Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22
FLOWERS FOR WINDOWS
THE BEST PLANTS TO CHOOSE
AND THE CARE NEEDED.
Single Pots Better Than tong Boxes
Hint. for i. Pretty MIpgling of
Colors and Kinds.
Written for The Evening Star.

written Tor Inc Evening
In one of his metrical essays William
Cowper says: He who loves garden
loves a greenhouse" His idea that flowers
are appreciated by real flowers lovers, no
matter how unromanti9. their surroundings,
is one difficult for people of moderate pros
perity to honor in the observance. Very
few persons are In circumstances justify
ing the outlay of from $500 to $4,000 in
greenhouse. Most of us are jewellers in
other peoples houses, and to put up an
expensive glass annex would be folly.
Inexpensive winter houses for flowers
are sometimes made by walling in the
veranda with panels made by framing
panes of glass. A wooden groove runs
along the floor of the porch near the
outer edge and a corresponding one runs
along their ceiling. Into these the panels
are slipped and moved along to fit in place,
each panel having at the side overlapping
edges to keep out the air. With door of
wood one fitted with glass for the
trance. the greenhouse Is completed. The
veranda, if supplied with a railing, may
have the frame put on outside the rail.
That may then be used as the support for
a smooth, wide plank, on which pots,
boxes and baskets of plants may be placed.
Sometimes only the upper part of the
framework is made of glass For this pur-
pure old windows purchased where a house
has been torn down or from some dealer
III IL
piled with overlapping grooves to keep out
the air, will answer very WELL The lower
part of the veranda may then be board
ed in.
The best plants for window gardens are
the hardy ones, such as geraniums, YER
benas bulbs, like hyacinths, crocuses, tulips
and narcissuS which may be potted in No
vember; thick and bushy Towering plants,
like cyclamens, aZaleas, primulaS and ciner
arias. Foliage plants, geraniums, fuschias,
heliotrope and verbenas may be raised from
cuttings. AS the list of plants best suited
for the window must vary with the locality,
1t is better to consult the local nurseryman
If the garden is to be an elaborate affair.
The Prettiest Eject.
When the use of a bay or double window
Is possible this always is situation to be
chosen, provided it is visited by the south
ern western sun. A broad fiat shelf
placed on the sill will widen 1t to accommo-
date a larger number of plants. These
should be grouped in the window on brack-
cts suspended from the side frames, on
she1ved stands in pots on little individual
stands or in hanging baskets. Whatever
varies the monotony is to he commended.
The old-fashioned arrangement of boxes is
not so good as that of singy ported flowers
for flowers of dollhouse growth are like chill
dren-they need individual attention. 1t may
sometimes be necessary to remove one plant
from the rest of the group for day or two
when 1t shows signs Of dropping or it may
be necessary to alter the relative positions
constantly in order to give one plant more
or less of the sun, it seems to need It,
The plants may be protected from the
full glare of the sun by fitting the upper
part of the sash with stained glass-crim-
son is best for the health of the plants
The application of paper initiating stained
glass will do when the uses,of the glass is
not practicable.
Give Plenty Light.
During the day the plants Should be given
plenty of light. and, when the sun is warm
est, plenty of fresh air. AT night the tenn
perature in the room should be lowered,
and the plants should be left in darkness
The temperature during the day should be
from 60 to 20 degrees; at night from 45 to
80. The plants should be kept clean and
the soil should be moist, but not drenched
with water. After the plants have been
Watered the moisture that drains through
into the saucer should be thrown out. The
leaves should be sspone,ed off every day in
water in which a little liquid ammonia has
been dissolved: If they are not washed
off. the pores in the leaves. become clogged
and the plants are unable to breathe
Wise Hints to Follow.
Plants that have been frosted will some
times recover If placed in the cellar for a
few days. In the light plants give off oxy-
gen and take in carbonic acid ras. This
process is reversed at night.
The plants best adapted to house orna-
mentation are the dracoenas, begonias, cy-
clamens. azaleas, aloes, acacias, salvias
anthurums, palms, agaves, amaryllis and
corOniilas. There are different varieties of
each of these families, and choice depends
upon individual taste. Handsome jardinets
and hanging baskets may be made in fanci-
full shape from wood gathered in the au-
tumn. The rough bark of trees, birch bark
nailed over the wood will make very hand
some coverings. JardiniereS of china are
to be purchased at such reasonable figures,
especially those that are sold at special
prices owing to some imperfection, that any
one may possess one or more of these hand
some holders for the plants. Large flower
pots may be bought Of the florists, and If
the plant Is placed in pot that will af-
ford it plenty of room for growth there will
be no need to change 1T from that into
other vessel. The red earthenware pots are
not ugly unless placed in too close proX-
unity to red or some other glaring colors
in the upholstery.
ELLA MATHIESSEN.