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Some Good Window Plants 
HERE are many plants that are 
available, but unfortunately not 
well known to those outside the trade, 
that are most suitable for window orna¬ 
mentation. In the winter we need all the 
light that is possible to get in the house, 
so any plant arrangement at the window 
that shuts off the sunshine is a failure. 
The latter place is the usual one to keep 
plants during the cold season, yet in reality 
it is only a toleration and the object sought 
is really defeated. Plants that do not fit 
are worse than useless. Lanky skeletons 
with a fringe of leaves looking best from 
the outside are reflections on our sanity. 
The old standbys are always good, but 
help them out with an occasional new 
thing, or make the old ones take on a new 
look by a new treatment; in short, give the 
matter a little thought and the effort will 
be well rewarded. 
Let us work out the possibilities of 
some of these propositions. Sunny win¬ 
dows should be chosen. It is all right to 
talk about dark windows, but the best 
results will be had with the windows where 
the none too hot winter sun streams in 
part of the day. Keeping the idea of let¬ 
ting in all the light possible, dress the 
window low in front, up the sides as high 
as you like and across the middle if you 
want to. Needless to say, small plants 
must be used for this, and a few auxil¬ 
iaries in the line of receptacles, portable 
shelves, window boxes, etc. 
The following are novel for window 
use and are all small: Mint, Lycopodium, 
Fittonia, Panicum, Peperomia, Pteria Wil- 
soni, Echeveria, Sedum. Others, larger 
growing and of which small plants must 
be chosen, are: Rubbers, Kentias, Grevel- 
lias, Cyperus, Dracenas, etc. 
Now as to the auxiliaries spoken of. 
The suggestion of window boxes is very 
apt to dampen one’s ardor, as it harks back 
to the summer and the only window boxes 
we are familar with, and we realize the 
impossibility of such for house use. The 
contrivances hinted at here are small, 
portable affairs which for the want of a 
better name must be called window boxes, 
though some daintier title would be more 
fitting. Make the box as long as the win¬ 
dow. It should be three to four inches 
wide and the same deep and lined with 
metal. Such a box is easily handled and 
small plants will live in it perfectly. A 
very light brace will easily sustain it in 
place without any disfiguration of the 
woodwork. Another way is to have the 
box the same dimensions in the center, in¬ 
creasing the ends to six inches by curving 
the lines. The shelves, if needed, can be 
of equally light construction, and for the 
side of the window wire or light metal 
holders can be used. 
Of the small plants spoken of nothing 
makes a more attractive arrangement than 
the mint —Mentha puleginum Gibraltica. 
It grows about two inches high in a com¬ 
pact mass of vivid green and gives out a 
most agreeable suggestion of mint. Once 
established in the box and supplied 
with plenty of sunlight it is decidedly 
ornamental. It resembles a miniature 
well-kept lawn plus the odor of mint. It 
is inexpensive and grows with surprising 
rapidity, so that from a very limited origi¬ 
nal supply an unlimited amount can be had 
in a short time. To start, separate the 
stock plants and put them in the soil about 
an inch apart; water regularly and put in 
the sun, shading for a few days until it 
takes hold. 
The decorative possibilities in using this 
plant either in combination with others 
Dracena Sanderi is a good small window 
plant 
Cissus discolor should not have too much 
dry heat 
Peperomia does well in windows that 
are sunny 
Crevellia robusta is desirable when of 
this small size 
( 312 ) 
