 

 begin to get shabby they are thrown away, and re- 

 placed by fresh plants. 



Inasmuch as plants cannot grow without light, it 

 is not our intention to treat of plants in rooms or 

 halls, excepting in those parts which are well lighted, 

 and this of necessity restricts us to positions in or 

 near the windows. It is a common error to believe 

 that some foliage plants and most Ferns will grow in 

 dark places. Some may exist for a time under such 

 conditions, but it cannot be for long ; all jilants must 

 have light, though some require much more than 

 others. 



It will bo found convenient to regard the window- 

 pane as a boundary-line which separates our^^subject 

 into two parts, in-door and out-door gardening ; and 

 these parts will be further subdivided in the folio wing 

 manner : — ■ 



In-door House and Window G-ardening. 



— This may be treated of conveniently under two 

 divisions. The plants may be either uncovered or 

 covered. JJmovercd plants are those which have to 

 put up with all the changes of light, heat, and 

 draught to which every sitting-room is more or less 

 li^ible. 



Covered plants are those which are more or less pro- 

 tected from these influences, by being grown in a 

 case, or under a shade, or between the window and 

 a second window built inside. 



Out-door House and Window Gardening. 



— This may be similarly divided under two headings, 

 according to whether the plants are protected or 

 exposed. 



Protected p)^^^^^^ are those which are grow^n in 

 miniature green-houses built outside the windows, 

 which are commonly known as conservator}^ windows. 



Exposed plants are those which are placed on 

 window-sills, in balconies, verandahs, porches, and 

 areas, and upon house-tops, and which are not pro- 

 vided with any permanent protection from win-d or 

 weather. 



House and window gardening, when practised by 

 amateurs, is generally undertaken for the pleasure and 

 amusement of the individuals who live in the house. 

 There are some, however, who work for the pleasure 

 of others as much as for their own gratification ; and 



these take as great an interest in the appearance or 

 their windows as seen from outside, as they do in the 

 view of their window-plants from the room. 



The Obtaining of Plants.— Everything must 

 have a beginning, and domestic gardening is not 

 an exception to the rule. Plants must be obtained. 

 Eully-gTOwn plants can be piux-hased, or accepted as 

 presents from friends ; but it is far more satisfactory 

 to have grown yoiu- own plants from seed or from 

 cuttings. 



Fully-grown plants doubtless give the least trouble, 

 and 'many who have no conveniences for keeping a 

 store of soils and pots of different sizes are obliged 

 to be contented with this restricted form of horti- 

 culture. For them window gardening is neverthe- 

 less a subject requiring much care, thought, and 

 attention, and what they have to do for their plants 

 must be done regularly and systematically. It . is 

 not a matter that can be attended to for a day or 

 two, and then forgotten for a week. No doubt there 

 are certain plants that require a great deal less 

 attention tuan others ; some have to be looked after 

 twice a day, while others only want attending to once 

 a fortnight, but even this slight attention must be 

 given with regularity if good results are to be 

 obtained. 



AVatering, i-emoving dead leaves and branches, 

 cleaning Avhen attacked by insects or fungus, and 

 protecting from hot sun, cold wind, and draught of 

 any kind, are all points that must be remembered in 

 the care of plants, whether in windows or elsewhere. 



Soils. — Though many plants will grow and do 

 well for a long time in the same soil, yet there must 

 come a time with every plant when fresh soil is ne- 

 cessary. It may be that only a little is required on 

 the top of the pot ; it may be that the roots require 

 shifting into a larger pot without disturbing them 

 more than can be helped, in which case fresh soil is 

 placed round the sides ; or it may be desirable to 

 shake off all the old soil from the roots, and to re-pot 

 them in entirely fresh soil. In either case it is ne- 

 cessary to understand what are the different soils 

 likely to be wanted, and it will facilitate a clear un- 

 derstanding of this if we commence with a short 

 explanation of how soils are formed. 



The crust of our earth is composed of rocks of 

 various kinds, most of which when exposed are acted 

 upon and decomposed by certain chemical constituents 

 in our atmosphere, breaking up and pulverising the 

 surface and forming a dust, which is washed down by 

 rain into hollows, where it acciimulates, and becomes 

 soil or mould. When we think of the great variety 

 of rocks that are to be met with, and remember that 

 the dust from several of these may get washed down 



