Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-24
HANGING BASKETS.

This graceful and convenient form OF decora-
ton increases In popularity from year TO year.
Many city home which would otherwise be
destitute OF floral adornment is frightened by
them, and in the country among people OF taste
and refinement they are becoming more and
more common.
MATERIAI--The baskets themselves are made
OF wire, terra Gotta, or wood. The first named
Is Ihe most usual, but the small terra Gotta
baskets are extremely neat and elegant for bay
windows or other interior situations They
possess With the rustic wood baskets the addi-
ttonal advantage over the wire OF retaining
moisture longer, and thus suffering less from
neglect or frequent watering. The wood basket
generally consist OF turned wooden bowl,
covered over with twigs and roots TO give
II rustic appearance. When this kind OF
pisket Is used. care should be exercised TO see
there are few holes In the bottom TO permit
drainage. The matter is scarcely ever attended
10 Dy the makers, and florists who sell them
ready nlled with plants are apt TO neglect It
Inc consequence Is that the basket soon be-
comes water logged, and the plants contained
has been neglected until after the basket Is
nlled, holes may be bored from the outside and
the dropsical condition relieved The wire
baskets are first lined with thick moss and
afterwards filled with earth, into which the
growing plants are set They must be watered
every day, as the drying air penetrates them on
every side. A new style Of wire basket is pro-
vided with a zinc reservoir beneath which
holds weeks supply of water These are con-
venient but expensive.
=, okl kCIIoN OF fLANTS.-The central portion OF
The basket should be filled with upright plants
OF a neat dwarf habit. and around the edge
those OF creeping or trailing growth. But while
basket flled with any bright, thrifty plants OF
suitable habit OF growth, is a thing OF beauty il
is far better TO make such a combination OF
color as to present harmonious living picture
The colors not only OF the flowers, out also OF
the foliage employed, should be studied with a
view 10 this effect. Our greenhouses furnish
such variety OF plants with ornamental foli-
age-crimson, golden, white, bronze, purple and
silverygrey-thata almost any desired effect OF col
or can be produced independently OF the bios
SONS. When less complicated style Is pre-
ferred. basket may be made beautiful by its
very simplicity: In such cases single plant is
su1nclent. provided IL makes up by its luXuri-
ance OF growth for the lack OF variety. We saw
very attractive basket recently, which was
completely wreathed with the rich foliage and
bright mauve-cOlored flowers of an ivy geran-
fum. A plant OF Sdzlfdgd Sdrnl4ntoSd COM
monty called Strawberry Geranium set In the
center OF small basket, will soon cover the
surface with leaves while the long tendrilS and
taSsel-like stolonS droop gracefully down the
sides. Another useful plant In this way is the
CDitt0ttuttS nadHfftdnicttS, a single specimen OF
which will soon make the basket a rich mass OF
bright green foliage and blue flowers.
COUNTRY BASKETS.-No one need be deprived
OF hanging baskets on account OF the remOtenesS
from greenhouses or inability TO purchase green
mouse pants. NO baskets are produced more
exquisite than can be made by judiciouS use OF
the plants found in the forests and fields. The
basket itself may be made OF woven twtgs, the
enc END or OF an old keg covered over with rustic
branches and roots, or the steel springs OF a
superannuated hoopskirt. Then for filling.
The forest furnishes abundance OF moss, rich,
light soil, and ferns, partridge berry, saxifrageS
and all the immense variety OF other plants
Which love to nestle In its shades or seek its
open sunny banks.
CARE OF BASKETS.-The first and most es-
Sential requisite for the health and even the life
OF plants suspended Ia baskets, is sufficiently
frequent watering. Their wants In this re-
Spett vary, OF course with the size OF the
baskets and the material used. Wire baskets.
IN addition to being sprinkled every day and
the moss kept fresh, are greatly benefited by
an occasional dipping In water. Wood and terra
GOTTA baskets eyaporate only at the surface
and therefore need less frequent watering
Partial shade is essential to the lush growth
and luXuriance which are desirable In a hang
Ing basket. Ii exposed all day to the full glare
OF the summer sun, no amount of watering or
care can preserve them from a parched and
shr1veled appearance. Another requisite to
the health and full development of plants in
baskets Is that they should not be Oyercrowded
IhoSe Which are bought from the florists ready
made are almost invariably either overgrown or
oVercrOwded. This Is not the fault of the florist
for the pubic taste demands rich, luxuriant
appearance. No possible promise OF future
beauty and perfection can atone In the market
1or the want OF present thr1ftineSS, and there
tore the florists are compelled, In order to
meet the public taste, either TO crowd the baS-
kets lull or young plants, or keep them until
The plants contained have reached the utmost
case the falling of In appearance is certain and
SPEEDY. The only remedy is for the purchaser
To choose those that contain an over abundance
OF vigorous young plants, and then thin out re-
moving such superfluouS ones as can be spared
with the least injury to the general effect The
basket will look little scraggy at first. but the
subsequent growth will soon nil up the vacan-
cicS-C0e,'otry Gentleman.