The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-02-28
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Horticulture.

ANIMALS FOR WINDOW BOXES
During the last week have had several i'm
quiries from my correspondents for some an
nuals that win grow and bloom in boxes placed
ON the outside of the window. In Europe,
Where flowers are admired and cultivated by
every person, rich and poor, we have often
been surprised TO see such Il magnificent box
garden, often at the window of the sixth story
OF house Even in the densely- populated
,wynds OF the city of Edinburgh, IN Scotland.
lhaye seen gay colored Nasturtiums aud lovely
marked Morning Glorics growing luXurantly
IN IN old teapot or some other dilapidated piece
OF crockery. l find there are many, in such
large cities as Chicago and elsewhere, who have
not a FOOT OF garden ground-indeed some or
my correspondents write me they live away up
among the clouds almost, but they do want to
grow some flowers, and il is for the purpose OF
teaching such ones how their ambition can be
gratified that pen this article.
remember III my boyhood my first garden
was window box. IL was made the length OF
my window about six inches deep and eight
inches wide; the outside painted green; but
will tell you an improvement on that Get
piece OF oil cloth, with small, neat figure, and
tack that on. In that way you can get an iml-
Ia ion of a tile or mosaic box The box can be
fastened on the outside of the window by means
OF brackets either of iron or wood
Do not forget to bore holes in the bottom of
the box to allow surplus water TO escape, and put
In at least an inch OF broken pots, small stones,
or other suitable material, for drainage Almost
any soil will do, only that it il mellow and
porous. III the soil il heavy add about one
third it's bulk of sand. so much for lifting out
the window box Now | will tell you what can
be grown Ill it from seed. and also name a few
plants which will flourish in such situations.
In the corners, then, you might plant running
vines OF these are Nasturtiums, Scarlet Run
ner or Towering Bean Dolichos or Hyacinth
Bean, Morning Glory, Cypress Vine and Balloon
Vine. The two last named are slow To ger
inmate. They should be soaked twenty-four
hours, pouring the water on while boiling hot.
Tho Dwarf Morning Glories (Conyolvuus
Mino-) makes good center, and a few ten
weeks stocks, so called because they bloom in
ten weeks after the seeds are sown. Every
body likes Petunia, but the seeds are very
small Some people don't use judgment III
sowing seeds; they cover all, whether coarse
or me, with the same amount Of soil, seeming
ly never realizing that sHch tiny seeds az Port
ulacca, Petunia, Ice Plant cannot push through
II The result is the seed is as effectually
buried IA II sunken III the depths of the earth.
BOW all such tine seeds on the surface, giving
no covering wbateyer. Well, after q white YOU
might want to pick bouquet fro your window
box, therefore scatter some Mignonettes,
Candytuft and Sweet Alyssum seeds theee
need a slight covering. Now i have told you
abont some running vines, and perhaps some
would like Ira lers TO droop over the box; for
this purpose use Nerembergia and Sanvitalia.
Sweet Alyssum also will make a nice dropping
plant as will also Mesembryanthemum, or Ice
Plant But supposng no running vices are
wanted, and the box is 70 be set in a very sunny
window | cannot think of better Annual than
Portulacca. They come i'll great variety of
colors, will bear neglect, and glory in tho
hottest sun.
For plants for window boxes, perhaps
the most suitable are Geraniums, !or they
will bloom all summer long-Ivy Geranium
especially. Those with yGriegated foliage look
we'll in window box, and the odging can be
made of Alternanthera Thrift and PyIethrum.
In writing these letters my desire is to in
crease the love of flowers among all classes
to show the occupants of the rudest shanty that
they. as well AZ those who are endowed with
wealth. can enjoy the beauties of the floral
kingdom on an equal footing. To those who
have never grown flower | would say, begin
now; and, if You cannot procure seed any other
way, viii give you some free to encourage you
in the undertaking. Mr. IINNIE.
Box lO1, Hinsdale, Dupage county Ill.