WIAB ]V a A RDEMya . 
]09 
No 3. — In baskets of the same size — six inches ; bvxt in good gaiden soil 
only — set a Nicrembergia gracilis, with its slender stems and fine foliage and 
pretty white or lilac flowers, together with a Mahernia odorata, of similar habits 
and foliage, with blossoms of pale yellow, very fragrant; and a Lobelia cceles- 
tina, or L. gracilis, with ils tiny leaves ami delicate white or blue flowers, that 
will droop over the basket's rim. Start tliese plants and treat them like Ver- 
benas, or Petunias oi yanous shades, giving them the same treatment and 
allowing them to grow as they choose, like Verbenas. Or three or four bulbs 
of Oxalis, which, if started in August, after three months of complete rest in a 
dry state, will fill and cover the whole basket with their foliage and floweis 
from November till April or May. The varieties bearing white, scarlet and 
yellow, make a pretty group, or pink and white, and purple. 
No. 4. — Baskets a foot in diameter, filled with the same soil, may hold a 
Zonale geranium — Tom Tliumb, Fire King, or Mrs. Pollock ; or Mountain of 
Snow, with its white-bordered leaves — and an Ivy-leaved geranium to climb up 
the handles; with a Maurandia, a Solanum, or two or three Vincas to trail 
around the brim and about the basket. Raise these all from branches rooted 
in .sand under glass in ]May. "Water frequently, but sj)aringly, till in bud, then 
give the fertilizer mentioned in a previous chapter, and plenty of water. 
No. 5. — "A happy family," to fill a very large basket of good garden soil, 
should have one of the geraniums above mentioned for its centre ; a Euphorbia, 
with silvery foliage; Coleus, maroon or bronze ; a Bouvardia, scarlet flowers ; a 
Sanguinaria, white flowers, and mignonette and alyssuin, with moneywort, ground 
ivy, Irish iv}-, Madeira vine, Solanum and Maurandia for climbers and trailers. 
Raise the standard jjlants from slips or branches rooted in wet sand, under glass, 
in May or June. Transfer them to the basket in September, and at the same 
time set with them cuttings of the vines. Keep the basket in the shade, and 
water it scantily f 'r a month ; then give it the full sunshine and water enough 
to keep the soil from crumbling. When buds appear on any of the plants, give 
it the fertilizer once a week for two months. Be sure that the air of the room 
in which it hangs is moist by the evaporation of water upon the stove or fur- 
nace, and open the window near by twice a week for a quarter of an hour, 
shielding the plants from the draught by newspapers pinned into cone shape 
around the basket. With this management the "happy family" will be youi 
pride and delight. 
