The Washington bee., 1895-10-05
WINDOW GARDEN AND FLOWER BORDER

WINDOW GARDEN AND FLOWER BoRDH
During the dull weather Of early win
ter, window plants will require very lit
] tie water. and care in this regard shoul
| be exercised. Even the geranium will q
times succumb to too much moisture.
A very desirable window plant is foun,
in the Bermuda Buttercup" oxalis (;
single plant of which will yield an i'm
mense number of blossoms. The bulb
can be procured in a dry state in tn,
early autumn.
Tender roses, If 1t Is found impossible
to carry them over the winter, should be
protected by bending them to the eartf
and covering them with sods, soil or lit.
ter With protection, a large percentage
can be safely brought through.
Do not forget to add to your stock OF
spring flowers by planting few bulbs
during October. Tulips, crocus and sew
little in view of the returns they give.
also be used effectively.
The so-called "Chinese lily" Is men,
Der of the narcissus family, and blooms
only a few weeks after being placed in
water. The varieties of the polyanthus
narcissus known as Double Roman" and
Paper White" do quite as well when
grown in water as the Chinese lily.
and are as much esteemed by the major
sty Of flower lovers.
Chrysanthemums at this season should
be strongly staked in the pots, and
moderate use of liquid manure INDUCED
in. to be discontinued as soon as the
buds show color. If only large flowers
are desired, allow only one bud to de-
velop to stem, removing the others
when about the size Of peas. Plants
which are in the open ground should be
carefully lifted and placed in large pots,
shading few days before bringing to
the sunlight, while indoors chrysanthe-
NUNS should have an abundance OF air.
After the outdoor plants are killed by
frost, clear up all the borders and beds,
ff for no other reason to give them an
air of neatness. Save all stakes. A good
coating of partly decayed cow manure
spaded in the beds will put them IN
good shape for the spring. Where bulos
are planted for spring blooming, the ma
nure can be put on the beds after the
ground is frozen. to act as mulch, ana
raked off or worked into the soil in the
spring.
In taking up and potting plants grown
in the open border during the summer, 1t
will usually pay ito cut back quite severe
ly at the time. Particularly nice specl-
mems of petunias, verbenas and some
other ANIMALS, will make nice window
plants If potted up. Young plants OF
nicotiana affinis and young morning glor-
les should also be saved for indoors.
Seeds of mignonette, nasturtiums ana
several of the other ANIMALS, il sown
now, will give a good account Of them
selves during rhe winter.
A list of the most desirable house plants
for the winter would include geraniums,
zouale. ivy-leaved and scented; Towering
and foliage begonias in variety; caltas,
colens, Chinese primroses, cyclamen,
linum trigynum, abutilon, alyssium,
fuchsias, heliotrope, laxtana, palms.
ferns and bouvardias. These, with an
assortment of Dubious plants-hyacinths,
tulips, lilies, narcissus, etc.-will answer
every requirement for decorative and cut
flower purposes. OF course, there are
many other varieties Of plants that can
be grown, especially where proper facili- |
ties can be afforded.
As soon as frost has touched the gladi- I
olus tops lift the plants with fork and |
shake the earth from the bulbs. Spread
out in a dry, cool place, under cover
where frost cannot reach them. After a
few days cut off the tops close to the
bulbs. break off and throw away the old
bulbs over which the new ones have
formed, and place the latter in paper
bags. If desired, the little bulblets, or
spawn, which will be found numerously
about some roots, can be carefully gath
cred up and saved with the old ones.
These, if divested Of their tough coating.
can be planted in the spring like peas in
drills. and will make blooming size bulbs
for the second summer. A good place to
keep gladiolus bulbs. over winter Is to
hang the bags containing them to the
overhead beams in dry, frost-proof eel
lar. Montbretia bulbs can be cared for
in exactly the same manner. Dahlias
and cannas can be taken up with the
earth adhering to them, and after being
allowed to dry out somewhat can be
placed on the cellar bottom, or stored in
barrels of sand. Examine all bulbs occa-
sonally in their winter quarters to see
if they are decaying from dampness, OF
too much from dry atmos-
phere.