42 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 
October 21. 
the darupucss of this puddle into vapour, the moss in it 
sucks it up like a sponge, and on getting into cooler 
quarters, the loam sucks it back from the moss, and so 
by a system of “ give and take,” the moisture is retained 
in the moss for a very long time, much longer than 
could he expected from either the moss or the loam by 
itself; at any rate, the effects are now fully known and 
taken advantage of, whether we can explain them pro¬ 
perly or not. 
One remark which Mr. McDonald made to me I can¬ 
not withhold, as it may he of use in extreme cases. He 
said that, if this box was placed inside another box that 
was one inch larger all round, and that inch space filled 
with charcoal dust, the whole might go to Taranaki and 
back again with perfect safety to the plants. I also 
learned that a hundred plants, including fruit-trees, 
might thus be packed, and sent on board in London, at 
from Is. to Is. Cd. per head. D. Ef.aton. 
NOTES ON WINDOW-GAEDENING. 
With all the deficiencies that exist in this department, 
there are great and pleasing signs of progi-ess. Often 
have I witnessed results that would constitute no in¬ 
appropriate lesson to the best gardeners among us. 
These happy efl'ects are never the consequence of what 
the indolent too often term “ a lucky hit,” or “ a lucky 
chance.” I have no faith in such chances. I look upon 
the expression, “ lucky fellow,” as one which ignorance 
too often trippingly uses for shrouding from itself its 
own thriftlessness, idleness, and impudence. From the 
window of the lady’s buodoir, to that in the garret of 
the street apple woman ; from the balcony in a suburban 
retreat, to the smoky leads on the summits of houses in 
London, I have seen plants beautiful and flourishing; 
but never as a matter of “ luck,” but always the con¬ 
sequence of care, cleanliness, and good management, 
commingled with something of the enthusiastic for all 
that pertains to vegetation. Nor is this all. Whatever 
there may be in the strange principles of mesmerism, 
there can be no question, that the tending of plants 
from love to them, will always exert a softening and 
refining influence upon human character. Without that 
love, plants may be well grown as a matter of specu¬ 
lation and trade, but without it, and no pecuniary object 
in view, we shall see little of fine gardening in our 
cottage windows. This becomes a matter of no little 
moment, if it be true, as we contend it is, that the con¬ 
dition of a garden, and the state of the window plants, 
form no bad criterion of the tastes and aspirations of 
those who reside within. Would that Britain’s daughters 
would clearly see how easily youthful swains “ might 
thus take their notes,” and read their character. 
! Our Editor miglit well say it was difficult to please 
I every one. Some have complained that we devote too 
I little attention to this interesting subject; while others, 
j again, say “ You are always dabbling about the windows, 
] as if there were no other place in which to grow 
and keep plants; can’t you present the subject under 
i (suXixelY netv features ?” There is the difficulty. It is an 
j easy matter to fabricate, or borrow a new idea, and back 
' and ride it right valiantly, heedless of consequences; 
but, much as we like novelty, we like those things that 
I are practically demonstrated much better, and writing 
for the practicals, truth obliges us to say, that in this 
window-gardening concern we are really at a stand¬ 
still for the novel. Almost every plant most suitable for 
window-gardening has been mentioned; the mode of 
cultivation alluded to; everything connected with eco¬ 
nomy, taste, suitability to the circumstances, adverted to 
and elucidated; and I hesitate not to say, that the 
various papers scattered through the work, if collected 
and arranged, would constitute the best treatise on the 
subject that has ever appeared. Then why allude to the 
subject now? Many reasons might be given. Let three 
for the present suffice. Many are now trying their hand 
who have read but few of these papers. Many say that 
they have tried hard to work according to rule, and yet 
have not fully succeeded; and many, again, care less 
for winter display than making their windows repo¬ 
sitories for plants to bloom out-of-doors in summer. 
From what we have been told, and what I have seen, I 
can clearly see several causes of failure, and these ob¬ 
viated, as many means of success will be secured. We 
may so far avoid the one, and secure the other, by 
attending to the following propositions or directions. 
First, House the Plants, or get them under shelter early 
in October. In the northern counties temporary protec¬ 
tion should be secured by the end of September. Few 
window-gardeners will content themselves with one set 
of plants for the season. They best show their know¬ 
ledge who can have their windows always fresh and gay 
with successions of plants and bloom. For this purpose 
many things may be kept out-of-doors during the sum¬ 
mer, and in many cases, cuttings taken from flowering 
plants in spring will beat their sires in autumn. In 
a warm, dry autumn, the longer the plants stand shel¬ 
tered in the open air the better. Their stems thus get 
more thoroughly matured. Some, of course, want more 
hai-dening than others. I lately mentioned all the broad 
sectioned tribe of Cacti-Epip)hyllums as being well- 
suited for window-gardening. Their blooming well in 
spring and summer depends on the quantity of bright 
light that plays on their stems during the previous 
autumn. Clear sunshine, and comparative dryness at 
the roots, are the things to aim at. A soaking at the 
roots now, would give so much moisture to the stems, 
that the muggy atmosphere of a whole winter would 
scarcely evaporate it. A very little frost would also 
injure the embryo-buds, though as yet next to imper¬ 
ceptible. Geraniums and other things are also injured 
by both such means. A miserable sickly hue during 
the whole of the winter is often the result of a few hours 
frost or sleet in autumn. If circumstances compel you 
to keep your plants out late, provide a temporary cover¬ 
ing that you can throw over them in a moment of emer¬ 
gency. A light slied, an empty room, anywhere, where 
light and air can be given, will be a more secure place 
than out-of-doors, after the commencement of this month. 
Plants, however tender, will stand a great degree of cold, 
if they are dry. 
2udly. Shift and pot early, and, as a pre-requisite, 
strike cuttings early. Plants, whether old or young, if 
growing freely, and fresh roots reaching the sides of the 
pots, will stand rougher treatment, and require far less 
trouble in winter, than plants whose roots are beginning 
to move into fresh soil. Eveiy little oversight, such as 
too much wet or too much dryness, a moist atmosphere 
or a dry one, a cold air or a warm air, are apt to be 
injurious to the latter. 'The poor things resemble a 
man with several enemies, who has got no wall against 
which to plant his back,—no firm yet gently-yielding 
ground on which to rest his feet. The transplanting of 
a cutting, or the shifting of a plant pretty well esta¬ 
blished from one pot to another, always is accompanied 
by a check to the growing principle. Where conve¬ 
niences exist, we neutralize these as much as possible 
by close jiits and shading, to lesson evaporation, until 
the roots are again fairly at work, and thus we submit 
to a present inconvenience in hopes of obtaining a 
future advantage. But our window-gardeners are, gene¬ 
rally, not overburdened with conveniences; and their only | 
chance to have plants in a nice healthy state in winter, ' 
is to pot little after the first of September. It is true, 
many things may be potted now, but they must rather ; 
be viewed as reserves for the future than ornaments for | 
the present. j 
