CHA.I>TIi:]R III. 
General Management of Window Gardens. 
In-door plants natuially require more care than those grown in the open air, 
fornature supplies all the needs of the latter; but the secrets of successful growth 
and profuse blooming in the house are enumerated in the following few essential 
rules of management : 
1st. Give them plenty of light during the day, and darkness with a cooler 
temperature at night. 
2d. A good supply of fresh air, when the sun shines brightest and warmest; 
in mild days the upper sashes may be lowered a little, and the cool air will blow 
over the plants instead of directly upon them. 
3d. Perfect cleanliness, which is very important, for if the plants are covered 
with dust, they cannot grow, and will frequently die; their leaves are their 
lungs; frequent syringing will keep the leaves moist and clean. 
4th. A proper amount of moisture ; a dry atmosphere is fatal 
5th. A good compost or soil, in which their roots can luxuriate and send forth 
vigorous branches, leaves and flowers. 
6th. Get good healthy plants to start out with ; plants that have been bloom 
ing all through the summer, or for several months previous will not do well , 
new ones are best, or plants that were used the previous winter, and have rested 
during the summer, will also answer, but in general it is best to get new plants 
7th. Keep only a few plants ; too many in the window will make close crowd- 
ing; pots should never be set two or three deep on top of each other. 
8th. A uniform temperature of 60° to 70° in the day time and 40° to 45° in the 
night, should be steadily mantained. 
9th. Different places should be provided for different plants. A sunny win- 
dow with a temperature of 45° to 50,° will suit roses, geraniums, &c., best ; Bego- 
nias, Coleus, Cissus discolor, want a still warmer place of 60° to 70°, and yet but 
little or no sun light directly upon them. On the other hand. Heliotropes, and 
Bouvardias want all the sun possible, with a temperature in the daytime 
of 60° to 75°. 
Sunlight. 
Plenty of sunlight is the gardener's first requisite. If the location for this pur- 
pose is not right, the plants will not be healthy. If the plants are well placed in 
ft good light, then the pots must be turned occasionally so that all sides may 
receive it equally. It will be well also to put flower stands or racks of pots on 
