194 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



Fig. 27.— Frame 

 for Tiles. 



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tray upside down, and drop it into the hox so that it 

 may stand on its edges. This is the best method of 

 keeping the pots off the bottom of 

 the box, and it is very easily re- 

 moved for cleaning out the box if 

 any earth, or leaves, should have 

 fallen over. 



The decoration of the outside 

 of the box can be effected in many 

 ways. Very pleasing ornamenta- 

 tion can be made out of branches 

 of hazel cut into lengths suitable 

 for the work, and sawn down the 

 middle ; the flat side is then tacked 

 to the sides of the box in patterns. 

 When curved branches can be 

 found, a pattern can easily be pro- 

 duced ; but as it is of rare occur- 

 rence to meet with two pieces of 

 wood naturally curved in the same 

 way, it is better to make curves out of straight pieces. 



The curving 

 of sticks is by no 

 means difficult. 

 The wood must 

 be cut during 

 the month of 

 December, Ja- 

 nuary, or Feb- 

 ruary. It must 

 be kept in a 

 cool dry place 

 until the bark has lost its sappiness, and will 

 not easily peel off ; the wood is then in the best 

 condition for bending. It should then be immersed 

 in boiling water for about ten minutes, after which 

 it must at once be bent into the required form, and 

 secured with a twisted cord. If any particular curve 

 is required, or many curves are wanted all alike, it 

 is better to bend the sticks over a mould. When 

 thoroughly cold and dry the cord may be removed, 

 and the curve will be fixed. 



It is a common practice now to decorate the 

 outside of boxes with tiles. These may be had of 

 several suitable sizes, and in endless variety of 

 colour and design. They are so hard and brittle 

 that it is difficult to drill holes in them without 

 breaking them. It is, therefore, better to screw on 

 above and below a grooved strip of wood, a section 

 of which is given in Fig. 27, a a. Between these the 

 tiles are slipped in. As to colour, blues, purples, 

 greens, crimsons, scarlets, yellows, and whites -should 

 be avoided ; selection should be made amongst 

 browns, dull reds, and olives. Design on tiles is 

 not of so much consequence ; but simple geometrical 

 designs are sure to be in good taste. 



It may be desirable in some cases to allow the box 

 to extend beyond the width of the window-sill. It 

 will then be necessary to have the box made of 

 stouter wood, and to dovetail it together. The 

 bottom should be put on underneath, as indicated in 

 Fig. 28, and screwed up with brass screws, which 

 will not rust. In the same figure is shown the 

 bearer a, which must fit the slope of the window-sill, 

 and be fastened to the bottom of the box. This 

 bearer, if properly made, will distribute the weight 

 of the plants evenly over the sill ; at the same time 

 the box must be secured to the woodwork of the 

 window so as to prevent its toppling over, though a 

 very slight attachment will be sufficient to secure its 

 safety, as the pressure is all vertical. 



Fig. 29 wall give some idea of how pretty windows 

 can be made to look if plants are judiciously selected 

 and properly grown. Straight lines are broken up, 

 and groups of foliage and flowers are well balanced 

 and symmetrically distributed, but without formality. 

 Hanging plants and climbing plants are both em- 

 ployed effec- 

 tively, and pre- 

 vent that stiff- 

 ness and prim- 

 ness which 

 always arises 

 from the use of 

 erect - growing 

 plants only. 

 The rigidity of 

 the stiff Cactus 

 is toned down by the gracefully hang- 

 ing branches of the Ivy-leaved Pelar- 

 gonium, which droop below it.' These 

 effects ma} 7- be varied in endless ways 

 by the harmonies and contrasts which 

 we are able to effect by the proper use 

 of the materials available. 



a 



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Fig. 28— Wide 

 'Window Box. 



Balcony Gardening. — The roots of plants on 

 balconies are much more liable to injury from 

 frosts than those growing in ten inches or a foot 

 of soil, hence the need of protecting them with 

 leaves, straw, cocoa-fibre, dry fern, or some such 

 material. 



Where large masses of soil are required for strong- 

 growing plants, tubs, or square boxes, made of wood, 

 are preferable to pots, partly because they are less 

 liable to injury by frost or accident, and partly be- 

 cause they are more easily ornamented with smaller 

 plants in hanging pots, for which a nail may be 

 driven wherever wanted. 



Balconies are naturally much exposed to wind 

 and rain ; hence hardy plants should be preferred to 

 tender sorts. 



