The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-02-27
HOME INTERESTS.
Horticulture.
ANIMALS FOR WINDOW BoxE


During the last week l have had several in
quiries from my correspondents for some an
nuals that will 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 magnificent box
garden. often at the window of the sixth story
Of a house Even liz the denselv-popu]ated
@wvnds" of the city of Edinburgh, in Scotland,
Ihave seen gay colored Nasturtiums and lovely
marked Morning Glories growing luxuriantly
in an old teapot or some other dilapidated piece
of crockery. | find there are many, in such
large cities as Chicago and elsewhere, who have
not foot of garden ground-indeed some of
nv correspondents write me they live away up
among the clouds almost, but they do want to
grow some flowers, and it is for the purpose of
teaching such ones how their ambition can be
gratified that pen this article.
remember in my boyhood my first garden
was window box. 1t 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 a
piece of oil-cloth, with small, neat figure, and
ia ion of q tile Or mosaic box. The box can be
fastened ON the outside of the window by means
of brackets either of iron or wood. ~. 81.
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 is mellow and
porous If the soil is heavy add about one
third it's bulk of sand So much for fitting out
the window box. Now l will tell you what can
be grown in 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 Nasturtiuns, Scarlet Run
ri Il
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.
The Dwarf Morning Glories (Conyolvulus
Mino~) makes a good center, and few ten
weeks stocks, 80 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 in
sowing seeds; they cover all, whether coarse
or fine, with the same amount of soil, seeming
ly never realizing that such tiny seeds as Port
ulacca, Petunia, Ice Plant cannot push through
it The result is the seed is as effectually
. buried as if sunken in the depths of the earth.
Sow all such fine seeds on the SufJGce, giving
no covering whatever. Well, after while you
might want to pick a bouquet fro your window
box, therefore scatter some Mignonettes,
Candytuft and Sweet Alyssum seeds; those
need slight covering. Now I have told you
about some running vines, and perhaps some
would like Ira lers to droop over the box for
this purpose use Nerembergia and Sanvitala.
Sweet Alyssum also will make nice droopng
plant, as will also Mesembryanthemum, or Ice
Plant But supposing no running vines are
wanted, and the box is to be set in very sunny
window, | cannot think of better Annual than
Portulacca. They come in great variety of
colors, will bear neglect, and glory in the
hottest sun.
For plants for window-boxes perhaps
the most suitable are Geraniums, for they
will bloom all summer long-Ivy Geranium
especially. Those with variegated foliage look
we'll in window box, and the edging can be
made of Alternanthera Thrift and Pyrethrum
In writing these letters my desire is to in
crease the love of flowers among all classes
to show the occupants of the rudest shantv that
they as well as those who are endowed with
wealth, can enjoy the beauties of the floral
kingdom on an equal footing To those who
have never grown q flower l would say, begin
now; and, if you cannot procure seed any other
way, l will give you some free to encourage you
in the undertaking. Mr.. RENNIE.
Box 1O1 Hinsdale, Dupage county, Ill.