The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-11
A WlNDOW GARDEN
How Flowers May Be Culti-
waited in City Homes With
Small Trouble.
CULTlvATING AN ENGLISH ART
What Plants to Select-The Joys Of
misunderstanding Popular
lily Of Blondes-Thackeray
on Women.

SiHce pHe people are beginning "
learn of the Japanese the aesthetic value
of plants as decorations. growing things
are coming more and more to be con-
sidered in the effective makeup OF a
room. says the philadelphia Press
and In the living nj receiving rooms of
liesfamides. and no w-ell-appointed din
ner table is without them.
Much more care and attention are de-
voted to the Rearing Of them in these
days than formerly, when all that vas
known of this form of horticulture was
the possible preservation through the
cold weather of a few geraniums or rose
trees.
The housewives of a generation or two
ago were wont to hang their plants.
root upward, in their cellars, thus saw
ing them for spring, and bringing only
the hardest and most prolific of them
into the hight of day in the sitting rooms
of their houses. What success attend
their amateur gardening one can only
guess. Like all the housekeeping meth
DDS of I'VE olden times this way ct
dealing with the summer plants had the
advantage of simplicity. caused less
trouble than the frequent filing of fern
dishes and he constant care required
by the indoor plants of to-day.
Window gardening as a fine art has
come to America from England. Like
most importations, it is hard to acclima-
tie, for here there is not the same even
ness of temperature which favors the
wdnter-growing of plants in England.
Fostered by characteristic American
perseverance. however, this fad for flow
ers-if fad it be-is having its day in
spite of difficulties. All the better class
of new houses are now provided with
recesses and special windows for the
growing of plants. The transom of to-
day lis turned intoNa bower of bloom n
is filled with all sorts of towering green
things for the pleasure not alone of those
who possess them and have their care,
but for the delight also of all who pass
that way.
The explanation of this blooming re-
vival is perhaps not ard to find. 1t
has it's roots far back in the early days OF
the human race, when man earned his
bread by the sweat of his brow, and so
grew to feel a lasting affection for the
Mother Earth who yielded OF her abun-
dance for his s~ustenance and support.
This tie. which, half unseen, links all
living things. binds also the hearts Of
and its influence has Travelled through
the ages, n openly asserts itself each
year T. pav the ~SIaom py the hem Iagaef gsve of
TO the rich the procuring of these new
bep5aS1asi w rspresI prtee on Tsyes another % I s aver
nue. for spending their money whle
with the less fortunate mass utility, en-
sidered In the purchase of their household
appointments. For this last. more nu-
merous. and often more worthy class, q
disposition of plants may be welcome.
First, and before all else. a window with
the proper exposure either e the souIn q
so constructed that the plants a receive
the light from above as well az from the
sides. Such an arrangement Will preserve
the stems and twigs straight and upright
and prevent any unsightly twisting which
sometimes follows their search for sun,
shine. Then the boxes and baskets ana
ample size so as to allow for a sufficient
| spread of root, for as he roots grow SO
also does the plant itself. Drainage
| end it is we'll to have all receptacles made
with an inside box having a perforated
bottom.
In the selection Of plants the future
they should then be disposed of accord
| ingly, the hardest in the less favorable
situations. etc. One of the most snowy
ing is the scarlet nasturtium. 1t is grace
full and decorative and blooms well. Ivy
leaved and silver-variegated. geraniums.
| lobelias and blue co~nvolvulus may be
grown indoors with great success. For
large vases and stands begonias, sedums
and Dutch bulbs are good, as are also
petundas. Other window plants are Lady
| kinds of cacti and spring towering bulbs
las hyacinths and tulips. Heliotropes,
myrtles and some other less hardy plants
may be raised in favorable locations,
| planted rustic things, If they are given
| plenty of water when they need it., if they
| are drained properly, If the dust is ecca-
| sionally sprayed from off their leaves, and
if they are protected from the cold there
is no reason why the raising OF them
| should not be a source of much pleasure.
The pretty blooms for the dinner table
and the added cheerfulness of the rooms
they adorn are themselves payment
enough for the extra thought and time