WINDOW GARDENING. J 
Flowers, plants too, often supply the place of children in bereaved homes ; 
for their soul-refreshing, heart-inspiring, and eye-brightening influences, are 
joys to wean the thoughts from pain or soriow. 
Some mother perhaps cherishes fondlv in her home a few beautiful Fuchsias 
placed on a stand upon the window sill She never tires of looicing upon their 
graceful shapes, or the briglitly colored jewel blossoms drooping downwards, 
for they remind her of the delight they once gave her little child before it went to its 
angel home The value to her of these treasures, with their brilliant colors and 
snowy waxen petals, rose-colored or purple corollas, cannot be measured with 
the ordmary expression of language 
Among the most gratifying signs of florai taste, is the evidence of their intro- 
duction into school rooms. The teacher is perhaps fond of them and knows 
their influence. Their very delicacy, forbidding rougn handling, serves to impose 
a wholesome restraint upon the children ; if ever they are tired with their study, 
a few glances at the windowsill, and us pots of bloom, wreathe their faces with 
genial smiles, and they go to work again with willing hearts and refreshed 
thoughts. The curiosity of children, too, is proverbial, and many a girl learns more 
of nature froui the living .specimens before her, than from the dry details of her 
book of botany 
Not less important can we consider flowers and plants, as the best and most 
prncUcal edncatom oniealthij sentiment. They are al vra^'S suggestive of purity 
and refinement. Nothing is so conducive to cheerfulne.ss, or creates efforts to 
make home attractive, like their presence in the household. Constant associa- 
tions with such objects of floral beauty, fits people to rank high as useful mem- 
bers of society. A floral writer has already expressed these sentiments in a 
most charming manner . 
" They are a spring of sunshine, a constant pleasure. We would have flowers 
in every home, for their sunny light, for their cheerful teachings, for their insen- 
sibly ennobling influence." 
As an amusement for the invalid, Window Gardening through the form of plant 
cases, is very appropriate. We call to mind an instance of one compelled in 
consequence of a bodily infirmity, to take up a residence in the city. 
lie had enjoyed for a long time in the country the pleasures of the green-house, 
and endeavored whilst in the city to replace it once more. A small but inexpen- 
sive three light green-house was erected in the back yard, open, airy. There 
he gratified his taste for floricultural subjects by gathering together an interesting 
collection of valuable ferns and orchids. In an upper room was arranged a capa- 
cious feni case, and there the invalid would spend many days during the win- 
ter recumbent upon the sofa dilating upon the pleasures of being able to watch 
the growth of a vigorous intertwining mass of curious forms of foreign ferns, many 
of them j)roductions from distant portions of the globe, New Zealand, India, 
Mexico, Japan 
In our country homes, how common to see the plant stand before the window 
witli its dozen or so oots of Geraniums, Primroses, Azaleas, &c., while an inva 
