New-York tribune., 1901-09-08
VEGETABLE WINDOW GARDENS.
THRIFTY PRACTICE IN BosroN's "LAT-rLB
ITALY"
from The Boston Transcript,

from The Boston Transcript.
Grocery box window gardens the only
refreshing Glimps,S Of GTceneTy that one gets
III Little Italy, for there are no parks except
ne big trecless waterfront on AUantic-aNe.
whore the bathers enjoy Ifc and there are no
anywhere II relieve the baroness OF TINS
district. There are places where Lot a single
window garden Is to be seen, and again the
bare blank walls seem To have blossomed like
oasis in the midst Of sun baked Wrctchcd-
ness. AT the corner Of Fle, ana Moon SITS. there
Is a box garden half way up the building that
Is to arrest attention. FOR IL furnishes the
Suu@lal OF The way lust here. The pride Of the
window box is tall sunfioWer that is now in
blossom. When the sun rises il turns its fac"
east. and at the set Of sun the blaze Of yellow
petals is turned westward. At present this one
suniioWer is the only blossom that eladdcns this
soction al the city. There other boxes. To
b sure. but flowers
The thrifty Italian mother is not willing To
use her handful Of earth for Gaudy show. but
il is means To supply her with bit Of luxury.
Many of tne gardens contain mint that grows
up 80 rank and green and sturdy that il is a
ieASht To street weary eyes. This mint is used
in saVory sauces and helps 10 make refresh
ing salads Dth"r gardens are devoted 10
tomato plants that very vigorous for the
boxes are usually nigh enough to catch tine
sun. and they are Watcrcd that never
fpeck of dust dims their beauty. That is one
thing above all others to notice in these box
fafGens, that tney are always 50 freshly green
ana IN Such VlYIG contrast 10 the dusty build
ingS and street
Italians more than any other people value
tomatoes. and each one that comes to perfec-
ton is as carefully tended though il were
AN apple of gold. Not only do the housewives
delight in the fresh vegetable th"rns nv = hut
generally speaking, those home tended are bet
ter than any purchased at the market and so
each on1 Is jeaIously saved to max, tomato
sauce for the spaghetti without which no Italian
Sunday would lac Sunday. one Soapbox gar
dener one season SOLD enough Tomatoes to give
her quite little pin money. NJ one who knows
the Italians we'll viii be surprised To learn that
many OF the boxes are devoted to peppers for
they IN truth furnish much of their spice of
life and even ne little Italian girls know how
10 stuff and cook them in dozen different WAYS
that tempt the palate.
one box is different from all ether bikes in
that II contains green corn. The stalks are
growing finely. and no palm could wave its
leaves more triumphant!y. Indeed. the corn
is quite decorative. Some fine morning i'm Au-
gust the little Italian woman with gold rings
cleaning in her tiny ears, will lean out Of the
window and gather green corn enough to serve
her lord and master for dinner Another kitchen
garden grown in a sOapbuX is fun of pausies
and lettuce, and still another. fun of scarlet
runners. forms screen for the room within
At eventde and again in the morning these
mimic gardens are Watercd. Sometimes il is an
old Womans pleasure To sprinkle the plants;
again II is "A child'S: but usually il is "A mother
with a baby in her arms and another little
head peepinS over the box to if she does il
III sht.