THE WINDOW GARDEN. 



767 



the purpose, or better still, bought from time to time 

 of the florist just as one would buy flowers ; only the 

 plant will generally be less expensive and will last much 

 longer. If one has a greenhouse this part of the prob- 

 lem is easy and does not need elaboration. For per- 

 manent plants, I will name only those with which I 

 have had personal experience for several years, and 

 have found in every way desirable ; we have here both 

 gas and a furnace, but keep what would be called a cool 

 house. The palms come first ; Lataniu Borhoniia [Lk'- 

 istona sinensis) Cluumrrops Foilitnii Coryplia anslru/is, 

 and Phivnix rciUnata are all good in every way, and will 

 stand almost any 

 variation likely 

 to occur, Cocos 

 plmiwsa is good, 

 but requires a 

 little higher tem- 

 perature ; u n - 

 doubtedly others 

 could be added 

 to the list. They 

 are kept most of 

 the time in the 

 windows, but are 

 often used for 

 weeks away from 

 direct sunlight. 

 Ficiis claslica is 

 probably among 

 house plants 

 what the Bald- 

 win is among 

 apples and the 

 Concord among 

 grapes — always 

 reliable and al- 

 ways giving a 

 good return for 

 the investment. 

 Be careful not to 

 let the room get 

 suddenly over- 

 heated, and be 

 sure that the pot 

 or tub is not dry 

 at the bottom ; 

 otherwise you 



may lose the lower leaves and injure the beauty of the 

 plant but even then you can cut it back and start afresh. 

 Other ileuses that are also good, are F. fcmiginea 

 and F. Indica, the banyan tree. Cyais rcvolnta, the 

 sago palm, ranks with the above-named plants ; it is 

 rather difficult to handle the young plants and large 

 ones are expensive, but it succeeds admirably in a room 

 which is not too hot, and certainly nothing can be finer. 

 If kept too warm it is likely to start into growth too 

 early, and as a result the young leaves are often nipped 

 in the dry atmosphere. The green-leaved cordylines 



SibTER Gracious' Window Garden. (See page 769.) 



and dracaenas are good and easily handled ; so too, is 

 the screw-pine, PunJaniis utilis — they seem capable of 

 standing any vicissitudes, and group well with the palms. 

 The New Zealand flax, Pliorminni tenax, is fine and well 

 adapted to the house ; probably the same could be said 

 of the variegated variety. Grevillea rolntsta has always 

 done well with me ; it is a beautiful plant, and although 

 a sudden change or neglect in watering will cause the cast- 

 ing of the leaves, it very soon recovers itself with a new 

 set. Among ferns there is nothing better than the sword 

 fern, NephroU-pis I'lisi fm iiiis . There seem to be several 

 varieties or species, all of which are excellent ; one must 



be on guard here 

 against scale. 



11 s a E n s i l e 

 thrives, and the 

 leaves are not 

 torn as they are 

 in theopen ; they 

 must sometimes 

 be supported by 

 guys from the 

 ceiling, and fre- 

 quent washing 

 alone will keep 

 down the red 

 mite and mealy 

 bug. If this is 

 not done the 

 plant will fail 

 before the sea- 

 son is over. The 

 English ivy is 

 always attrac- 

 tive, and seems 

 to grow at its 

 best. It is a mis- 

 take to keep old 

 plants too long ; 

 either cut back 

 or get fresh 

 stock and so start 

 anew.Thisseems 

 to grow in less 

 light than almost 

 any other plant. 

 Tra descantia 

 will succeed, and 



so will aspidistra, almost anywhere, but they are uninter- 

 esting in comparison with these others. I find the 

 Portugal laurel, English holly, Irish yew, Ai-aucai la 

 inibriiata , Cyvptome)-ia Japoiiica, and maybe some other 

 half-hardy plants are thoroughly good if they can be 

 kept cool, but a low temperature is a sine qua 7ion. 



Now with a background made up of thick fine foliage 

 it is very easy and inexpensive to introduce from time 

 to time flowering plants which will add color and life. 

 Perhaps cvclamen and Chinese primrose should have 

 first place, because they continue in bloom such a long 



