House and Garden 
AN KLABORATF. WINDOW BOX 
GARDEN ARRANGEMENT OVER PORTE-COCHERE 
AN ATTRACTIVE ARRANGEMENT OF FERNS 
either of iron, strongly riveted, or of 
wood, with inner lining of cement. 
There should he placed in the center 
of the basin, and at irregular intervals 
along the edges, grottoes of stones and 
cement. In these should be crevasses 
in which water plants can find root, 
and where gold fish can find hiding 
places. There should be a drain pipe 
for carrying off surplus water from 
the basin, also a fountain apparatus. 
A small statue—a wood-nymph or 
water-sprite—adds greatly to the 
charm of one of these miniature lakes. 
Maidenhair ferns, the smaller variety 
of umbrella plant, asparagus fern, 
wandering jew and dwarf water lilies 
are all adaptable and charming for the 
water garden. To further beautify the 
home, in case there is ground space, 
and make use of the overflow from the 
fountain, it is an excellent idea to 
have a bed of ferns and papyrus 
directly beneath the window box, into 
which the drain pipe can drop. 
Window boxes may he elaborate 
and expensive, or simple and inex¬ 
pensive. The design is of no great 
consequence, for trailing vines soon 
droop and cover all architectural 
features, that is if these vines are en¬ 
couraged with good care and petting. 
Some people'have a clever faculty of 
making plants thrive, while others 
have a withering influence. Plants 
are like children and wives; they de¬ 
mand affection and care all the time. 
Spasmodic attentions are irritants. 
If a plant is petted for a week and 
neglected for a month it begins to 
scowl, whereas, if given uniform treat¬ 
ment it laughs all the time. Mrs. 
Theodosia Shepherd, of Ventura, 
California, whose successes with 
flowers are considered miraculous, 
says that whatever she wills her 
flowers to do, they do. 1 his obe¬ 
dience is the reward they give for her 
love and devotion. 
Window boxes ordinarily used are 
made of wood and painted green, 
though sometimes they are painted 
to correspond with the house on which 
they are put. A box of this kind for 
a four foot window costs about one 
dollar and a half, including iron 
brackets, and is suitable for any 
place, provided vines are planted 
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