34 FIGTOBTAL PRACTICAL BULB GROWING. 



adopt the same initial principles to bring success. The boxes are, of 

 course, made of the proper size to fit the window sills, and they may 

 be faced with cork or tiles entirely at the discretion of the owner, 

 thoucih if the latter are selected it behoves the purchaser to proceed 

 warily or he will find that he has chosen a tile that immensely 

 detracts from the floricuitural effect. Each box must have a certain 

 number of holes from which the water will i)ass freely, and as an 

 additional precaution it is desirable that small struts be fixed on the 

 base so as to elevate the erection about 1 inch above the stone sill. 



The soil for bulbs in boxes may advantageously be similar to that 

 used in pot culture, but if this is not convenient excellent results 

 will accrue from the use of ordinary garden mould, provided special 

 care is exercised in the matter of drainage and in regard to the feed- 

 ing that will be necessary at a later date. An abundance of material 

 to ensure drainage should be utilised, and it must be most carefully 

 protected from the incursions of the fine soil by the use of plenty of 

 the rougher portions of the compost or some coarse moss. There 

 should be no hesitation in using a lot of material at the bottom 

 of the receptacle, as this is almost invariably made quite 3 inches 

 deeper than it need be as far as the bulbs are concerned, so that one 

 can easily afford space for the purpose indicated. The reduction of 

 the bulk of soil is not only convenient but desirable, because it 

 reduces the probability of souring to the lowest point. Later on, 

 when the bulbs have made plenty of roots and are swelling up the 

 flower spikes, it is a very simple matter indeed to make up for any 

 deficiency in the soil by special feeding with liquid or concentrated 

 foods in the manner suggested for bulb growing in pots. At that 

 stage the plants are gross feeders, and the foocl given is instantly 

 appropriated by the roots, whereas had it been put in at the start 

 much of the best ingredients would have been wasted. 



In the selection of the bulbs to be employed the owner must, of 

 course, decide for himself, as there can be no governing factor other 

 than personal taste, but it is ahvays desirable for window gardeners 

 to remember that they are cultivating for the general public as well 

 as for themselves to a much greater degree than those who follow 

 up any other phase of the art. They should, therefore, plant in a 

 manner that they have reason to believe will meet with universal 

 acceptance, and not in a style that will possibly irritate the nerves 

 cf eveiy passer-by. It is thus that the gardener may do such a lot of 

 good, for it is more than probable that the delightful style of plant- 

 ing which he has adopted w^ili lead some fresh recruit into the ranks 

 of window gardeners ; and thus our streets and roads will continue 

 to grow in beauty until all sills have their occupants, and our town 

 and village streets will be infinitely improved. I 



All the hardy bulbs are available for window box planting, but ' 

 there are some whose value is very much greater than that of others. 

 Three kinds rise conspicuously above all others in general utility, 

 and these, it is almost needless to state, are Hyacinths, Narcissi, 

 and Tulips, with Crocuses, Scillas, and Snowdrops to furnish the 



