WINDOW GARDEN. 
[This sketch and article received first prize Floral Decorations.] 
This garden represents two large sunny windows. 
In front of each are placed ornamental window boxes 
made to stand upon feet. The size of these boxes is 
forty-eight by eighteen inches ; their height is twenty- 
two inches. Each box is provided with a zinc pan 
six inches deep, this being tilled about half full of 
lumps of charcoal and broken bits of plaster, the re¬ 
maining space then filled with rich soil. At our right 
hand window an automatic fountain forms the centre 
piece, w hos e 
trickling waters 
keep time with 
the merry song¬ 
ster s w i n g i n g 
near. The ever- 
faithful Cal la, 
with its white 
cup, so pure and 
chaste, stands 
stately by. Grace¬ 
ful ferns, varie¬ 
gated Agave, a 
modest trailing 
Fuchsia and wav¬ 
ing Palms, all 
live here in sun¬ 
shine together. 
Upon the 
brackets are a 
double Scarlet 
Geranium and a 
white Hyacinth. 
The hanging- 
basket contains 
German Ivy, 
Smilax, Money¬ 
wort 
and g 
At our left hand window a small fernery occupies 
the centre, this being supported by an iron frame, 
while upon either side of this a Dracaena and Calla 
form a background. An ornamental leaved Begonia, 
a charming mat of Smilax, some ambitious sprays of 
which have crept up the iron bracket supporting the 
fern case, forming a lovely green pyramid. A Cycla¬ 
men perfumes the air with its exquisite odor, and 
Tradescantia Zebrina reaches out its tender vines in 
every direction. Upon the lower bracket is a Mad. 
Lemoine Geranium, while a pure white Carnation 
blooms just above it. Basket filled with German Ivy, 
Smilax, Liuaria, Colens, and Centaurea. 
At each corner of boxes next the windows, English 
Ivies are planted, which are allowed to run to the 
ceiling ; the ends are here pinched off, while branches 
shoot out in all directions, forming a pretty decoration 
j to windows and mirror. 
A fancy stand, holding an aquarium, rests between 
( the windows in front of mirror. Oil-cloth mats are 
v, Centaurea, 
grasses. 
Window Garden op Mrs. T. C. Hayden, Sun Prairie,Wis. 
placed beneath each box to protect the carpet during 
the process of sprinkling; Mrs. T. C. Hayden. 
Smilax Culture. — Please give me some hints on 
Smilax culture. I have some which came from seed 
last spring; it grew only a few inches, hut has started 
finely. A. E. H. 
Answer .—The Smilax will grow in winter and rest 
in summer. Pot it in October, and grow in full light. 
When late the next spring the shoots dry up, let the 
root rest, hut not so dry as to shrivel, till the autumn. 
Plant in rich sandy loam with good drainage. 
Begonia Unhealthy. —Please tell me what to do 
with my leaf Begonia. It is in the same soil and 
temperature as my others, and still as fast as one leaf 
attains a respectable size and another starts, the first 
gradually dies. It seems as if it could not entertain 
more than one idea at a time. I have a small Zo- 
nale that does the same. Marie. 
Answer .—R e - 
pot your plants 
in light, rich soil 
and give them 
an airy sunny 
place. The or¬ 
namental leaved 
Begonias usually 
do well in the 
parlor if the air 
is not too dry, hut 
the markings are 
never so good as 
when grown in 
the greenhouse. 
Moles in 
Elower Beds. 
—In the H ov. 
number, M. S. 
Sayers asks: 
“ What will pre¬ 
vent moles from 
destroying bulbs 
and roots in gar¬ 
dens ?” I know 
of two beds for 
bulbs which are 
mole proof. A 
description may he of use to some lover of bulbs. One 
was once a barren spot where lime had been burned, 
but a border was made and filled with good soil, and 
moles or mice cannot penetrate it. The other, a trench 
was dug eighteen inches in depth, and bricks were 
placed against one side of the trench, extending around 
the bed, standing on end three bricks deep, the last 
layer projecting above ground and forming the border. 
The trench was then filled with earth. 
By Henry T. Williams. 
HEW YORK, APRIL, 1878. 
Ho. 76 . Price 12 Cents. 
