THE WINDOW GARDEN. 
ExtGUt Of Collection. —It is bad policy, especially for begin- 
•rs, to start the season with too largo a collection. Bogin with easily 
grown plants, and proceed to more fustidious ones by de- 
grees. It is a mistake to crowd the space for plants unduly. 
Lot each specimen stand nearly or quite clear from all 
others, even if it bo at the cost of throwing out some plants. 
Half a dozen fine, vigorous, uncrowded plants are much 
more satisfactory tlian three times as many crowded, and, as 
a consequence, ill-shaped and unhealthy ones. 
Suitable Soil ■ There is, doubtless, too much stress 
laid upon the importance of suitable soil; and amateurs 
sometimes become discouraged at the thought of obtaining 
the certain kind of sand, the leaf mould, the loamy soil, or 
the clay; and all the other sorts so very necessary. The real truth 
of the matter is that any good, fertile garden soil, 
that will grow plants outside, will be quite as good for window garden 
culture. The addition of a little sand or leaf mould, if it can be obtained, 
or of street sweepings for those who live in the city, or anything that will 
make the soil light and porous, is desirable for potting the young plants 
with tender roots. 
Cutting Back Plants. - 'Plants grown in the house are best 
kept in good shape by pinching the end buds of those shoots that grow 
too vigorously. This is much better than allowing a few shoots to grow 
until they need support, and then cutting them back. 
In taking up plants from the garden for house culture, it is best to cut 
back at least one-half, and, after potting in good soil, water at once, and 
put in u coo], shaded place. 
Repotting.— Amateurs, ns a rule, repot too often, and keep their 
plants in too large pots. It is of no use to give a plant fresli soil before its 
roots have pretty well occupied the old. There is a proper time to repot, 
and that is when the ball of earth is well surrounded by roots, a state 
that can bo determined by tipping the plant out of the pot. 
Another point to be remembered is, that if largo flower pots are used 
there will be more leaves than flowers. Often plants have refused to 
blossom simply because, having so much space, their energies were bent 
upon forming rootlets and leaves. 
Airing.— It is essential to give the plants on abundance of air, but 
caution is required in so doing. A draught of cold air should never be 
allowed to blow directly on the plants; the window should be lowered 
from the top for a few moments daily, unless the wind blows strongly 
from the direction in which the window is located. 
Heat ■ The amount of heat required by the ordinary class of plants 
in the window is sometimes a source of great anxiety to - 
the amateur. Our experience has been that the amount 
of beat may be governed by the effect upon ourselves; 
for example, if we are comfortable in a temperature of 
from 05 degrees to 70 degrees during the day and 50 de d 
glees to (SO degrees at night, the same heat will be justj 
right for our plants. 
Watering.— Probubly more mistakes are made inm® 
watering window plants than in any other part of their ^ 
culture. It is, of course, quite natural that the heat of^ __ 
tlu- ordinary room will have a drying effect on the plants; it is not ad- 
visable to keep the saucer filled with water constantly, as it has a tendency 
to induce sourness of the soil. The best method with which wc are 
4 
