766 



THE WINDOW GARDEN. 



any growing plant will " match " with the surroundings. 



Since the dry and dusty air and too little light are the 

 chief obstacles, we must select for our purpose those 

 plants best capable of resisting these influences. We 

 must grow them in such a way as to provide the maxi- 

 mum amount of water, fresh air and light, and must not 

 neglect the necessary care. My plan is to have a num- 

 ber of foliage plants — palms, cycads, ficuses and the 

 like — which might be called permanent plants, and from 

 time to time I introduce among them flowering plants, to 

 give color and add interest and variety to the group. 



Before making any list of plants suitable for this pur- 

 pose, it will be well to consider certain general direc- 

 tions in the way of preparation, in order that we may 

 start fair, with healthy specimens. Rotted sods, rotted 

 cow manure, leaf-mould and sharp sand in about equal 

 parts make a potting soil fit for growing almost any 

 plant ; the sand may be used in smaller quantities, and 

 peat, if good and well seasoned, can be used in addition 

 for many things or substituted for leaf-mould. Mix care- 

 fully and let the mass stand some weeks before using. 

 It is not well to use anything smaller than a six-inch pot 

 for house plants on account of the difficulties with the 

 water supply. So I advise the use of drainage ; an inch 

 or two of potsherds, depending on the size of the pot, 

 covered with a thin layer of sphagnum. Pot firmly, tak- 

 ing care that the soil is not dry, and that at least one- 

 half inch of space is left below the rim of the pot so that 

 a good allowance of water can be given at one time. 

 Plants should be potted just before making their season 

 growth ; this is generally in spring, so as much as possi- 

 ble of this work should be done then. Plants growing 

 in the open ground during the summer should be lifted 

 at least a month before bringing into the house. Keep 

 for a few days in a shaded place, and do not over-water. 

 The soil must be moist, but not wet ; sprinkle the leaves 

 if they flag, but do not water at the roots unless the soil 

 is dry. Plants potted in the spring can be plunged in 

 the open ground in summer or kept on the piazza or on 

 the gravel-walks. They require plenty of water, a free 

 circulation of air, and an occasional rain is grateful ; 

 much of the winter's success depends upon the good 

 growth made in the open air. 



I consider it important to bring plants into the house 

 before the fires are lighted. Most houses are too warm 

 as well as too dry ; and in this way they will become 

 accustomed to their surroundings before the dryest and 

 hottest time comes, viz : when the furnace fires are 

 started and the gas or lamps are burning constantly. 

 Any change is bad for growing plants, and is always to 

 be avoided ; if unavoidable, prolong this period as much 

 as possible. The change from growth in the open air to 

 the house is great, and anything which can be done to 

 lessen it is a boon. When the plants are brought in, the 

 sunniest windows are to be chosen. At first, give them 

 the coolest rooms, and those in which the most fresh air 

 can be given daily. A good expedient to reduce the dry- 

 ness of the air is to have a box two or three inches deep, 

 fitted with a pipe through which the surplus water can 



be removed. This will hold the pots, which may be 

 plunged in damp moss. By this means much moisture 

 can be thrown into the atmosphere ; such a box can be 

 made in various sizes and shapes to fit different windows, 

 and materially helps in the care of the plants. By using 

 some of the handsome mosses a very attractive appear- 

 ance can be given. Plants should never be over-potted ; 

 but the larger the pot the greater the volume of the soil, 

 and the less change consequently in moisture and tem- 

 perature, so good-sized pots are desirable. By the 

 device of setting the pot, when possible, below the win- 

 dow sill, shade is obtained and the evaporation from the 

 sides reduced. Glazed pots can be used advantageously, 

 but there should always be a hole at the bottom. 



The proper time for that most important part of plant 

 culture, watering, is during the morning in cold and at 

 night in warm weather, and it should be done regularly. 

 My experience is that a given number of plants require 

 about the same amount daily, but the demand is irregu- 

 lar, and it is always a delicate matter to meet it. The 

 soil of any plant with green leaves or pushing roots 

 should never become dry ; enough water should be given 

 to keep the soil moist to the bottom of the pot, and, if 

 possible, this should be given at one time. This gener- 

 ally means that you must water so that a little will es- 

 cape through the hole at the bottom, and I have found 

 it a good plan, with strong and well-established plants, 

 to allow this surplus to remain in the box or saucer for 

 half an hour or more. Part of this will be sucked up 

 again, but if any remains at the end of this time it must 

 be removed ; it would injure most plants to have free 

 water constantly at the roots. The stronger the plant, 

 however, the better it would stand such treatment. A 

 good healthy English ivy or well-rooted fern is some- 

 times helped by allowing the water to remain for several 

 hours. Give plenty of air, even opening the windows 

 directly upon them when the day is bright and not too 

 cold ; avoid drafts or any great changes in temperature. 

 Use water in the furnace, or better still, have a tank in 

 the register ; it is astonishing how much water can in 

 this way be evaporated within a short time. Wash the 

 plants often, not only to get rid of insects but also to 

 clean off the dust ; a little warm water applied with a 

 sponge, using soap or Gishurt's compound, is a great 

 help to all foliage plants, like palms or ficuses. 



There are few plants which can be recommended for 

 house culture which will not stand the tempreature as 

 low as forty degrees, and even below this on occasion. 

 It will be found that plants do best in those rooms which 

 have a comparatively low night temperature— forty or 

 fifty degrees. Sometimes, therefore, a spare room, an 

 attic or bed room, can be used to good advantage as a 

 "feeder" to the living rooms. Plants often thrive in the 

 kitchen, if sunny, largely owing to the moisture. 



I shall divide the plants suitable for window-gar- 

 ening into two classes ; a permanent set, likely to be of 

 interest all the year round, made up mostly of foliage 

 plants ; while the second lot would be mainly flower- 

 ing plants which could be either grown in the house for 



