The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-04

Haating Det.r still, it may
'A-~'--~-D- fair by. cov-
coues ,sog horizontal
a. 10 Jrf6dgh- -barkcd wood. Birch
bOughs or laurels, or both alternating,
will answer, halyed lengthwise with
the saw, and cut into sections to 1T
the box, the shelf which supports IL
being edged with the same. or
gaily-coi0red affair may be made WIN
narrow strips of oil-cloth, finished OIL
with a wooden moulding at top and
bottom. set pattern being ct osen, Of
bright solid colors, like the tiles
which arc so much i'm vogue for more
expensive arrangements. In either
case. unless the window-seat is of un-
usua; width, a strong pine shelf must
be adjusted i'm the recess to support
the box, and the edge which fronts the
room must be ornamcnted or stained
TO match.
The ono essential of winter garden
ing is sun. That secured. the rest is
easy. A south window, with shade
which can be raised or lowered at
pleasure, is best. The box provided
and the shelf SET, begin operations by
a bottom layer of broken charcoal. Ii
is well to have the large plants in pots,
both for convenience of removal, and
TO obyiate the need of box drainage,
which is troublesome thing in par
lor. Set the pots on top of the char
coal, arranging according to fancy,
bat keeping the taller plants in the
middle. Free, hardy blooners, such as
fiIchsias, tea roses, geraniums--scarlet,
rose, and white-carnations, Chinese
primroses, do better in the house, as
general thing, than tropical ferns and
bigonias, which are so temptingly
beautiful in conservatories and perish
so quickly out of them. One or two
foliage plants also, a Coleus, "Aturan-
thus or a silver-ieaved myrtle. will
be Lretty, and two or three German
or English ivics.
Fill in around the pots with light
friablc soil, One-iifih sand, and smooth
the top over so as to cover the pots.
Now, into the interstices you may tuck
smaller plants--mignonette, lobelia,
sweet aylssum, crocus, and jonquill
bulbs, ivy, gcraDium, money-wort.
There should be a MADEIRA vine or two
TO avch the window and twinkle across
the upper pancs. Last of all, cover
the surface with moses fresh from the
woods, amid whose roots will be
tangled all sorts of sweet wild things,
partridge berry, tiny ferns, cranberry
vine, and dozen more. Water we'll
and sprinkle the surface every day
with a fine rose or whisk broom. La
ter in the season, as some plant grows
yellow or dull, you can lift it out and
carefully insert a new one; a hyaciif
with white or purple bells, tall
spiked heath, baby cactus, or Jeru-
salem cherry with fruit of coral and
the sudden frightening of the whole,
by virtue of the new addition, will
'tartle you into fresh pleasure, like
the lovely surprises of the spring.
The water used for the plants should
be tempered slightly when the wealth
or is very cold. 1t is good plan to
Keep wet sponge hidden somewhere
about the box. An furnace warmed
houses are dry, and the more water
evaporatcd into the air the better.
EvaporiLers of unglazcd clay for the |
registers are Of great assistance. They |
arc made TO hold gallon, and will |
ovaporatc that quantity of water daily |
in tho register of an ordinary furnace.
inspiration" and good humor too,
are very apt TO "go down through that
hole in the floor" as nerves and
temper give way under the strain of
dry heat, and the addition of four
quarts of moisture daily to the air of
the si,ting-room in which you live,
will be found of sensible benefit TO |
yourplauts, your furniture, and your
self,