WINDOW GARDENING. 
113 
The Ivy requires rich soil in -which to grow, and must have strong food. 
"Of right choice food are its moals, I ween." 
You must therefore select for it the best soil which your garden can afiFord ; add 
to it one-half each of well-decayed manure and leaf mould rubbed together ; 
then set the pan of compost in the oven and bake it, if you wish to kill all larvae 
of worms and white ants. 
Plant the roots in large, well-drained pots, with an inch or two of bits of char- 
coal at the bottom, and as the roots inciease transfer them to larger-sized pots or 
buckets. The Ivy will grow in wood vessels as well as pottery, and pails or 
buckets painted green can be made to do duty for the pots. 
Should the roots appear to be too thickly crowded in too small a pot, run a 
knife around the edge of the soil and turn over the ball of earth. If this is so. 
cut oflf a few of the outer ones, and then repot in rich soil in a little larger 
vessel. 
The Ivy seems to be the least sensitive to changes of light of any plant we 
have; neither docs it require much heat, thus being exceedingly well adapted to 
situations in halls or balconies, or rooms not very well heated. Figure 14 shows 
how it may be of great service in decorating a hall, the brackets holding the pota 
being fastened to the side of the wall, and the ivy permitted to climb up both 
wall and porch. 
If planted in pots and trained to stakes, they can be readily moved from one 
window to another, or from one room to another ; it is much the most con 
venient method to have the Ivy in some portable form. 
Like all other plants, however, it must have a uniform temperature, and though 
it will bear a little chilling without much injury, yet it should be kept where 
there is some degree of warmth. 
It dehghts in considerable moisture, and if neglected or p2imitted to dry up, 
its luxuriance soon suffers ; hence, a saucer or pan should be kept full of water, 
ready at any time for its use. 
During the spring and summer months the pots of Ivy are often carried to the 
outer air, and placed on the balcony or under a tree in the lawn or garden. Ileie 
they might be neglected ; so we again repeat our caution : do not forget the 
water. 
When brought into the house the leaves should be carefully washed with soap- 
suds and water; all unsightly branches and torn leaves removed. 
Ivies for the house should be brought in before November, or even before it is 
time to build the fire. Place first in a cool room, and then bring gradually into 
the warmer room. 
When placed where they are to stand, the vines should be gracefully arranged, 
and secured by small strings to the wood-work, or to the curtain by bits of green 
worsted braid. The green creeping foliage is a fine contrast to the whiteness of 
the delicate lace curtain. 
Vines can be grown by immersing the stems in small vials of water, and fast- 
ening them to the backs of picture frames they are desired to ornament. With 
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