The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-02-11
WINTER WINDOW GARDENS.

Not every one has house where
freezing is out of the question, and
where tender plants can be made to
flourish regardless of the bitter wealth
er OF midwinter. There is q bit of
misrepresentation about window gar.
denlng. Almost every one who tries
1T seems to think that there must be
some exceedingly delicate plants in
the collection, or it is not q success.
and the consequence is that in some
unguarded moment the fires go down
or sudden freeze comes on and the
plants perish. Let those who have
met with repeated discouraCement
take new tack, so to speak, abandon
the delicate and perishable, and take
up hardy and semi-hardy bulbs rs an
experiment. Prepare stout frame.
one made of four-by -four sticks, NOR
tised together, is none too heavy. II
should be about three feet long and
eighteen inches wide, and should be
mounted on casters of soma approved
sort that will move easily. There are
bHll-bearing casters that are not spe
clally expensive when one considers
the safety and comfort of them, and
the case with which heavy articles
may be moved on them. This frame.
when finished, ought to stand about
two or two feet and n half from the
floor, depending somewhat, of course,
on tho height of the window in front
OF which it is to be placed. Select n
stout box, or have one made to order.
1t may be three feet long, and as wide
as one can spare the space for 1.-TWO
feet is not too much. If one does not
mind little expense, it pays to have
this box lined with zinc, thoroughly
soldered SO rs to be water tight, and
with hole in one end from which n
drain pipe runs through the bottom of
the box.
Fill this box half full of good, clean
sand and about two quarts of char
coal broken into very small bits. Over
this put in the best earth from the
florists. or what is just as good, earth
from the woods taken up after scrap
ing the leaves away. This will be
black and rich, and may be mixed
with little bone-dust and well-rotted
stable manure. In this plant hyacinths,
crocuses, daffodils and narcissuses. II
Is n good idea to have some small pots.
aud i'll these put the bulbs with q lit
tie moist earth. Place them in dark
corner of the cellar on the floor, and
let them remain five or six weeks to
grow roots. A week after they are
put in the dark put down another lot.
One lady, who is extremely successful
with things OF this sort, puts down
bulbs every week, beginning with the
hEst of October and continuing until
warm weather, E-ery week eho hes q
new lot OF bulbs to bring to light, sud
with the judicious treatment they re.
ceive at her hands they come into flower
in very short time. 1t is necessary TO
be on the lookout and ready with
kerosene emulsion for the green Av.
that makes the life of plants a burden.
Ii one cares to take the trouble, a
succession Of boxes may be made
ready. In this case they should be
made shallow, eight or ten inches
being sufficient, and couple of inches
OF sand with sprinkling of charcoal
being all the bottom filling reuuirel
There are pottery pans that will an
swer for this purpose, provided they
are kept moist enough.
1t is the easiest thing in the world
to keep up n succession of blooms by
this method, and the results will be
much more satisfactory than as though
one attempted to raise delicate and
expensive hot.house flowers. - New
York Ledger.