The Garden. Magazine, November, 1920 
163 
fall planting, to have the leaves hold, and fall slowly, and in a measure 
naturally. If the leaves stay on, the plant makes new roots quite 
freely; but if they shrivel up and come off prematurely, few, if any 
roots are made, unless the plant starts new growth, as it occasionally 
will. We do fall planting of fruit trees when changes in the layout of 
the orchard are desired because that is the most opportune time of 
the year. We do not plant fruit trees in the fall by choice, but merely 
as a convenience. 
Again, as Mr. Hartill suggests as an argument in favor of fall plant- 
ing, we can usually go to the nursery at that time, pick out our own 
plants, and move them, maybe with more care and certainly with less 
loss of time. But, on the other hand, we could go to the nursery in 
the spring and do the same thing, to great advantage. 1 think there is 
much in favor of spring planting in that soil conditions are decidedly 
better. 
In conclusion, what is said of fall planting of fruit trees, may be said 
of all planting. The chief argument in favor of fall planting is its con- 
venience, and this is offset by the more favorable soil conditions at the 
time of spring planting. — T. D. Hatfield, Mass. 
Elaborating the Cellar Window Frame 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
I N 1908 it occurred to me that a removable glass frame for plants 
could be fitted into one of those small oblong cellar windows at the 
ground level, and, with the window sash removed, worked from inside 
the cellar in all kinds of weather. It would have the advantage of the 
cellar warmth to help the plants on cloudy cold days, and on sunny days 
some of the excess heat could escape into the cellar. Such a frame was 
made for a south window. It was fourteen inches high (the height of 
the window) at the back and six inches in front; thirty-four inches wide 
(the width of the window) and twenty-four inches deep. The next year 
a similar frame was made for an east window. They were placed in the 
windows in October and removed late in May or early in June — after 
it was safe to set out the Peppers and Eggplants — and the ground they 
had covered was set with flowering annuals. Every winter until 1916 
they did their share of plant raising and did it pretty well, considering 
that they were made of scrap lumber and did not have thoroughly 
tight joints. Then it was found that they were worn out. New 
frames were necessary, and as more room had been needed for some 
time (what amateur gardener doesn’t always need more room?), it was 
decided to make them larger and to make one of them with double 
glass. The frames had been successful enough to be respectfully 
treated, so new clean poplar lumber was bought for them and they 
were put together with screws and with white lead in the joints. For the 
double glass parts if inch pieces were used. A half inch strip down the 
center all the way round held the glass apart and f inch beveled strips, 
fastened with brass screws so as to be easily removable in case of break- 
age, held it in place. The floor was of f inch boards and was covered 
with a piece of composition roofing. The back of the frame was made 
of a six-inch board, four feet long, across the top, an eight-inch board 
at each side and a two-inch strip across the bottom. This left an open- 
ing the size of the cellar window. Three sides of a frame that would 
slip snugly into the window were put together of six-inch boards, and 
attached with long screws around the opening in the back of the frame. 
With the thermometer at ten below zero last winter, and the wind 
blowing, the temperature in this frame dropped to thirty eight, but I 
think that it would have made a better showing had it not been for 
THIS FRAME UTILIZES CELLAR HEAT 
On cold days in winter the house heat benefits the plants started here 
two cracks where the front is joined to the sides, which were discovered 
in the spring. For ventilation an inch hole was bored in the top of 
each of the end sashes, to be stopped when not in use with a tight fitting 
wooden plug which hangs to a light chain; also a twenty inch stick was 
fastened to the middle of the upper end of the top so that it may be 
pushed up and held in place by screw eyes in the stick which slip over 
a hook inside the frame. The inside measurements of the frame are 
forty six inches long, twenty eight inches deep, twenty inches high at 
the back and fourteen at the front. As the whole thing is too bulky 
IT IS EASILY REMOVABLE 
Strongly built this frame serves all the 
purposes of a miniature greenhouse 
for one person to carry, two handles were attacned to the back piece of 
each of the end sashes so that in removing it can be tipped up on its 
back, or open side, and readily picked up. Another frame, similar in 
all respects, except with single glass was also made. — Hortulus. 
Perseverance with a Calla 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
S IX years ago a friend sent a pot of Tulips and Hyacinths to my 
mother. In the pot I found two tiny leaves about an inch long; 
and after the flowers had gone I transplanted the small plant and it 
developed into a Calla. Four years ago I repotted it into a larger pot, 
but it never blossomed. Last year 1 set it out in the ground, and still 
no blossoms. But still I didn’t despair! I brought it in the house 
again, and still no bud or blossom. This spring, however, I set it in 
a cool dark corner of the grape arbor; there it blossomed for the first 
time and more buds are showing. — Joseph Rix, Lansing, Mich. 
How Is This for Number of Blooms? 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
I N A recent article in The Garden Magazine there was a picture 
showing a patch of Peonies said to be 20 by 40 ft. with a thousand 
blooms. That is extraordinary, I know, but on the other hand I think 
my record is quite pleasing, too. We had 374 blooms at once on four 
p'ants in a bed but six feet square. — H. C. Bennett, Ohio. 
Snails and Slugs 
To the Editor of The Garden Magazine: 
I T IS very disappointing to have a nice batch of young plants in the 
frames ruined bv the mollusks. You would not mind it so much 
if your itch for revenge could be satisfied but snails and slugs are such 
retiring creatures that they are rarely seen. Their habit of lying con- 
cealed in the daytime accounts for the fact of their being more common 
than is apparent. However, there are remedies. Hand picking is of 
course the best cure for potted plants but it is too slow and tedious for 
the frames. A thorough sprinkling of the soil with a solution of am- 
monia several days previous to planting will bring the pests out of hid- 
ing and either kill them outright or make them so conspicuous that they 
can be hand picked. Another effective method is to make a circle of 
soot or quicklime around the plants. They are not apt to cross this 
but the ring requires frequent renewing as these mollusks exude a 
