THE FLORIST. 
123 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
This is a subject whose importance ought not to be overlooked by 
any journal, and especially by a work having for its object the ad¬ 
vancement of Floriculture in every department. Doubtless many of 
your readers (and particularly your fair readers) are successful culti¬ 
vators of various greenhouse plants with only the accommodation of 
the window and the balcony. 
In the windows of a dwelling-house (bow-windows being most 
suitable) with a south or south-east aspect, many greenhouse plants 
might be grown to highly creditable specimens ; and with a judicious 
selection, a continuation of bloom might be maintained throughout 
the year. For the first three months, a succession of hyacinths may 
be kept in bloom, either in glasses or pots; or in a large china 
bowl, grown in moss, along with a few crocuses of different colours, 
which will produce a very pleasing effect. As the last blooms of the 
hyacinth fade, the cineraria will be ready to replace them, and the 
latter will flower abundantly until the pelargonium begins to shew 
colour: the latter again will bloom freely during the months of May, 
June, and July. This plant has always been an especial favourite 
with the window gardener, and is perhaps of all others the plant best 
adapted for the purpose. The calceolaria may also be bloomed in the 
window with tolerable success. Fuchsias might likewise be added 
with advantage ; the large clusters of pendulous flowers, and the 
rich and graceful habit of this plant, will considerably enhance the 
gaiety of the room-window during the summer and autumn months. 
For winter, the china primrose {primula sinensis) will be found to 
create a desirable variety. It is a plant of easy culture, and will bloom 
in great profusion from October until April. The verbena, tropseolum, 
and many other gay subjects might be added, if the extent of the 
accommodation rendered their introduction practicable. 
For the window, it may be observed that the plants require to be 
rather largely potted, as the soil is more apt to become dry than in 
the greenhouse. Air must be given at all times when the mildness 
of the weather will permit; but it is better to remove the plants 
entirely out of doors or on to the balcony, than to expose them to a 
current of air often consequent on a partial opening of the window. 
Regular attention as to watering the plants is indispensable, and 
fumigate with tobacco-smoke when necessary, to destroy green-fly. 
A more detailed account as to the compost and general culture of 
these plants will be found in the different treatises thereon in this 
work, and the monthly calendar of operations for greenhouse culture 
will invariably be found applicable to window gardening. 
M.W. 
