The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-08-07
Window Boxes.

Among the numerous plans for the
coming summer made by the great ar
nv of flower lovers all over the land,
hope many have included one, two or
more window boxes. 1t can be said in
their favor that they offer one of tho
easiest methods of gardening, and one
of the prettiest forms Of outside deco
ration; and to the largo class who,
through i'll health or many cares, are
debarred from the ordinary flower
garden, they are especially suitable.
They also give rare chances for rich
ness of tone and harmony of color, and
an artists work may be as plainly visi-
ible in we'll filled window box as in
many more pretentious things,
I was especially struck with this lab.
ter fact one day last summer, when,
before the windows of an old farm
house, l saw so beautiful combina-
ton of form and color that stopped
and begged permission to examine it
closely. The brackets that held the
window boxes were fastened in place
with large screws, and could be easily
removed, and the boxes made of un-
painted pine nailed together. Up each
side of the widow was rustic ladder,
made by fastening slender cedar
stick about four feet long in each corr
ner of the box, then tacking bits of
slender, messy branches, irregularly
back and forth until the desired height
was reached; then longer pieces formed
an arch over the top. In one box a
white arbutilon formed the center
piece, with scarlet geraniums and
sweet-breathed heliotropes on either
side, while delicate maurandyas, with
their dainty leaves and blossoms,
twined around and over the rustic
supports. Then, mingling with the
stronger Towering German ivy, Sc
necio scandens feIl in long festoons
from the arch above. Bulbs of oxalis
deppii, which had been tucked in here
and there, furnished abundance of
prettily marked leaves, and the outside
of the box was completely covered with
a perfect mat of othonna, tradescantia,
German ivy and dew plant. The other
box had large double, purple fuchsia
in the center, with white geraniums on
either side, surrounded by quantities Of
mignonette and the same charming
confusion of dropping vines. These
boxes were sheltered by veranda, but
had an unlimited supply of sunshine
during the middle of the day, and were
perfect marvels of luxuriant growth.
Begonias are among the most suita-
BILE plants for this kind of gardening
and the tuberous-rooted varieties re-
duce the labor to a minimum. A box
on my own yeranda, last summer, con-
tanned four of the latter, while Madeira
vines clambered over the lattice work
of slender willows to the ends, and
wreathed the upper part of the window
with their own peculiar drapery of cool
green leaves. and family sweet flowers.
On the approach OF cold weather such
box can easily be removed to warmer
quarters, gradually dried of, and then
| placed in a frost proof room or dry eel
lar until the following spring.
A collection of fuchsias, half dozen
different kinds, in large box, is also
charming, and unlike specimen pot
plants, they can be left to their own
devices and need be neither trimmed
nor trained.
For good sized box no vine is more
desirable than the cobea scandens, and
it is easily grown from seed. Two lit
tie pots filled with moist earth and
placed side by side in an empty match
box, the spaces around them tightly
packed with wet moss, the seeds plant
ed edge down, the whole covered with
a pane of glass, set in warm place
and hot watered, have year after year
started beautiful plants for me- After
the seeds have terminated they ask lit
tie favor of anyone, and their rapidity
of growth is something marvellous.
| Nothing adds SO much to the charm
of the rich, glowing colors of foliage
plants as a judicious mixture of ferns.
and some of our native ones are quite
equal to the greenhouse varieties.
Taken up early in spring, before the
fronds have begun to unroll themselves
in the sunlight, and put here and there
among brilliant coleus or crimson dra-
c@nas, they will grow and thrive either
IN shade or sunshine, and lend grace
and beauty to their surroundings.
Rustic boxes filed entirely with ferns
and wild grasses. and draped with
mitchella vines. may deck sheltered
yeranda all summer. and then do duty
at north window as ferncries all win
ter.
Cyperus altcrnifo.ius, also. thou RI
usually recommended for Wardlan
cases, will give charming effects among
bouvardias or arbutilons in large win-
dow box, and sweet peas and mignon-
ette are always acceptable. Sweet
peas must be sown three or four inches
deep when sown. or the vines will soon
turn yellow and droop away without a
single blossom.
In regard to the size. shape and or
namentation Of the boxes much will de-
pend on the plants chosen. For strong.
auick-growing ones. depth Of soil and
plenty Of root-room are required. while
Tor the lower-growing and delicate onea
{ shallower boxes are moro desirable.