Se $4 ^aeI^ies , floral sft«>£iL3net tolii 3 ?tctoriml BBEonie ilompaRion. 
101 
!3p ‘Hbrnir §itrfott + 
THE WINDOW GARDEN BOX. 
Owing to the superior advantages of the garden box 
over the long-used and troublesome flower pots, it is 
destined to become more and more popular every season. 
It is a true case of “ love at first sight.” Sixteen differ¬ 
ent parties have had boxes made and filled within the 
last three weeks after seeing ours. The gentlemen 
universally admire them, which is not always the case 
with a stand of flower pots. This fact alone is enough 
to recommend them. Pots and 
vases are not to be entirely dis¬ 
carded, for we must have our spe¬ 
cimen plants, such as the English 
Ivy, which few can do without, 
the larger ferns, and now and then 
a cactus ; but for the general col¬ 
lection the pots are not desirable, 
having a dirty, soiled appearance 
not pleasing to the eye; the 
smaller ones dry up too soon, 
causing buds to droop and leaves 
to turn yellow. Pots cramp the 
roots, which accelerates the bloom, 
but at the expense of a vigorous, 
healthy plant. 
The garden box gives plenty of 
root room, does not readily suffer 
from drought, is more effectually 
watered, from one to two quarts a 
day being sufficient, thus giving 
the leaves their much needed bath, 
tending to prevent insects by the 
moisture, and clean leaves. The 
earth, being in one body, keeps a 
more even temperature, greatly 
facilitating plant growth. Broken 
leaves and handling pots are done 
away with. 
The box or stand can be con¬ 
structed by any carpenter, costing 
from two to ten dollars, lasting 
several years, and will amply re¬ 
pay all outlay in the pleasure af¬ 
forded the family and friends. If 
expensively made it can be lined 
with zinc to preserve the wood, 
hut plants do not do as well—it is 
air-tight and too cold. Always 
have a hole in the bottom for 
drainage. Plants soon dump off 
with their roots saturated with 
water, unless water plants. The 
outside of the box can be orna¬ 
mented with mouldings and scrolls 
of different kinds of wood. A box 
made twenty inches wide, seven 
inches deep and four feet long, will 
do nicely for most windows. It can be varied to suit 
taste and convenience. Raised to the height of the 
window sill, always have castors on the legs. Fill 
with soil made of one bushel leaf mould from beech 
and maple wood, oak leaves are too acid ; one bushel 
well-rotted sod or pure loam, one-half bushel sharp 
plaster sand, one-half peek fine charcoal; it adds 
deeper green to the foliage and sweetens the soil; 
one quart air slacked lime, for worms. If winter 
blooming plants be selected, according to the location 
the more so the better, an abundance of bloom can be 
had the entire winter. 
For centre of group select a blooming Calla, it is 
unsurpassed; a Coleus one side—a Coleus Ver- 
chaffelti is one of the best—a Rose Geranium on the 
other, a good Madeira Vine in each end, Carnations 
and China Pinks next the glass, Primroses on the 
opposite side, filling in here and there with Oxalis, 
Smilax, Sweet Alyssum, Cyclamen, Centaurea, fern, 
mosses and many other plants fancied by the posses¬ 
sor, either for beauty of leaf or flower, as a winter 
plant. Hanging baskets suspended above are a de¬ 
cided improvement. A tenfoot wire rod fastened at 
each end, for the Madeira Vines to climb over, com¬ 
pletes the picture. Pensee. 
Lilium Lancifolium Rubrum. 
MY FLOWER GARDEN. 
This spring, my place being new, the front yard 
had to be filled up to the height of two feet. The soil 
being so poor I was obliged to take three or four inches 
of the poor soil out of my heds and carry dirt in a 
bucket or a wheelbarrow where I could find it. I even 
went to the woods and got leaf mould. My sou, twelve 
years of age, being a great lover of flowers, like my¬ 
self, assisted me in my wonderful work. My neigh¬ 
bors would say, “ Her labor is in vain.” My husband 
having made me a hot-bed, I purchased seeds from 
two or three florists. Nearly every seed came up. By 
the time my plants were ready to set out, my beds 
were ready for the plants. My son laid out my gar¬ 
den, which was neatly done—a long bed each side of 
the walk, at each end a round bed, with four three- 
cornered beds, and the centre was laid out as given in 
the April number of the Floral Cabinet. One bed 
was filled with Asters, which is now a beauty to be¬ 
hold. My Balsams were as large as roses, nearly all 
of them double, twenty-five different colors, seven and 
eight inches in circumference. My Candytuft is in 
bloom for the second time. When it is nearly through 
blooming I cut all the seed pods off and it will con¬ 
tinue iu bloom a long time. The Brunchcome, or 
Swan River Daisy, is a beautiful 
bordering plant, and is a constant 
bloomer; there is a number of 
colors. The Double Portuluca 
is another. They look so much 
like roses I would name it Rose 
Moss. Gaila is a grand border¬ 
ing plant. The Convolvus is 
another worthy of cultivation, 
and the fragrant Mignonette, 
which perfumes the whole air, 
and delightful Alyssum. Every 
one is so well acquainted with 
Phlox Drumondi, we could not 
dispense with that glorious plant 
in our gardens. Mine was a 
perfect beauty. My Verbena 
bed also made a grand display, 
and were noticed by all who 
passed by. They more than 
pay any one for their labor, es¬ 
pecially the bright-eyed ones. 
The Petunia is another plant 
that thrives, and doubly pays 
any one to see the beautiful col¬ 
ors. These bright colors make 
such a beautiful display for fall 
flowers. The fragrant Mira- 
bilis Peru. How we welcome 
their greeting at evening and 
morning, and bid them adieu at 
noontide. There is the beauti¬ 
ful Cassia plant, a native of our 
Western prairies; its habit is 
like that of the Sensitive plant; 
it has a bright golden flower 
with dark centre. Those who 
never cultivated it I think would 
be pleased with it. There is 
another, the Silene or Catchfly, 
a beauty for bouquets, and 
Phacelia Ageratmn is a perfect 
gem of beauty. Cacalia, or 
Flora’s Paint Brush, makes a 
grand display on account of its 
brilliancy. I think my pinks 
are as beautiful as any in culti¬ 
vation. I purchased seeds last 
spring and to-day I have counted forty different colors. 
They are mostly double. They are as serviceable as 
any flower, and are very nice for button-hole bou¬ 
quets, which most of the gentlemen aie fond of. What 
is nicer for a bouquet than the beautiful Pinks ? 
The Calliopsis is another showy plant, a constant 
bloomer until Jack Frost lays his deathly hands on it. 
The Foxglove, Day Lily or Funkia, and Forget-Me- 
Not, the Dahlias, Gladiolus and Campanula, these we 
hardly know how to get along without. 
Mrs. Mary J. Stumpfer. 
Binghampton, N. Y. 
