interesting and useful in appropriate places, and generally furnish flowers abundantly for cutting, 
but should not be planted in vases or baskets, nor on the lawn, where a good show must be kept 
up the whole season. 
WINDOW BOXES. 
To those who are not fortunate enough to have balconies, we propose to show how easily and 
cheaply they may provide a substitute. A common box, the length of the window, about eight 
inches deep and ten inches wide, 
can be fastened on the outside of 
the window by means of brackets, 
either iron or wood. This may be 
painted, or, what is still better, 
covered with oil cloth. Get some 
small, set figure, and you have an 
imitation of a tile box at veiy little 
cost. In Europe, these boxes 
boxes are to be seen in thousands 
of windows, and many of them both elegant and expensive, some, made of iron and covered 
with costly tiles. The one we propose is almost as beautiful, and ridiculously cheap, 
PLANTS FOR BALCONIES, WINDOW BOXES, AND BEDDING. 
Plants for Balconies. — Among plants most useful for balconies we suggest the following : 
Abutilons, Achyranthus, Begonias, Coleus, Clematis, Convolvulus, Canary-bird Vine, Dracaenas, 
Geraniums (double and single), German Ivy, Honeysuckles (Halleana, and golden-veined). 
Lobelias, Moneywort, Nepeta (Ground Ivy), Othonna, Tropseolums, Veronica and Vinca, 
Plants for Window Boxes. — Geraniums, Lobelias, Vinca variegata. Sweet Alyssum, 
Othonna, Ivy Geraniums, Convolvulus Mauritanicus, Thunbergias, Tropceolum, Maurandya, 
Calampelis scabra, and German Ivies, 
A great variety of plants is not needed for Lawn Beds, indeed the number of suitable plants 
is not large. What we require is a strong show of color like that furnished by the scarlet 
Geraniums, or a mass of foliage of a tropical appearance, like that supplied by the Canna, Cala- 
dium, &c,, or a bed of the more delicate, variegated and ornamental foliage, for which purpose 
the Coleus and variegated Geranium are adapted. For the different purposes mentioned, in 
addition to the Annuals already named, and grown from seed, we name a few of the best : 
Dwarf Plants for Edgings or Borders of Beds. — Alternanthera, Armeria or Thrift, 
and Pyrethrum aureum. 
White Leaved Plants, — Glaucium, Centaurea and Cineraria maritima. 
Showy-colored Foliage. — Achyranthus, Coleus, and Bronze and Silver-leaf Geraniums. 
Scarlet Geraniums, — Gen, Grant and Queen of the West. 
Tall Foliage Plants. — Caladium esculentum, three to four feet in height, leaves more than 
two feet in length, Cannas, from three to five feet in height ; a variety called Robusta, from five 
to eight feet. Ricinus (Castor Oil Bean), from six to twelve feet. 
Bed of Tall Foliage Plants, — For a bed of tall Foliage Plants we would advise some- 
thing like the following : Ricinus or Cannas in the center. If the center is Ricinus they may 
be surrounded with a circle of Cannas. The next circle should be Caladiums, with an outside 
border of Coleus or Centaureas. The Ricinus will grow from seed as easily as Corn. Good 
bulbs must be planted both of the Caladiums and Cannas. Young plants of Coleus, Centaurea, 
&c,, are grown by most florists for the purpose of bedding, and are obtained at very little cost. 
