THE FLORAL WORLD 



11 



the side toward the window, for they 

 are effective from the outside. At one 

 end have a heliotrope and at the other 

 a climbing rose or geranium, which 

 may be trained up over the window. 

 Next to the coleus, geraniums or 

 azaleas may be planted, and along 

 the edge a row of oxalis. If bulbs 

 are preferred the box may be made a 

 bed of hyacinths or tulips, with the 

 tall varieties toward the window, that 

 they may be seen from the outside. 

 The freesia is another excellent bulb 

 for the window box. 



If it is convenient to have a shelf 

 instead of a box, there are innumer- 

 able plants and bulbs suitable for pot 

 culture in winter. Perhaps the most 

 desirable class of plants cultivated for 

 their foliage is the palm. Latania 

 borbonica, Cycas revoluta and Wash- 

 ingtonia filifera are all very decora- 

 tive, and the umbrella plant is also a 

 good decorative plant and does not 

 need to be grown in water, as I have 

 several fine specimens growing in com- 

 mon garden soil and sand. 



I highly recommend the aspidistra 

 as a house plant. I have one in a 

 twelve inch pot with fifty-iour leaves. 

 Most are variegated, and two are pure 

 white. Keep the leaves clean and 

 shiny. Soap and water will not hurt. 



The rubber plant is another desir- 

 able plant, as it will stand more neg- 

 lect than any other plant I know of. 

 By all means have one Easter lily, if 

 not more, in the window garden. They 

 do not need a greenhouse, but can be 

 grown to perfection in any window, 

 with moderate care. A pot of lilies- 

 of-the-valley will fill a whole room 

 with their fragrance, and are such 

 dainty little flowers that everyone 

 loves to see them. 



California. P. R. Faymonville. 



SUCCESS WITH WINDOW PLANTS 



Plants should not be put in their 

 permanent quarters until everything 

 has been made ready for them. If 



your window is fully exposed to cold 

 winds be sure to stop up every nook 

 and cranny with cloth or paper. Also 

 see that the panes are whole and per- 

 fectly puttied. Tack linoleum to your 

 plant shelves; it is more durable than 

 paper. Do not have so many plants 

 that you will have to crowd them. 

 By doing so you lose the individual 

 beauty of each one. Arrange them so 

 that each may display itself to advan- 

 tage. Have plenty of room for the 

 circulation of air and light. Plants 

 that can stand the most warmth should 

 be placed on the top shelf. 



Give your window garden daily at- 

 tention. Water only when needed. In 

 most cases let the soil appear dry on 

 top; then pour water in the saucers 

 until the soil is thoroughly saturated. 

 Most plants do not need so much water 

 in winter as at other seasons. In no 

 case should a plant be given stimu- 

 lants when it is not growing actively; 

 to do so is harmful. On the other 

 hand, a thrifty plant which is unfold- 

 ing flowers should be fertilized every 

 other week at least. Turn your plants 

 whenever they begin to grow one- 

 sided. All parts of a plant should de- 

 velop equally. Use judgment in chang- 

 ing a plant from a shaded window to 

 a bright one, or vice versa, as un- 

 opened buds of callas, double gera- 

 niums and double primroses some- 

 times bloom imperfectly unless man- 

 aged with care. Single flowers, how- 

 ever, rarely disappoint. Keep your 

 plants trim and neat by picking off 

 the dead leaves, and training into 

 pleasing shapes. Keep the atmosphere 

 moist. 



Be on the lookout for scale and 

 mealy bugs on your plants; they mul- 

 tiply rapidly unless fought with dil- 

 igence. Keep a can of fir-tree oil soap 

 on hand, and use it on infected palms. 

 It is harmless to plants, and insects 

 cannot fl.ourish where it is used. 

 Spray your plants once a week, at 

 least, and let the application be thor- 

 ough. Administer the water with 



