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MY WINDOW GARDEN. 



time and give a good variety in color. They must have 

 the best light and air and great attention in watering; 

 when properly cared for they will last a lon^ time in 

 good condition. The Dutch bulbs are desirable ; tu- 

 lips, narcissus, and hyacinths are much more satisfac- 

 tory if used as pot plants than as cut flowers, and this, 

 too, even if not kept in the windows, but disposed upon 

 the tables away from direct light. They must have plenty 

 of water and should always be brought into the house 

 before they are in full bloom. It is quite possible to han- 

 dle this class of plants without professional assistance ; 

 the cool cellar or cold frame will give them a good start, 

 and then they can be carried along in the cool upstairs 

 rooms until ready to flower ; a little experience will 

 enable one to have a succession. Chrysanthemums are 

 like Dutch bulbs, much finer growing in pots than when 

 used as cut flowers ; in a fairly cool room, if well watered, 

 they will last for several weeks and make a much more 

 characteristic appearance than if taken from the plant 

 and put in vases. Many flowers will not readily lend 



themselves to artificial arrangement in bouquets and the 

 like ; this is strikingly true of these last-named plants. 



Scarlet geraniums are effective, but require bright sun- 

 shine ; the plants should not be too large, and they 

 should be well prepared beforehand. Azalea Jndica lasts 

 a good while in bloom if kept fairly cool ; they can some- 

 times be grown in an attic and brought into the living 

 rooms in full flower, and then put back to make their 

 growth. Cinerarias will do well when grown in a green- 

 house and brought into the parlor ; the large leaves will 

 flag and dry up, but if they are carefully sprinkled for 

 the first few days this is not so noticeable. DapJine 

 oJora, laurestinus, hydrangea, oleanders, agapanthus 

 and Vallota purpurea can often be wintered in a light 

 cellar and brought into bloom either in the house or on 

 the piazza or lawn ; a furnace-heated cellar is too warm 

 generally, and some provision must be made to keep 

 the temperature low. Very little water need be given 

 these plants while at rest. 



Bttssey Instiizitiou . B. M. Watson, Jr. 



MY WINDOW GARDEN. 



NUMBER of years ago I had a 

 very strong desire to make an 

 attempt at window gardening, 

 but was compelled, like many 

 another, to content myself with 

 a common window. There 

 \\ ere two windows in the room, 

 one on the east and the other 

 on the north side. Of course the east one was se- 

 lected on account of the more sunny exposure. 



The room was not very well lighted, and as light was 

 one of the chief requirements of success, I contrived a 

 plan to trap all of the rays of light possible, and although 

 the affair was a very crude one, the result was quite sat- 

 isfactory. 



I made a very light frame of wood that extended from 

 the top to the bottom of the window casing and across 

 the top. It projected perhaps a foot from the window, 

 and was covered with bleached muslin. 



There were two or three shelves on brackets fastened 

 to the window casing, and underneath all was placed a 

 zinc pan to catch the drippings when the plants were 

 treated to a shower bath. I never had as good success 

 with geraniums and coleus as during that season. Lace 

 curtains draped over the whole produced quite a pleas- 

 ing effect. 



My next venture was a little more elaborate, and al- 

 though not quite so satisfactory as it would have been 

 in a more favorable location, yet the success I have se- 

 cured with certain plants is quite flattering. 



The undertaking this time was to enclose a portion of 

 an eastern porch, the entrance being effected by remov- 

 ing a window and making of the opening a door-way 



which was draped as the remaining windows in the room, 

 with the lace hangings. 



The floor of the porch was allowed to remain, and 

 another one was placed above it, level with the floor 

 of the room adjoining — the space between being filled 

 with sawdust. On each of the three exposed sides of 

 the enclosure were fitted two windows, both an inside 

 and outside set, making in all twenty-four sashes. The 

 hollow space in the casings between the windows was 

 also filled with sawdust. 



Around the three sides, resting on the floor, and about 

 nine inches in from the casings, a board was set on edge. 

 This board was nearly wide enough to reach to the top 

 of the window sills. Another board was placed under 

 the window sills and sawdust was put in between the 

 two. A wide shelf rested upon them. Another shelf of 

 narrower dimensions was placed upon iron brackets 

 secured to the casing, and just level with the top of the 

 lower and bottom of the upper sashes. It has been my 

 observation that better taste is exhibited by arranging 

 the shelves in such a manner that the edges are not 

 noticeable when viewed from without, and by adjusting 

 them in this way this objection may be avoided. 



Around the outside of the shelves was tacked a mould- 

 ing that projected half an inch above, and before the 

 plants were put in place these shelves were covered with 

 clean sifted sand. This sand I find is quite an advan- 

 tage, as it keeps more or less moist and helps to produce 

 a more humid atmosphere for the plants, since the sur- 

 plus water from the frequent showerings is absorbed by it. 



I have found that during very severe weather, espe- 

 cially with an east wind, it is quite difficult to keep 

 out all the cold, and I have profited greatly by a sug- 

 gestion somewhere offered, to paste strips of writing 



