The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-23
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LOG.ALx MATTERS.
.,WiHdow-Gardenfns..

SOME, gCGGEsTIO.NS AS. TO KEEPING FLOWER
DTRISG THE ISTER-THE BEST TARIE
E''t TrEsAG PLAN FOR An 'EcUSonIcAI.. All
lafEFF1cESf eREEN.tf oUsE. fiTgaci.s,s. )
:"Those'who love flowers and who does
not ?-and have. places in which &C
keep ), them during rhe winter-nice
warm windows with southern expo.
sure, or larger bay windows, gather.
ing more OF the sunshine should now
begin to- make preparation for, stock
OF winter: :blo0ming plants--ger aninms. YER
benas, mignohette, heliotrope, .hyacinthes,
tulips, While alyssnD, and all the numerous
kinds which are indicated by fancy or pre-
pious success in that line. Some tf these
are propagated by cuttings, which work
may DOW be done; others are raised from
seed. which by the amateur should be soWn
In small pots plunged in the ground, or in
boxes, In moist, shady places, to be put in
larger pots and moved out in the sunshine
alter the plants have been started and the
sun lost some OF its power. -..... ..-. -
The byacinth and tulip bulbs need not
be planted for winter blooming until about
the middle or latter part OF September.
When planted they should be put in cool,
dark cellar or closet, or some cool room
which Is, but little used, until the flower
stalks appear and the buds begin to show
themselves. They may then be given lit
tie light for a few days, increasing it as the
plant advances in growth, until Short time
before the: buds burst and flowers make
Ire sttng-room or baari6hr' Which they are
desired to adorn or beautify. Flowers may
be kept throughout the coldest winter in
pits, and most Of our readers know how they
are made. For this larger: number OF
plants are required than merely for " WIN
dow-sardening." as it is called. To
those who have no pit, or no suitable
place In the yard or garden to make one,
the writer Of this will give his experience
OF an improvlsed hot-house which far eX-
ceeded his expectations when designing
and preparing it. Living en- the northern
side OF lateral street, where so-called i'm.
provements had lowered the roadway and
sidewalk and destroyed the shade-trees,
gaYe an elevation OF about four feet to the
front porch. This porch was about four
by six feet, with steps entering from the
western side. This left rhe southern and
eastern side exposed. The central space
under the porch, about four feet square.
was then dug out about two feet, giving an
elevation inside the dollhouse" OF about
six feet. 4 window four feet by eighteen
inches-an old transom light-was put in
the eastern side, and double door, the
inner being OF glass and the outer three
quarter stuff, tongue and groved, were put
IN front or facing the street. The rest Of
the inside was then covered with two or
three. thicknesses OF coarse paper, and
sealed with the same stuff as the door was
made Of, the whole thing costing between
eleven and twelve dollars.
In this there were more than one hun
dred plants-s0me very large ones-and all
thrived and did WELL many OF them flour
ishing and blooming all winter. The only
heat was that generated by the sun during
the day, and on ordinary-sized Kerosene
lamp lighted and put on the floor during
the cold nights. At no time-eyen when
the Thermometer was down to 4 and 50 out
side-dd it get below 400 in this place.
Often when the weather was not freezing
the doors were opened and fresh air adj
mitted for several hours during the day,
and never o day but some fresh air given
the plants, il only for few minutes. The
simplicity and cheapness OF the place, and
its success In the object for which it was
intended, were remarked by all who eXam-
ined it.
As the spring advanced seeds were
soWn, and cuttings We're st"rtod in here
for use in the garden, where the ground
should be warm enough to receive them.
A small, cheap house OF this kind will last
for years, and give increasing satisfaction
year by year. t...... -. ...
While on the subject OF window-sar-
dening" it may be Il source Of qualification
to many to know that roses may be success
fully raised in living room where the tenn
perature is even, by putting good plants in
1cooden bores instead.of earthen pots and
giving them the requisite attention known
to all growers Of this "queen OF the flow
crs." Very much more might be written
On this subject, so interesting to many and
so full Of pleasure to all lovers OF flowers,
and many other suggestions might be made
had we the space to devote TO it.