The Window-Sill and the Area. 
121 
the house, whether as seen from within or without. But it too often happens 
that the effect is ephemeral. The plants are, perhaps, not suitable, though 
attractive. It may be early spring time, and a bleak east wind blowing. A 
hawker appears with a gay basket of pelargoniums, cinerarias, and cyclamens, 
all of which have been rapidly forced into flower in a hothouse, where they 
have not only been kept very warm, but have been bathed in atmospheric 
humidity. A purchase is made, and the plants make a bonny show to-day, 
to-morrow, and perhaps for one day more, and it is all over with them • the 
cold has killed them. Or it may be high summer, and the hawker appears 
again; and as there is no cold now to fear, another purchase is made. Once 
more a bonny show, in the blazing sunshine, where the pots become so hot 
that a tender hand dare not touch them, and in a few days they cease to be, 
for the heat has killed them. A little judgment is certainly needed to begin 
well in window gardening, but more needful than judgment is constant care, 
for where care is exercised the necessities of the plants will be discovered, 
for they almost speak for themselves, though only those who really take an 
interest in their welfare will ever discover what they mean by their varying 
aspects as their fortune changes. Pot plants answer admirably on windows, 
as everybody knows who has made a few commonplace observations, and it 
may be well to offer a few words upon the conditions that are essential to 
success. First, we must have a good selection of subjects. Forced flowers 
are not desirable, and, therefore, in the early months of the year, hardy plants 
alone should be employed. We may have during winter, and far into spring, 
neat, bushy, evergreen shrubs, such as Ardor vitce , laurestinus, box, holly, 
aucuba, ivy, and euonymus; of all these, except the first two, there are 
several varieties with variegated leaves, which, if intermixed with the dark- 
green kinds, have a beautiful appearance. The sort of window-sill on which 
a group of these would have the best appearance is one with a broad slab, 
with heavy ornamental ironwork in front to hide the pots, and prevent them 
being blown over. The sort of plants best adapted for it are short, compact, 
roundish bushes; and the best way to place them is to pack them close in 
three or four rows, the tallest in the centre, and the shorter plants on either 
side, thus forming a sort of bank, as seen both from within and without. For 
spring a few potted wallflowers, primroses, cytisus, hyacinths, tulips, and 
crocuses, may be brought forward; and they will look better if a few of the 
greenest of the evergreens are associated with them than the brightest lot of 
flowers without any such relief. For summer the zonal pelargoniums 
R 
£*41 
USZ0E* 
6 
