ON WINDOW FLORICULTURE. 
107 
allowed to grow too high, they have a fine appearance in their 
season. Among the window shrubs must not be forgot several of 
the myrtles, and the Camellia Japonica, which is the gem of the 
whole, and at the same time a very hardy plant. 
All or the greater number of those which we have now enu¬ 
merated are natives of moist atmospheres and dripping climates, 
though of porous soils, which have a good under-drainage. It is 
only while they are of low growth, and bushy down to the surface 
of the pot, that they do well for windows ; for tall and scrambling 
shrubs never look well in such situations. Several of the Cactus 
tribe do very well for the same sort of culture. Their singular stems 
make a striking variety, and some of the flowers are very fine. 
They are a hardy race, being nearly allied to our common goose¬ 
berry, and living under considerable variations of climate and 
temperature. The Fuchsias are also well adapted for filling up 
the intervals of other shrubs ; and as they are chiefly natives of 
countries where they are much exposed to the vicissitudes of the 
weather, they are capable of enduring very considerable changes. 
There are but few annuals which we would recommend for 
window culture, and of these the greater number are hardy plants, 
and do better in boxes outside the windows than in pots within- 
side. Thus we have hinted at the general principle by which 
the window cultivator ought to be guided, pointed out the limits 
of his attempts both in latitude and in altitude, and noticed a few 
of the plants, chiefly the shrubby ones, which are best adapted for 
his purpose. There are, however, many eligible ones, both 
shrubby and herbaceous, which are well worthy of notice, and 
there are some which are of such recent importation, that it 
has not been determined whether they will suit for window culture 
or not; but we shall return to the subject, after we have collected 
the requisite information from sources that are perfectly authentic, 
which is a much more difficult matter than most ordinary florists 
are aware of. To give a long list of the flowers which somebody 
introduces into window culture, and to detail the manner in 
which somebody treats them, is an easy matter, because it is one 
of mere quotation ; at the same time, it is one of very little use, 
because it is empirical, and nothing can be founded upon it: but 
to point out the flowers which are most suitable, the reasons why 
they are so, the modes of treating, and all the philosophy of the 
subject, is much more difficult; at the same time it is much more 
