The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-28
WINDOW GARDENS.
What Can Be Done to Make a Bal
cony Attractive at a Small Cost.

Garden and Forest.
For the average city dweller window or bal
cony gardening is in all respects the most salts
factory, as the window sill is often the only
available place for growing flowers. For some
reason this form Of gardening does not seem to
grow IN popularity, though one often sees be-
hlnd The glass or on the window lodges ported
plants and flowers. proving tina, the taste is
there and only awaits development. This
scarcely OF window boxes Is striking, for it
seems o me, after some observation, that man.
KIND, or perhaps wOmankind generally, has an
inherent fondneSs for growing plants in boxes
ana unnatural conditions.
A street garden is not the place for dainty
efiects, which would be dwarfed by the sur
rounQlngs. Here We want gay, snowy flowers
and foliage and broad effects Tie window
garden IS one where we may safely give way
10 our inherent love for barbaric color and
gay arrangements.
There are numerous varieties of boxes on
sale, but as these are seldom OF the measure
meuts desired II Will be usually necessary TO
nave them made 10 order L have tried tile
boxes lined with zinc and those made of iron,
Ooth OF which are necessarily heavy, and on
The whole | prefer plain wooden box, simply
constructed of chestnut or walnut. This
should be about eight inches deep, of the
length desired, and as wide as the ledge will
admit, with simple brackets TO support a slight
projection. This box should be securely nailed
together.
" hen ii is to occupy a position in full sun
light a partition should be put in lenglhwise in
The front part of the box. leaving an air space
OF. say half an inch between this and The front
10 Ike p tile plant roots as cool as possible. By
tackIng strip OF ollcloth OF the SAM light
color tile pattern aronnd the box and finish
Ing with nothing at the edges one can produce
box as effective al distance as The highest
priced article good effect can also be Sc
cured by using hucruSta and DTonZing and
painting 1t tastefully.
lie boxes should have about three inches of
broken charcoal for drainage, over " hich there
should be a thin slice of sod, grass side
down, TO keep The soil from washing through.
There should be a few holes bored In each
end OF the box near The bottom re insure
against excess IN moisture from rains or over
watering. The soil should be rich, but open
good porting soil, in short. The care will de-
pend not only on the exposure, but, OF course,
on the various Giants gown.
a mulch OF some Kind is an. advantage. CO.
coanut-hber, as odotless, being the best. Sue
cess viii usually depend very much on careful
watering. especially when pllnts requiring
very diverse treatment in This respect are
grown III The same box. Ii Dasturtiums or
other plants requiring somewhat dry treat
ment are grown with those needing more fire.
Quent watering, addition of some sifted
sphagnum to the soil in which The latter are
plunged viii be helpful in obylating the neces-
sity for fiequ mt irrigation.
For a sunny window very bright and Strlk-
ing effect can be produced by Il row OF nasIur-
nuns (TrOp4olum maioD backed by mass of
Madam Pollock geraniums. Any OF the scarlet
lowered JOnale gerautums are excellent IN
such position II care is taken to select the
sumner. Towering ones. Win the mas urtiums
should be grown IA row OF tie yaregated gill
Over-the-ground (cylechoma) to cover The base
OF the nasturiium vines should they become
bare. A well-grown box planted wo;ild at
tract attention from the most ca eless observer.
Perhaps frequent boxes If This character
would he rather dazzling in quiet city street
but there are numerous variations which viii
occur 10 every one familiar with flowers. In
selecting plants for such positions preference
should be given. as far possible. TO those
with smooth foliage, which VIII not collect dust
and ale readily cleansed by showering.
Tie best effect is usually secured by a very
limited variety OF plants. OF course The desir-
exposure. Plants will not flower in the
absence of all sunlight. and in SHADY positions
effects must be produced from giants with
Variegated. glaucOus aud Siivefv foliage. Vines
are Of the first Importance in window boxes
giving touch of vivacity as they sway 10 every
passing breeze.