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different ways. One of the simplest 
and most lasting is simply to make the 
sides deeper than for the ordinary box, 
say ten, instead of eight inches, and put 
below the regular bottom (A-B), which 
is held in place by four small blocks in 
the corners, a second bottom of galva¬ 
nized tin or zinc (A-C-B), sloping from 
both ends to the middle, and having 
there an outlet which may be plugged 
with a cork, a short piece of lead pipe 
being good for the purpose. Upon 
watering, all surplus moisture drains 
down through the holes in the regular 
bottom and may be drained out later 
at the opening at C, and used for water¬ 
ing the box again, in this way saving 
any of the plant food which otherwise 
would be washed out of the soil and 
wasted. (See diagram on page 395.) 
It goes without saying that plant 
boxes, of whatever sort, should be well 
made and thoroughly painted. Other¬ 
wise they are short lived indeed, for 
the moisture and warmth to which they 
are subjected will make short work of 
them. All joints should be painted with A unique addition to the 
white lead before the pieces are put to¬ 
gether, and nail or screw heads painted 
over with lead. An inside lining of galvanized zinc will increase 
the life of the box many years and prove not very expensive, 
while copper is still better. The boxes may be finished by a heavy 
coat of “outside” dark green or any other suitable color, or may 
be made very attractive by giving them a covering of rough bark 
or birch-bark. Generally any further ornamentation will seem 
out of place, unless it is designed to fit in with the general finish 
and furniture of the room. 
Generally boxes to be used outside may profitably be made 
heavier and larger than those used inside. It is a mistake, as 
suggested above, to think that it must be empty and idle half 
of the year, for there are cold weather plants which will not 
only thrive, but beautify the usually dull winter appearance of 
the house and grounds. But, unless this winter feature is de¬ 
sired, a still better way, and a perfectly practical one, is to have 
a movable box, with rope handles like those shown at D, which 
are out of the way when not in use and inconspicuous. The ad¬ 
window box features is a sort of ladder which serves as a framework for 
climbing ivy 
vantages of such an arrangement are many. In the first place 
you can have a collection of your choicest plants inside your 
window in winter and outside of it in summer; or if the situa¬ 
tion there is too exposed to the sun as is often the case, you can 
move it bodily during the heat of mid-summer to a more con¬ 
genial situation in partial shade. Your box can be filled for the 
winter outside — making no muss in the house — and the plants 
grown for several weeks under ideal conditions, and got into the 
(Continued on page 392) 
When placed outside of casement windows the box should not be too 
close if the windows are often opened and closed 
The jutting beams which here support the boxes are in themselves true 
architectural features of the house 
